WWF Hungary

Our work for conserving nature includes the protection of our wetlands – especially the fluvo-aquic systems – and our natural forests. Furthermore, we work for ensuring a sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture as well as the rural development. We also work for preserving the protected and endangered habitats and species. Moreover, reducing the impacts of climate change and raising the environmental awareness are also crucial parts of our work.

In order to conserve our national treasures, we focus on four principle areas:

Climate change and energy
Protection of forests
Conservation of rivers and wetlands
Protection of large carnivores

Through our programmes, we work in the field, empower natural advocacy and raise awareness of people.
We collaborate with national parks, nature conservation authorities, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions and business partners, as well as with local people. At a regional level, we work in close collaboration with WWF offices all over Europe and with other international non-governmental organizations. WWF Hungary is also the member of WWF CEE (the previous Danube-Carpathian Regional Office).

Our achievements in the last 28 years – hand in hand with our partners:

Forests

New legislation to establish the zoning system in national parks
Csarna Valley – preservation of 1,000 hectares of intact forests in the Börzsöny mountain range
Preservation of 418 hectares of Steppe Oak Woods on the Great Hungarian Plain
150,000 hectares of forest in national property being continuously wooded thanks to the modification of forest laws
Encouraging the Natura 2,000 Network
Surveying the giant trees of Normafa (Buda Hills) and ensuring its sustainable future: development of environmentally friendly tourism instead of a sport centre
Restoring 100 hectares of floodplain along the bank of Tisza river
Supporting the environmental management of protected state-owned areas
Fifty more couple of Saker Falcons

Wetlands

Protecting the Pond Turtle population at Lake Naplás
Introduction of 234 Beavers: Hungary’s first success in mammal reintroduction
Less hydroelectric power plants on the Drava river: the planned Croatian dam at Novo Virje was not established
Greennovation Award: two grand awards and a special award
Grazing of 70 Hungarian Greys and 5 Water Buffalos at the bottomland of Tisza river
Establishing and maintaining 30 workplaces at Tiszatarján
The revitalization of the Liberty Island and the Danube’s branch: the restoration of an island of 47 hectares and of a 3-kilometer-long branch
Environmentally friendly water management at Drava
Restoring and creating wetlands – like the restoration of the Lake Anyita – around Nagykörű, along the bank of Tisza, through 100 hectares approximately
Establishment of the Mura-Drava-Duna Biosphere Reserve in Hungary and in Croatia, with further expansion across 5 further countries, starting with the planned accession of Serbia, Slovenia and Austria – establishment of a UNESCO biosphere reserve on almost 1 million hectares
Hindering the harmful and unsustainable navigability developments through the Danube
Landscape management based on natural characteristics along the bank of Tisza, through 350 hectares
Civil Society Engagement Strategy and Methodology for the Water Framework Directive
Reinforcing the natural conservation criteria of the River Basin Management Plan

Climate and energy

One lignite mine less nearby Aggtelek National Park
Hindering the construction of a 500 MW coal-fired power plant – 3 million tonnes less carbon dioxide emissions per year
Panorama of the Hungarian enterprises’ commitments to climate protection
Climate change adaption strategy of the Danube Delta
Earth Hour movement held for the 11th time: mobilizing 40,000 individuals for the mitigation of climate change
Climate Tour: interactive roadshow in 7 countries to encourage people for energy saving
Assistance to the National Energy Strategy

Large carnivores

Advanced research on large carnivores: more camera traps are established at Aggtelek Karst
The role of wolves and lynxes in forests became the society’s great concern

Environmental education and awareness-raising

Our nature conservation advertisements won seven creative awards
Six Big Jump events: 4,000 individuals for rivers
Nature conservation messages have been appearing on the national media for nearly 50,000 times
A new green event: The Hungarian Nature Day – 22 May.
WWF menu – meals prepared with seasonal national products and low water footprint consumption, served in 5 restaurants of the capital
Participation of 10,000 pupils in the Beaver Class Programme series
Involving 40 schools in our environmental educational programme
Living Danube Tour: an interactive roadshow presenting our rivers’ flora and fauna in 7 countries, 42 stops and involving 60,000 individuals
146,000 followers on our channels
20,000 supporters
Crackdown on smuggling protected bird species by training the border guards and the customs officers
Green Generation youth talent management: nomination of 20 “Green Ambassadors”