Students and teachers revive wetland in Hungary
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Students and teachers at Batthyány Kázmér Gymnasium in Szigetszentmiklós, Hungary, successfully rehabilitated a floating bog damaged by 6000 liters of waste oil released into the Ráckevei-Duna branch six years ago.
The project began as a response to local pollution and grew into a nationally recognised conservation effort. Krisztina Beáta Sete and Zoltán Czita, the teachers who initiated and continue to coordinate the project, received the first “Természet Bajnokai” (Champions of Nature) award from WWF Hungary.
The teachers involved students in building new floating bog sections by planting native plants on rafts of reeds. Over the past six years, the students have constructed over 100 square meters of these new bog areas, aiming to restore the damaged habitat. The project has expanded to include partner schools in Germany and Satu Mare, Romania.
László Gajdos, the Minister for the Living Environment, attended the award ceremony and praised the group's work, stating that officials should not direct conservation efforts. Dr. Zoltán Fehér, professional director of WWF Hungary, emphasised that a functioning natural environment is essential for both social well-being and the economy. WWF Hungary created the award to highlight successful local conservation initiatives and provide financial support for continued work, with Coca-Cola HBC contributing funds to the bog rehabilitation project.
