Restart in Nature Conservation
“RESTART in Nature Conservation” Festival on the occasion of the 7th birthday of 10 Million Trees
Change is here! A liberating, hopeful change. Day by day, we are receiving good news that was previously thought to be almost unimaginable.
10 Million Trees is now calling together the leading thinkers, organizers, and decision-makers in the field of nature conservation for an inspiring, future-shaping meeting on the occasion of the foundation’s 7th birthday.
We would like to celebrate this renewal in a slightly different manner with a larger-scale, two-stage, three-day event, and we will be charging an entrance fee for the general public. Our goal is to collaboratively shape the concrete steps of a green social turnaround, initiating collaborations with real impact.
VENUE
DATE: July 3 – 5, 2026.
LOCATION: 8284 Kisapáti, Vulkán-kert
TICKET PRICES
Adult 3-day ticket: 14,990 HUF
Adult 1-day ticket: 7,990 HUF
Family 3-day ticket: 19,990 HUF, max. 2 adults with any number of students, children
Family 1-day ticket: 12,990 HUF, max. 2 adults with any number of students, children
Student ticket: 3,990 HUF flat rate
Child ticket: free for under 12 years old
Supporter ticket: 49,990 HUF
Every adult ticket holder will receive a personalized tree in the rebirth Miyawaki mini-forest!
Let’s meet at the foot of St. George Mountain – in the Vulkán garden!
PROGRAM (the order and starting times of the programs may still change)
🌱July 3, Friday
The best questions arise over a spritzer!
Afternoon: We will talk and connect
PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM
1:00 PM – 2:15 PM NATURE AND PSYCHE
Kati Réthy – biologist, agroecologist, founder of Szezon Kert
Tibor Weiner-Sennyey – beekeeper-poet-writer,
Moderator: Réka Aszalós – forest ecologist
1:30 PM – 2:45 PM THE SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT OF GENERATION Z
Balázs Csury – Liget Műhely
Olga Körner – executive, Bolygó Community Space
Mátyás Révai – human ecologist, Habitat HUB
Moderator: Emese Kovács-Bagoly – human ecologist
3:00 PM – 4:15 PM THE CHALLENGES OF BUILDING A SOCIAL BASE YESTERDAY AND TODAY
Zoltán Bajor – president, Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society – Budapest Local Group
Balázs Gerencsér – director, NIOK
László Gálhidy – forest program leader, WWF Hungary
Caitanya Das / Csaba Karádi – Krishna Valley
Ákos Klein – executive, Owl Protection Foundation
Csaba Lajtmann
– project manager, Reflex Environmental Association, Climate Protection Alliance
Moderator: Franciska Hervai – chief coordinator, 10 Million Trees Foundation
16:00-17:15 CAN WE STILL HOPEFULLY TALK ABOUT MANAGING THE CLIMATE CRISIS?
Ákos Éger – executive president, Hungarian Nature Conservationists’ Association
András Takács-Sánta – human ecologist, university lecturer, ELTE
Diana Ürge-Vorsatz – professor, CEU; vice-chair, UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Moderator: András Bojár – founder, 10 Million Trees Foundation
18:30-19:15 WHAT DO OWLS TEACH US?
