István Fazekas

Increasing anthropogenic disturbance in urban areas and the expansion of built-up zones into surrounding rural landscapes represent one of the most significant spatial and ecological challenges of recent decades. Urban expansion influences not only land use patterns but also the ecological integrity and naturalness of the landscape. In the present study, anthropogenic landscape change trends and changes in land cover categories were investigated within the current administrative boundaries of Nyíregyháza, a county seat located in northeastern Hungary. Using data from the CORINE Land Cover program (1990, 2000, 2012, 2018) and historical military surveys (1819–1869), landscape development trends within the municipality were examined over the past one and a half centuries. Particular attention was focused on examining changes in the extent of built-up areas, which are among the most concerning from a landscape ecological perspective. By comparing the results with data from other Hungarian cities (Debrecen and Szeged), a significant increase—nearly 20%—in built-up areas was identified. The proportion of built-up areas in relation to the total municipal administrative area increased in all the periods studied, even in those where the population was decreasing. This indicates that even in municipalities experiencing demographic decline, internal population redistribution may lead to the spatial growth of certain neighborhoods, which are the primary contributors to the expansion of built-up urban areas. Finally, based on CORINE Land Cover data, the ecological conditions of Nyíregyháza were assessed, and a hemeroby map of the municipality was created, reflecting landscape changes that occurred between 1990 and 2018. It was found that over a 28-year period, the total area of the most ecologically problematic meta- and polyhemerobic categories increased by 6%, in parallel with the growth of built-up areas.

Angling tourism is becoming increasingly important at Central Europe’s largest lowland reservoir, Lake Tisza. The lake, created in the 1970s, covers 127 km² and has been increasingly used for recreational and nature conservation purposes recently. This study seeks to identify anglers’ site selection preferences at Lake Tisza, considering hydrological and ecological aspects, in support of sustainable site management. In order to achieve this, an in-person questionnaire survey was carried out covering the whole area during springtime 2024. During the survey period, a total of 224 anglers provided answers about their preferred location and recreational characteristics. Data processing was carried out using SPSS 26 and ESRI ArcGIS version 10.4.1. Based on the created catchment area map, it was found that a significant proportion (74%) of anglers arrive from within a 50 km radius, but the lake also has appeal outside the country. A total of 53.1% of respondents visit the lake several times per month, typically for fishing purposes. In addition, cycling, walking and picnicking are popular recreational activities among anglers. The respondents considering different landscapes (pictures showed by the interviewers) for angling prefer shaded areas with vegetation and a narrow view of the wide expanse of water (62%). The results of the open-ended questions indicate that site selection is primarily based on the existence of a shadow (49.5%), and suitability for fishing is only the second aspect (40.6%). Our study also highlighted the international trend that anglers are more interested in leisure activities in a green environment. In addition, the results have practical significance for more successful recreation planning and sustainable site management.

Lake Tisza is a lowland reservoir with an area of 127 km2 in the middle of the Carpathian Basin established in the 1970s. Among its original functions, in addition to flood control, it was expected to irrigate a larger agricultural area and increase water freight transport. Today, buffering of extreme water conditions, nature conservation and recreation have become the main profiles. The diverse hydroecological features and mosaic landscape structure of the lake allow for versatile nature conservation and utilization in tourism. This differentiated use is in line with the worldwide trend of favouring locations with multiple leisure activities in close proximity to each other. Lake Tisza offers fishing, swimming, sailing, canoeing, nature observation boating and cycling opportunities, but due to its status as a Ramsar bird conservation site, it is also a valuable destination for ornithologists. In the course of our research, we examined the current spatial pattern of these activities and the possible arrangement of expedient further development.

The increasing number of visitors and conflicts resulting from shared use in valorising sensitive wetlands make effective visitor and site management measures essential. In the course of this research, the landscape pattern, the current spatial distribution of tourist activities and the possible arrangement of expedient further development were examined. The study area, Lake Tisza, is an artificial lowland reservoir established in the 1970s with an area of 127 km² in Hungary. Among its original functions, in addition to flood control, nature conservation and recreation have become the main profiles. The diverse hydro-ecological features and mosaic landscape structure allow for nature conservation and utilisation in tourism. This differentiated use is in line with the worldwide trend of favouring locations with multiple leisure activities in close proximity to each other. Based on the CORINE Land Cover (CLC) 2018 database, 12 different land use categories were identified in the study area. The largest proportion is represented by water bodies (53.29%), while inland marshes and broad-leaved forests cover 22.25% and 16.64%, respectively. The heterogeneity of the area is considerably enhanced by the high patch sizes of the categories pastures, broad-leaved forests and inland marshes. According to the Shannon diversity index, the most complex landscape diversity can be found in the Tiszavalk (1.5) and Poroszló (1.4) basins, considered to be the most suitable for ecotourism, while the lower values of the Sarud (1.1) and Abadszalók (1.1) basins provide suitable conditions for water sport activities and recreational tourism. Continuous adaptation to social needs and the joint protection of natural values is crucial for the sustainable development of Lake Tisza.

