Environmental Project At The Zero Point

István Bocskai, the spokesman of the Ministry of Defence greeted those who were present at the press conference held in Veszprém. He said: today it is natural that soldiers pay attention to the resources of nature and avoid causing irreversible damage to the fauna and flora while implementing their tasks in the country and in theatres of operations. The tender that has just been awarded to the Agency provides an opportunity for the troops to contribute to the protection of the environment to a greater extent, and for the specific implementation of their environment-related tasks outlined in the National Military Strategy.

By signing an agreement, the organizations participating in the programme have undertaken to implement the tasks specified in the tender. The agreement was signed by Brigadier General (Eng.) Gábor Csák, Chief Executive Officer of MoD Infrastructural Agency, Mr Zsolt Kulcsár, Chief Executive Officer of MoD Veszprém Forest Management Close Company, Mr László Balogh, Director of the Balaton Uplands National Park Directorate, and Mr Péter Udud, Chief Executive Officer of AQUAPROFIT Technical, Consulting and Investment Closed Company.

In his speech following the signature, Minister of Defence Imre Szekeres underlined: the fact that a state-owned company has been awarded such a considerable sum for an environmental programme in a tender process is of great significance. In the last decade, military commanders on various command levels have paid special attention to the protection of the environment. At present, 16 percent of the NATURA 2000 areas in Hungary fall under the supervision of the Ministry of Defence, thus the responsibility of the portfolio is especially great as regards the management and operation of these areas in line with environmental regulations. Last year, MoD was awarded 6.6 billion forints for various remediation programmes, as a result of its successful tenders. These sums can be used for remediation at the Tarnaszetmária and Felcsút fuel bases, the Székesfehérvár fuel filling station, and the Szolnok central fuel depot in the future. The ministry has submitted another tender – under consideration at the moment – for its 4.9 billion forint remediation programme at the Ócsa fuel base. This allows for a 11.5 billion forint appropriation for the 2009 projects. In the same year, the Ministry of Defence will submit further tenders concerning Mezõkövesd and Taszár. Simultaneously, the portfolio will expend billions on environmental protection from its own budget as well, naturally. The defence forces have also achieved significant results in the ‘For a ragweed-free Hungary’ programme for instance.

Brigadier General Gábor Csák said that by today, military and environmental activities have been successfully harmonized. With the agreement signed today, a new process will be launched at the Várpalota shooting range of the armed forces, the rehabilitation of nature, and this piece of work will define the environmental tasks of the defence portfolio for five years. Of course, they will also update the public continuously on the realization of the programme. László Balogh emphasized: in the programme they will be focusing on the areas which have been the scenes of active military activity in recent years. They would like to achieve that natural habitats remained and even multiplied in the future. Now the military shooting range means a lifeless area for the public, but with the help of the programme, the opposite can be proven. Zsolt Kulcsár also called attention to the fact that as a result of this programme, this military area may return to the circle where nature can live by its own rules again. The plot of land is suitable for forest management, and even jobs can be kept by the recovery. The programme was launched in 2007, and based on western experiences, they have begun to think about how major environmental investments can be realized by involving external resources. The outcome of the two years is the signing of the document.

The press conference went on at the zero point shooting range, the area of which exceeds 13 000 hectares, managed by HM VERGA. The leaders of the organizations participating in the project have demonstrated at the site what specific tasks will be implemented in the coming five years.

Pannonian pubescent oak is indigenous to the shooting range. This species is able to tolerate the relatively dry, cool climate of the Bakony region and can grow in the local rocky soil as well. The participants have learned that the forests in the area burned down 8-10 times in the past 30-40 years. In the framework of the programme they want to protect these forests – in addition to others – by creating ’firebreaks’ so that fires starting in the underbrush cannot spread to the forest. They will also upgrade the roads in order that fire engines can approach the sources of fire, and a large reservoir will be constructed that allows for the water supply to fight the fires. The reservoir will be built in a spot where rainwater from the nearby hills gathers naturally, which will be deepened and isolated so that it can provide water for a longer period, which is necessary to fight a fire.

In this area there are a great number of facilities and bunkers which have lost their functions by today. These will be pulled down, and in the parts that have been tampered with, first the lawn, and then the original conditions of the area will be recovered. As a result of grazing, alien plants and weedy areas may disappear as well. Environmental conservation initiations will be launched in order that indigenous flora and fauna can multiply. Protected bird species, such as saker falcons and imperial eagles are looked after, even nests are prepared for them to help their multiplication. Ground squirrels will also be planted into the area, guaranteeing food for the birds of prey and other animals. Instead of pine forests, leafy forests will be planted, fences for games will be constructed, keeping large games living in the area in a safe place. In certain zones they will have the ammunition collected as well.

The programme fits the implementation of the NATURA 2000 environmental regulations of the European Union to the maximum extent. In its bird protection and habitat protection directives, NATURA 2000 stipulates what is important in the field of environmental protection at EU-level, and what are those resources that must be protected. The tender submitted by MoD has met these requirements and upon awarding the tender amount, the EU has approved the protection of these resources. With the implementation of the programme, the NATURA 2000 network will also develop in the eastern Bakony area.