A termőföldek és a környezet kárai

The study examines the environmental, economic and social impacts of the 2010 Devecser red mud disaster, with particular attention to the practical application of the “polluter pays” principle. Using the example of the disaster, it illustrates the shortcomings of the Hungarian legal and institutional framework and the difficulties in restoring environmental damage. In the case of agricultural areas, long-term soil degradation was the greatest challenge. In the affected regions, soil fertility has not returned to pre-disaster levels even after more than ten years, which has particularly affected small farms and family farms. It also addresses the impacts on agriculture, with particular emphasis on soil damage and land reclamation. The case study explores the possibilities for making environmental regulation and disaster management more effective by comparing it with international examples. The participation of local farmers has proven to be crucial in the restoration work. In addition to state support, farmers have also mobilized their own resources, for example by testing alternative crops and introducing innovative solutions for soil revitalization. The study aims to make recommendations for managing disasters affecting agricultural areas and for more effective enforcement of legal and economic responsibility. It would be important to develop a comprehensive educational program for farmers, which would focus on practical steps for post-disaster soil rehabilitation, crop selection and environmental law knowledge. This would strengthen the role of farmers in the application of sustainable agricultural practices in the long term.