Debrecen4U June 25, 2026

Debrecen City Council Approves Establishment of Urban Forests

In a proposal unanimously supported by the City Council, opposition councillor Károly Pákh urged the launch of the Debrecen Urban Forest Programme in response to the negative local impacts of climate change, the urban heat island effect, and the need to improve air quality and quality of life. Under his proposal, small, densely planted urban forest patches would be created at various locations throughout the city, consisting of tree and shrub species that are both urban and drought-tolerant.

Primarily, he recommends contiguous areas of municipal wasteland or grassland as suitable sites, particularly where vegetation becomes scorched during periods of drought and provides no practical benefit. Regular mowing of such areas incurs costs and causes soil compaction through trampling. As the basic micro-landscape and microclimate remain unchanged, the survival prospects of standard trees planted through traditional afforestation programmes in these locations are also relatively low.

According to Károly Pákh, potential locations could include Újkert, Vénkert, the edge of the Great Forest, vacant fields on the outskirts of the city, areas surrounding industrial parks and Tócóvölgy. He also put forward specific site proposals, including the area between Füredi Road and Miklós Sinai Road, the corner of Füredi Road and Böszörményi Road, Lehel Street, the junction of Pallagi Road and Nagyerdei Boulevard, and the end of Hadházi Road. Further suggested locations include areas along Derék Street and István Road.

During the debate on the proposal, it was noted that 30,000 new trees are planned to be planted in Debrecen by the end of the current council term. Responding to comments made by Éva Kozma, President of the Mikepércs Mothers for the Environment Association (MIAKÖ), Mayor László Papp stated that the government must make the decisions necessary for the continuation of the Civaqua Programme as quickly as possible. Otherwise, the project will not proceed within the current European Union budgetary cycle.

Sourcet: dehir.hu | Photo credit: debrecen.hu