Arboretum project beautifies REC's head office premises

Photos: Nathan Johnson

In 1995, Hungary's government granted as an in-kind contribution the right of use of property in Szentendre, Hungary to the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) for a period of 99 years.

The property, now home to the REC's head office buildings and a conference centre, also features ample green space that is now much more attractive because of a two-year renovation project, which kicked off in 2005.

The Italian Trust Fund made a contribution of EUR 242,000 to the beautification effort, while Italy's Agroinnova developed the arboretum design concept.

Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament Katalin Szili was on hand in spring 2005 to commemorate the planting of the first tree as the project got underway.