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Hortobagy's Marshes Saved by Emergency Water Flow
17 Jul
Summary
- Water is being channeled into Hungary's Hortobagy National Park.
- Severe drought threatened the UNESCO World Heritage site's wetlands.
- Millions of cubic meters of water are being supplied from an irrigation canal.
Hungarian authorities are actively working to preserve the drought-stricken marshlands within Hortobagy National Park, a site recognized by UNESCO. Severe drought conditions this year prompted a significant ecological water replenishment effort.
Approximately 2 million cubic meters of water are being diverted into the 'Fekete ret' area from the Nyugati irrigation canal. This intervention is crucial, as the marshlands have a history of drying out, with complete desiccation and significant fires occurring in 2022 during a previous drought.
Lajos Gal, a regional unit manager at the Hortobagy National Park Directorate, noted the early arrival of heat and a substantial water deficit at the start of the year. He emphasized that without this emergency water supply, the area would currently be entirely dry. Climate change and reduced precipitation are cited as long-term factors impacting the park's ecosystem and bird migration patterns.
Gal also observed changes in bird migration, with spring arrivals occurring earlier. While some species have become less common, others, like the little pygmy cormorant, are now present in healthier numbers. He advocates for long-term solutions, including retaining water flow into Hungary to secure the future of these wetlands.
