Local services
Debrecen has announced a new environmental policy in 2019, which includes – among many other elements – the afforestation of all parts of the city.
The autumn tree planting started in Tégláskert by Deputy Mayor of Debrecen Ákos Balázs, leader of the Fidesz-KDNP parliamentary group in Debrecen Viktor Papp, and the district’s municipal representative Zoltán Piros. Twenty-five flowering ash trees, which are particularly well suited to the urban environment, were planted on Egyletkert Street.
“Debrecen is in a lucky position, as it has many wooded and green areas. With 34%, we are ahead of Vienna and Barcelona. This is due to the fact that our predecessors have always known the benefits of afforestation for the air quality of our city. We continued this work in 2019 when we launched the “Plant 10,000 Trees” programme and the afforestation programme as part of the new environmental policy. We have planted the 8,000th tree out of 10,000 and will plant 1,300 more this year. And in the spring, we will keep our promises and plant the 10,000th sapling!” Deputy Mayor of Debrecen Ákos Balázs said at the press conference.
“Afforestation is a priority for Debrecen’s environment. The city’s geography means that air pollution is high, but 10,000 trees can absorb 45 tonnes of dust a year. This is a huge number, more than the weight of 2 buses! In addition, in the summer heat, the temperature in areas covered with trees can be up to 6-8 degrees Celsius lower, and the evaporation of the water makes it even warmer,” the deputy mayor said.
He added that the 10,000 trees provide 32 hectares of shade and sequester 80 tonnes of carbon dioxide and 200,000 litres of water annually.
“In addition to the tree planting in the neighbourhood, we will also continue the afforestation of several sites in cooperation with the government,” Ákos Balázs pointed out, adding that the completion of the Civaqua project will create a green corridor along the Tócó stream, which will contribute significantly to improving the city’s air quality.
“The Fidesz-KDNP faction is fully in favour of tree planting. Our representatives are in daily contact with the population, and all tree-planting requests are discussed with the office staff, who regularly respond to the population’s requests. It is important for us that the public spaces in the residential and residential areas of Debrecen are also beautiful and green. We thank the city administration for launching the “Plant 10 000 trees” programme, which we will achieve together in the spring,” said Viktor Papp, leader of the Fidesz-KDNP parliamentary group in Debrecen. He added that 1,300 trees will be planted in more than 200 locations during the rest of this year.
Zoltán Piros, municipal councillor for the district, said that several green initiatives had been launched in addition to the urban tree planting. These included the distribution of rainwater collection containers, flower planting, the distribution of used cooking oil collection containers and the distribution of green leaf bags. The representative underlined that the Future of Debrecen programme encourages action and collective thinking among the city’s inhabitants.
Source and photo credit: Debrecen.hu
