Deforestration and Afforestration in the Pilis Mountains

Nyírő, András

Keywords: sustainable development, forestry, state intervention, generational equity, deforestration, Q01, Q23, Q28

At the dawn of the industrial revolution, large-scale deforestation began throughout Europe. Due to the economic policy of the Habsburg court, Hungary was more affected by the process than the rest of the empire. After extensive deforestation related to the 18th century potash fever, the government tried to regulate forest protection and, through its own means, supported the exploration of alternative energy sources. However, economic motivation was stronger than regulation. Deforestation continued with great force to meet the energy demand of the industrial revolution.
From an economic point of view, the cost of replacing forests was paid by the next generations. That is why wood was a cheap source of energy during the industrial revolution.
In Hungary, the legislator tried in Law 1879 to pay the costs left by previous generations with the current owners of the areas. It is apparent from international practice and later solutions that the state financed the elimination of the effects of damage. However, with recultivation in Europe, the pine forests have been put into focus. In Hungary, experts have repeatedly called attention to the disadvantages of monoculture deployments. The large forest fire in Pilisvörösvár in 1993 highlighted the immediate dangers of pine forests, and then planted deciduous trees on the barren.
The history of deforestation draws attention to the existence of negative externalities that cannot be identified at the time of the activity. In these cases, it is not an endeavor to internalize externalities. The general environmental tax on economic activities can solve this problem.

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