The Hungarian government has launched large-scale emergency measures to protect the wetlands within Hortobágy National Park, which are currently facing a severe threat of drought.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, approximately two million cubic meters of water are being diverted to the "Fekete-rét" area—the largest wetland zone within the park, which is also a designated UNESCO World Heritage site—via the "Nyugati" irrigation canal.
Lajos Gál, a regional manager at the National Park Directorate, stated that the area has faced critical water shortages due to acute drought conditions observed during the spring months. He emphasized that without this intervention, the complete drying of the wetland would have been inevitable.
Experts note that climate change and a significant reduction in precipitation are shrinking wetland areas, which in turn disrupts the migration patterns of various bird species. Hortobágy National Park, established in 1973 as Hungary's first national park, is renowned for its vast puszta (steppe) and serves as a vital habitat for migratory birds, making the preservation of its water ecosystems a priority for regional biodiversity.
Ecologists maintain that while the emergency water supply provides a necessary immediate solution, the development of long-term sustainable water management strategies remains essential to mitigate the ongoing impacts of climate change on the region.
