Environmental groups in Hungary have taken to the streets to protest against new government rules allowing large quantities of trees to be cut down for firewood.

The decree, which came into effect on August 5, removed several existing restrictions on tree felling.

Thousands gathered in the country's capital Budapest to demand the government withdraw the decree.

READ MORE

CGTN special: Cost-of-living crisis across Europe

Meet the 'sappers' dealing with Ukraine’s unexploded bombs

Which food has the worst environmental impact?

The new rules have been announced during a state of emergency as the country faces an energy crisis.

Since the conflict started in Ukraine, European Union member countries have been seeking energy alternatives to Russian gas imports.

A significant number of Hungarians still rely on firewood instead of gas to heat their homes, and the government says it must ensure they have enough wood during the winter months.

The loosening of restrictions allows clear felling in a number of forests, where most or all trees in an area are uniformly chopped down.

This includes trees in protected forests, national parks and nature conservation areas, and also means new roads can be built in protected areas to transport the wood.

'Cutting forests amid climate crisis'

There was a large protest last week as well, organized by opposition party LMP, and smaller rallies are expected to continue to take place across the country.

LMP co-leader Erzsebet Schmuck previously told the media, "No government in Europe would start cutting down forests amid a climate and water crisis."

Like much of the continent, Hungary is experiencing the worst drought in decades – water levels have fallen in Lake Velence, just outside Budapest, prompting concerns over its impact on wildlife and tourism.

Similarly, farmers have struggled to grow crops without adequate rain water, and some are looking at alternative produce that can survive in the dry soil.

'We cannot allow senseless destruction'

An open letter to Prime Minister Viktor Orban – organized by environmental charity World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Hungary and other civil society groups – has already been signed by more than 100,000 people and 300 organizations.

"We are aware of the need for timber and firewood, but this must not result in the clearing of protected forests and the overuse of the forest resources of future generations," reads the letter.

"We cannot allow senseless destruction and that this government decree must be withdrawn."

On August 17, Agriculture Minister Nagy Istvan announced changes to certain elements of the decree, defining the forests where culling is permitted.

Officials also stressed that the new rules are temporary and dismissed "false assumptions" about the decree in the press.

WWF Hungary welcomed the news, but said the "fight is not over" and that the whole decree must be withdrawn.