DAMAGE TO FARMLAND AND THE ENVIRONMENT

KÁLMÁN BOTOND GÉZA– MALATYINSZKI SZILÁRD

Keywords: Keywords: red mud disaster, environmental protection, agriculture, soil degradation, legal liability: The red mud disaster is based on the "polluter pays" legal principle JEL-codes: Q15, Q53, Q58, K32, Q01

Teljes cikk
The study examines the environmental, economic and social impacts of the 2010 red sludge disaster in Devecser, with a special focus on the practical application of the polluter pays principle. It uses the example of the disaster to illustrate the shortcomings of the legal and institutional framework in Hungary and the difficulties of repairing environmental damage. In the case of agricultural land, long-term soil degradation has been the main challenge. In the affected regions, even after more than ten years, soil fertility has not returned to pre-disaster levels, with small farms and family farms particularly affected. It also addresses the impact on agriculture, with a particular focus on soil degradation and land reclamation. The case study explores ways to improve environmental regulation and disaster management through comparison with international examples. The involvement of local farmers has proven to be key to the recovery efforts. In addition to government support, farmers have mobilised their own resources, for example by testing alternative crops and introducing innovative solutions for soil revitalisation. The aim of the study is to make recommendations for better management of disasters that also affect agricultural land and for better enforcement of legal and economic liability. It would be important to develop a comprehensive education programme for farmers, focusing on practical steps for post-disaster soil rehabilitation, crop selection and environmental legal knowledge. In the long term, this would strengthen the role of farmers in implementing sustainable agricultural practices. DOI: https://doi.org/10.53079/GAZDALKODAS.69.2.t.pp_144-157