Thanks to the LIFE IP HungAIRy project titled “Improving air quality at eight Hungarian regions through the implementation of air quality plan measures”, the city of Békéscsaba is now able to carry out extensive tree planting initiatives. The development will cover more than 15 hectares of land, during which approximately 105,000 seedling trees will be planted, along with 1,265 saplings to form new rows of trees along streets and public spaces.

Mayor Péter Szarvas emphasized that every resident of Békéscsaba takes pride in living in a green environment, made possible by the city’s 150 hectares of forest and more than 65,000 public trees.

“But we cannot be satisfied, and we must not stop - it’s important to continuously expand our tree stock. Thanks to this grant, the city has the opportunity to establish new wooded areas and replace missing trees in existing rows,” the mayor explained.

He highlighted that thorough preparatory work preceded the application process, and the project launching this autumn will impact nearly every area of the city. The grant includes two afforestation zones: one within the CsabaPark area, and the other near Báthory Street in the Jamina district. In addition, street trees will be replaced or supplemented along Orosházi Road, Kolozsvári Street, and in the Lencsési residential area.

“In these locations, we need to select tree species that are better adapted to the changing climate conditions. We’re witnessing more droughts, heatwaves, and low-rainfall summers, so we must prepare for the future by planting heat-tolerant, fast-growing trees. Experts have recommended ash and elm species,” said Szarvas.

CsabaPark covers an area of 45 hectares, of which 3 hectares will be cleared of dried-out trees and replanted with seedlings. Tree cutting will begin in November 2025 and is expected to last about a month. This will be followed by soil preparation and the planting of new saplings.

While the works may cause minor disruptions to pedestrian and bicycle traffic, they are not expected to significantly affect use of the CsabaPark. Tree planting will continue in the park in the future, as several areas are still threatened by tree dieback due to drought.

The mayor also stressed that local civil organizations dealing with environmental and nature protection have been informed about the project and had the opportunity to raise their questions and concerns.

“We also considered it important to hold public forums before the works begin. We will host community meetings on September 2 in Jamina, near Báthory Street, and on September 9 at CsabaPark, in front of the reception building at Körte sor,” the mayor added, emphasizing that a total of ten municipalities across Hungary are implementing air quality improvement measures under the project.

The Municipality of Békéscsaba has committed to two major pilot projects: one is the installation of an air quality monitoring station, which is already operational and providing useful data, the other is the launch of one of the largest tree-planting initiatives in recent years.

Public Forum Dates and Locations:

1st Location:
Békéscsaba, Báthory Street – section after Pongrácz András Street
Date: Tuesday, September 2, 2025 – 4:30 PM

2nd Location:
Békéscsaba, CsabaPark – square in front of the reception building at Körte sor
Date: Tuesday, September 9, 2025 – 4:30 PM

(Source, photo: behir.hu)