The Hortobágy National Park Directorate is set to begin implementing the project titled “Development of Water Supply and Nature Conservation Management of the Hortobágy Old Lakes” (KEHOP_PLUSZ-3.2.1-24-2025-00021), thanks to 650 million forints in EU funding, with a 100% support intensity. This investment is carried out under the Environmental and Energy Efficiency Operational Programme Plus (KEHOP Plusz), which allocates a total of 42 billion forints to support nature conservation across Hungary’s ten national parks.
The Hortobágy Old Lakes, also known as the Hortobágy Fishponds, stretch over 1,850 hectares and are considered one of Central Europe’s most important wetland habitats. The goal of the project is to preserve the lakes, some of which are suitable for extensive aquaculture, to renovate the water supply and regulation infrastructure, and to maintain the ecological condition of the ponds over the long term. The work is expected to commence in early 2027, with full completion planned by the end of 2029.
This new investment is closely linked to the previous LIFE11 NAT/HU/000924 project, “Habitat Management of Grazing Ponds in the Hortobágy,” which aimed at restoring near-natural water flow and grazing pond habitats with direct EU support. This earlier program was recently highlighted by László Kiss, Deputy Chairman of the Development, Planning, and Strategy Committee of the Hajdú-Bihar County Council, on the European Committee of the Regions’ Instagram page as a best-practice example.
In an interview with Debreceni Nap, Kiss stated: “All stakeholders involved in environmental projects must take advantage of these grant opportunities while the current EU development cycle is still ongoing. The recently published 2025 LIFE Programme calls also offer tremendous opportunities, yet unfortunately there is a risk that environmental protection will experience the largest funding cuts in the next budgetary period. Here in Hajdú-Bihar, local governments and environmental NGOs aim to implement as many projects as possible, even beyond our normal capacity, to serve nature conservation. I am available to anyone seeking guidance on these funding opportunities.”
Under KEHOP Plusz, a total of 60 nature conservation projects are being launched across the country, aiming to improve the ecological condition of over 100,000 hectares. The Hortobágy Old Lakes development is one of the flagship projects of the programme, playing a crucial role not only in preserving the natural treasures of the Hortobágy but also in fostering biodiversity, promoting sustainable land management, and supporting the future development of tourism.
Detailed information about the ongoing project can be found on the Hortobágy National Park Directorate’s website. For comprehensive details on the 2025 LIFE Programme—L’Instrument Financier pour l’Environnement, the European Union’s direct financial instrument supporting environmental policy—the official CINEA website provides the latest calls and guidance.
(Source: debreceninap.hu)
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