400 trees in Ócsa
On 11 January, 13 of our dedicated colleagues headed to Ócsa for a special working day. Thus, a project launched last year under the Sustainability Programme entered its final phase on this day.
Last year, DT-ITS provided financial support for tree planting projects as part of the Sustainability Programme, and members of the Green Activist community were eligible to apply for the funding. They were also responsible for finding the location and organising the programme. With the help of our colleague Imre Mezei, a tree planting project took place in the Protected Landscape Area of Ócsa, where our colleagues planted 400 2-year-old saplings in cooperation with the “Erdőmentők”. We asked Imre about the volunteer programme.
Planting a tree in January?
Indeed, the idea initially raised doubts in many people’s minds. It is not usually done in January, when the ground is frozen and the trees have low chances of survival. This year, however, the warmest January in decades has disproved all previous experience. It rained steadily for two days at the beginning of the week, as it usually does in autumn, and on Wednesday we woke up to a pleasant spring day. We were prepared for knee-deep mud and did not have high hopes of success. However, when we arrived, we soon realised that the terrain was perfect for what we had come for. The bog forest is still recovering from the shock of last year’s drought.
The action was supervised by a staff member of the Danube-Ipoly National Park. What did you find out about the area and why was it so important to plant trees here?
Our professional organisers started by presenting the landscape and highlighting its ecological importance. Emphasizing a critical piece of information today: certain layers of the bog forest have been storing carbon dioxide for 7000 years… We learned that, unfortunately, the older individuals of the current plant population will soon all perish due to a fungal infection. The oaks and common alders we have planted will now form a new, resistant forest. Of course, the process of planting the trees correctly was explained in detail and then the real work could begin.
How was the planting accomplished with this few colleagues?
The team worked tirelessly digging the holes and planting the little seedlings. To the surprise of the organisers, the last one was out by half past one, adding a total of 400 trees to the forest, which is now a little bit ours.
If someone wants to explore the area for themselves, where can they go?
The area is the perfect spring destination for colleagues from Budapest. The trees almost grow out of the water at this time of year. Look for the „Selyem-réti” trail in your GPS!
