Homokhátság region faces increasing drought risks

The Homokhátság region in the Kiskunság area is experiencing significant drying due to rising average temperatures and increased evaporation. While annual precipitation levels have not yet shown a definitive downward trend, forecasts suggest a decrease in summer rainfall.

Research conducted by the HUN-REN Ecological Research Centre indicates that while trees and shrubs can increase the resilience of grasslands by moderating heat and maintaining higher humidity in upper soil layers, large-scale afforestation may pose risks. Extensive tree plantations can potentially dry out deeper soil layers and reduce biodiversity.

László Erdős, a senior researcher at the HUN-REN Ecological Research Centre, suggests that the solution lies in a natural mosaic of forests, shrubs, and grasslands rather than total afforestation or complete removal of trees. Fieldwork in protected areas has revealed increasingly barren landscapes where native vegetation is struggling to survive the drought.