Outdoor recreation has grown rapidly in recent years, with an increasing preference for areas in good ecological condition. Since lakes represent some of the most important wetlands, providing a wide variety of ecosystem services, they have become a very popular destination. The present study aimed to assess the water quality of the largest artificial lake in Hungary (Kisköre Reservoir—Lake Tisza), and the role of ecological status in tourism development. Monthly water sampling from the basins of the lake (Tiszavalk, Poroszló, Sarud and Abádszalók basins) took place from April–November 2021 and in 2022. The majority of samples from the river section and from the lake are classified as Ca²⁺-HCO₃⁻ type or mixed Ca²⁺-Na⁺-HCO₃⁻ type. According to the results, the water quality of each basin is considered excellent or good. Rapid warming of the shallow water of the basins was detected during the summer months, resulting in different hydrochemical characteristics (pH, NH₄-N, NO₂-N, NO₃-N, PO₄-P, COD_cr BOI₅) compared to the river section. Differences in the plant nutrient and oxygen balance component groups have been revealed with hierarchical and two-step cluster analysis as well. The results demonstrated that the hydrochemical properties of the lake’s water are substantially influenced by the filling of the lake in spring from the River Tisza and the significant lowering (1.2 m) of the water level in the autumn each year, allowing the drainage of stagnant water, the removal of accumulated sediments and the oxidation of organic matter. The number of tourists on Lake Tisza has increased rapidly over the last decade, confirming that a wide range of ecosystem services have a significant attractive impact on waterfront activities and ecotourism.

Kerényi Attila geográfus professzor 1943-ban született Sátoraljaújhelyen. 1967-ben földrajz–biológia szakos tanári diplomát szerzett a debreceni Kossuth Lajos Tudományegyetemen. Hazai és nemzetközi elismertségét és kandidátusi disszertációját az 1980-as években folytatott talajeróziós kutatásaival szerezte. Az 1990-es években táj- és környezetvédelmi publikációival, tan- és szakkönyveivel szerzett országos hírnevet és akadémiai doktori címet. Tudományos munkásságát számos kitüntetéssel ismerték el.

In this study, the word association method was applied in relation to municipalities in Eastern Hungary (Hajdú-Bihar county), where the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP) already exists, and where the SECAP has not yet been introduced. In addition to the six municipalities examined, Debrecen, a county seat with the SECAP, was also included in the survey. The aim was to explore the conceptual networks related to climate change and the strength of the relationship between the stimulus word and the associated concepts. The associations representing a common meaning were categorised. The results show that the distribution of conceptual networks and that of categories related to climate change exhibit a similar picture in the group of municipalities with (3 villages) and without the SECAP (3 villages), although significant differences were found when the settlements were examined separately (7 municipalities). Studying the distribution of categories by demographic groups, it was found that educational attainment determines, to the greatest extent, the answers.

A country’s economic situation, its political establishment, and the prevailing environmental conditions have a significant impact on the institutional system required for efficient environmental protection measures. During our work, we reviewed the institutional changes and legislation regarding environmental protection which have occurred over the past 20 years as well as the role of changes in the government. In summary, it can be concluded that significant changes occurred during the past two decades. The names, organizational structures, operations, and scopes of ministries have undergone regular changes over the years. In Hungary, there has been no separate ministry of the environment since 2010, and this area is regulated only on the state secretary level. In contrast, in the V4 countries and the Carpathian Basin, environmental protection is regulated on the ministry level.

According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its implementation framework, Hungary is obligated to compile a National Climate Change Strategy (NCCS). The first and the reviewed version (NCCS-2) were completed for the period of 2008-2025 and 2017-2030, respectively, with an outlook until 2050. The objectives of the UN and the EU determine the planning and interventional tasks and they are in accordance with them. As part of the Environmental and Energy Efficiency Operative Program (EEEOP), the European Union and Hungary support the development of county-level and local climate strategies. Since for the adaptation to be successful, the collaboration between different planning levels is of paramount importance, in our study we aim to investigate how well the documents compiled in the Hungarian planning levels are integrated and whether they are in accordance with the international objectives. Furthermore, we also investigate the degree of which the compiled strategies focus on locally arising problems. The county-level climate strategies have been already completed in the framework of the EEEOP tender, while the development of strategies for the settlements are currently in progress. The county-level climate strategies completely cover the national objectives, which are in accordance with the objectives of the EU. The county-level climate strategies contain specific objectives regarding the given county, depending on how the climate change is expected to impact the region, as well as the economic, social and natural attributes of the counties.

The aim of our report is to refer on the actual state of small biogas power plants in Hungary summarising the increase in their number and capacity and their effects on climatic change. The above is based on the CO₂ emission of the energetic utilization of biogas and the calculation of its ecological footprint that were compared to the environmental effects of natural gas energetic utilization. The aim of this paper does not include the complete life cycle analysis therefore the environmental benefits of the energetic utilization of biogas produced from various raw material are presented via only the direct CO₂ emission of the production process.