Today, the NARIC Forest Research Institute (ERTI) is the heart of the institutionalized and independent forest research in Hungary existing from 1898. More than a Century passed since then, which is not considered a very long time in the case of forests as their life span covers several human generations. With our researches concerning several disciplines (ecology, silviculture, selective breeding, forest protection and plantation forestry), the Institute focuses on the problem: how to introduce sustainability in forest management. Our results are revealed on national and international conferences, and also in professional journals. Some of them are founded and edited by the Institute (Bulletin of Forestry Science and Acta Silvatica et Lignaria Hungarica).
Our RDI projects address the current issues related to today’s forest management:
- During the analysis of potential impacts of climate change, we examine the responses of forests to certain environmental impacts and its role in the carbon cycle. The analysis of long-term datasets serves as a basis to construct future scenarios. The acquired knowledge is utilized in a national DSS (Decision Support System) enabling the science-based professional decision-making even on the level of forest compartments, as well as the formation of adaptation strategies and the research cooperation with other branches of agriculture.
- The Institute improves the natural process based management methods to reduce the ratio of clear-cut areas and to preserve the diversity of species and species in forest ecosystems.
- Our aim is to present new varieties of hybrid poplars, domestic poplar and acacia which can be planted as high-yield energy crops, cultivated among home site conditions safely, and are resistant to disease, as well as suitable for the establishment of energy and industrial plantations. Our other goal is to optimize their production method.
In addition, as for other fundamental tasks, the Institute runs the operation of the national Forestry Light-trap Network, takes part in the monitoring of forest ecosystems, the conservation of ex situ forest gene bank collections , in providing sealed propagation material, education, and organizing events and conferences.
The Institute manages the Arboretum of Sárvár, the Kámoni Arboretum at Szombathely, the Arboretum of Püspökladány, as well as operates The Ecotourism Visitor and Training Center of Kámon and the Tury Elemér Ecocamp.
Besides the reseach activites, there are further services provided from which site surveys, giving peer review about fertilization, offering management technologies, and recommending forest pest control methods must be pointed out. Moreover, the Institute engages in DNA-based forensic laboratory activities to confine illegal logging. The NARIC FRI GeoPortal (www.ertigis.hu) developed by our colleagues serves as the GIS display of our results. Our breed selector application, available on our website, offers those interested in poplar plantations valuable expert help. Using the ArborSonic 3D Acoustic Tomograph, the health status of the trunk of old trees in frequented places can be examined.
The new generation of researchers occupies a significant role in managing all of these and in the further development of forest research.