Forests in Hungary


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FORESTS IN EUROPE

Hungary is situated in the middle of Europe, at the central and Western part of the Carpathian Basin. By its topography and geographical conditions it may not be considered a separate unit but is closely connected to the areas of the neighbouring countries. Due to the characteristics of the Basin the majority of the area of Hungary is flat, only one third exceeds 200 m elevation, and merely 2% goes above 400 m sea-level. The highest peak is Kékes-tető (1014m), the lowest one is the flood plain of river Tisza (75.8m), in the south of the country. The characteristic regions are the Northern and Trans-Danubian Mountains of medium height and the two basins: the Great Plain and the Small Plain. The hills of the two mountains are mostly covered with forests.

The backbone of the water system is given by two big rivers, the Danube and the Tisza, their length in Hungary is 417 and 598 km respectively. A significant part of the natural watercourses is originated in the Alps and Carpathians and flows into the two great rivers in the territory of the country. The largest lakes are Lake Balaton (598 km²), Lake Velencei (26 km²) and Lake Fertő (322 km²) at the Austrian border with 82 km² in Hungary.

Climate is regulated by three effects: the terrestrial (continental) climate from Eastern-Europe, the oceanic climate from the West and the Mediterranean effect from the Mediterranean Sea. The annual average temperature is 8-11 ^oC, 18-23 ^oC in July, and 0-4 ^oC in January. Precipitation at the Middle-Tisza region is 450-500 mm, in the mountains 700-800 mm. Therefore the natural plant cover in the Great Plain is steppe while in the mountains is broadleaved forests.

	FOREST CHARACTERISTIC AND FOREST TYPES The majority of Hungary belongs to the European deciduous forest zone, parts of the Great Plain to the forest-steppe zone. However, the preserved original plant cover of Hungary is merely 9 %.
	TYPICAL AND EXCEPTIONAL FAUNA AND FLORA SPECIES IN FORESTS Experts unanimously agree that big game stock has exceedingly multiplied, and in some places animals cause serious damages to forests, mainly through their feeding.
	FORMS OF NATURE PROTECTION SUCH AS NATIONAL PARKS AND NATURE 2000 SITES The intensive protection of natural values in forests (plant and animal species, geological values) is enforced by declaring them protected and strictly protected.
	ORGANIZATION OF FORESTRY The forest land area of Hungary has been gradually increasing in the last 80 years. This is due to the accomplished large-scale afforestation and tree planting carried out under the direction of professional foresters.

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Forests in Hungary

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