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Environmental information systems
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The indicator shows the share of designated terrestrial protected areas expressed as a share of the total land area. It includes areas protected by other effective area-based conservation measures. The EU and global targets aim for 30% protection.
Hungary is rich in natural resources. In 2022, the combined coverage of natural areas of national importance protected by specific legislation and the Natura 2000 network amounted to 22.2 % of Hungary’s territory.
The Natura 2000 network in Hungary consists of 479 special areas of conservation and 56 special protection areas for birds, together covering an area of around 1.99 million ha (21.4 % of Hungary’s territory). The Natura 2000 network is partly based on the network of protected natural areas designated under Hungarian legislation. There are 327 natural areas of national importance protected by specific legislation, covering 849 150 ha as of 31 December 2024.
In 2023, the Hungarian government approved a national strategy for the conservation of biodiversity until 2030. In order to preserve protected areas, active nature conservation measures, habitat restoration interventions and species conservation activities are to be implemented and nature conservation efforts will be better integrated into activities in all sectors. There are 10 national parks in Hungary, which play an important role in maintaining protected areas and preserving natural resources.
References and footnotes
- a bGovernment of Hungary, National strategy for the conservation of biodiversity until 2030, Budapest, 2023, accessed 2 July 2025, https://cdn.kormany.hu//uploads/sheets//1/14/141/14141a7031c32aa7f9338edf332e811.pdf.
- ↵Ministry of Agriculture, Natura 2000 Priorizált Intézkedési Terv – Magyarország, Budapest, 2021, accessed 2 July 2025, https://termeszetvedelem.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Natura2000_Intezkedesi_Terv_2021marcius.pdf.
- ↵Ministry of Agriculture, ‘Országos jelentőségű, egyedi jogszabállyal védett természeti területek’, Termeszetvedelem website, 2021, accessed 2 July 2025, https://termeszetvedelem.hu/orszagos-jelentosegu-egyedi-jogszaballyal-vedett-termeszeti-teruletek/.
- ↵Hungarian National Assembly, Resolution No 62 of 7 December 2022 on the 5th national environmental programme until 2026, accessed 2 July 2025, https://xn--krnyezetvdelem-jkb3r.hu/sites/default/files/media/docs/nkp-5.pdf.