Debrecen’s Big Forest competes for Hungary’s Forest Sanctuary of the Year title
Eight forests across Hungary are competing for the title of Forest Sanctuary of the Year, with the public invited to vote for their favourite on the WWF Hungary website until November 30.
According to a statement released by WWF Hungary to the Hungarian News Agency (MTI) on Tuesday, the eight nominees include the Vétyem Ancient Beech Forest, the Cuha Valley, the Szuadó Valley and Debrecen’s Big Forest (Nagyerdő).
The nominated forests are presented through stories highlighting their history, wildlife and connections to local communities, traditional crafts and historical events.
WWF Hungary is organising the public vote for the second time. The initiative aims to raise awareness of the importance of protecting forests that are home to rare, ancient trees and rich biodiversity.
Last year, WWF Hungary published a guide featuring 87 forest sanctuaries across the country and launched the Forest Sanctuary of the Year vote for the first time.
Last year’s winner was Jakab Hill, located in the Western Mecsek region. It received the recognition for its distinctive red sandstone rock formations, thick moss cover, oak forests mixed with beech trees and scrub woodlands.
Forest sanctuaries account for less than one per cent of Hungary’s total forest area. Over the past more than 140 years, they have survived numerous historical and environmental changes, including agricultural transformations, two world wars, extreme weather events, air pollution and forest fires.
Protecting these forests is particularly important because natural woodlands with old trees provide habitats for numerous species that are much less common in commercial forests. These include rare insects, endangered bird species, bats and lynxes.
The statement quotes László Gálhidy, Head of WWF Hungary’s Forest Programme, as saying that forest sanctuaries are not only important biological habitats but also cultural heritage sites. If they disappear, many of the stories associated with them will be lost as well.
Voting for Forest Sanctuary of the Year is open until November 30 at:
https://szentelyerdo.wwf.hu/szavazas/
(MTI)