Ákos Klein: presentation and screening
CULTURAL PROGRAMS:
all-day all-day Kállai Márton “Methuselahs” outdoor photo exhibition and book fair (afternoon guided tour with the photographer)
all-day Romani Design Exhibition and shop
all-day book fair and merch sales
16:00-16:30 Kállai Márton photographer’s guided tour
17:30-18:30 BETWEEN MAN AND GOD
András Bojár’s live music reading accompanied by Edina Mókus Szirtes
19:15-19:45 Zsófia Kemény
reading from the poetry collection titled Now or Never, followed by a conversation with the author
20:00-21:00 Zsófia Viczián: TREE LEGENDARIUM
or stories encased in bark (reading and screening)
21:00-22:00 János Bárth: concert Philosopher’s beat
22:00-23:00 PAJTAMOZI:
Balázs Szendőfi documentary titled “SENSE”
23:00-until dawn playlist – Dávid Hervai (screening: METU short films in the meantime)
🌿 July 4. SATURDAY
The day when we understand everything…
PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM
10:00-11:15 Current issues in domestic nature conservation (joint discussion led by Zoltán Aszalós)
11:15-12:15 MIYAWAKI-MINI FORESTS: THE GREEN OASES OF CITIES
Hajnalka Cserna – landscape architect, manager of FŐKERT
András Zakar – head gardener, Budavári Municipalityt
Attila Dobrovitz – leader, Hatvan Tree Nursery
Moderator: Mihály Haraszti – landscape architect, 10 Million Trees Foundation
12:20-13:00 András Bojár: THE LAND’S CONQUEST – presentation
13:00-14:15 THE FOUNDATION OF EVERYTHING: WATER
Zsombor Hibbey – forestry and wildlife management expert, Water Divide Movement
Ágnes Magyar-Ábel – communication consultant, community organizer, Water Coalition
András Németh – Eco Pál, Water Guardians Movement
Balázs Szendőfi – nature filmmaker, composer, fish researcher
Green Guerrilla (László Kulcsár)
Moderator: Balázs Bozzay, forestry and ESG expert, ambassador of 10 Million Trees and the European Climate Pact
14:30-15:45 RENEWING THE FUNCTIONS OF FORESTS
Levente Bagdán – forestry director, Mecsekerdő Zrt
Dr. Péter Csépányi – deputy CEO for forestry management and nature conservation, Pilisi Parkerdő Zrt.
Péter Koncz – ecological expert, HUN-REN Ecological Research Center
József Vers – regional manager, Balaton Uplands National Park Directorate
József Fidlóczky – project manager, Life4Oak Forests included in the fresh
Moderator: Zoltán Bajor – head of nature conservation and forest management, FŐKERT – BKM Nonprofit Zrt.
15:00–16:00 REDUCE-REUSE-RECYCLE and the role of the circular economy in building society
16:00-17:15 URBAN CLIMATE ADAPTATION EXPERIMENTS – OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Péter Dezsényi – CEO, FŐKERT – BKM Nonprofit Zrt.
Gábor Porhajas – regional economist, Alliance of Climate-Friendly Municipalities, URBAVIS
Péter Rózsahegyi – municipal representative, Budapest XVII., ambassador of the European Climate Pact
Moderator: Hajnalka Cserna – landscape architect, FŐKERT – BKM Nonprofit Zrt.
17:30-18:45 EXPERTISE AND DECISION-MAKING: WILL THERE BE A MEETING POINT?
Péter Dezsényi – CEO, FŐKERT – BKM Nonprofit Zrt.
László Gálhidy – forest program leader, WWF Hungary
Gergely Tóth
Diana Ürge-Vorsatz – professor, CEU; vice-chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
SATURDAY – CULTURAL PROGRAMS:
all-day Márton Kállai “Methuselahs” photo exhibition
all-day Romani Design Exhibition and shop
all-day playhouse with planting and gardening
at random times Rain Dance with the Water Guardians
10:30-11:30 Trilla Manó and the Pebble Company fairy tale play
15:00-16:00 Romani Design as a social-cultural mission
17:15-19:00 Pajtamozi: Áron Gauder “The Four Souls of the Coyote”
19:00-20:00 Géza Röhrig reads from his upcoming novel
21:00-22:00 Zsolt Prieger-Bori Magyar: The Legend of Antal Szerb
22:00-23:00 Helena Varga concert
23:00 until dawn playlist – David Hervai (with screening: METU short films)
🌿 July 5. SUNDAY
- Summary and farewell
- all morning Kállai Márton “Methuselahs” photo exhibition
- All morning Romani Design Exhibition and shop
- All morning Sarazós, nursery-themed playhouse
- At random times Rain Dance with the Water Guardians
- 10:00–12:00 Discussion and Idea Generation Circle led by Zoltán Aszalós – Szent György Stage
ACCESS
The RESTART Festival takes place at Vulkán-kert, in Kisapáti, at the foot of Szent György Mountain.
LOCATION
Vulkán-kert
8284 Kisapáti
Arrival by car from Budapest
The drive from Budapest to Kisapáti takes approximately 2–2.5 hours, depending on traffic.
The simplest route typically follows the M7 motorway towards Lake Balaton, then veering off towards the Balaton Highlands via Tapolca – Badacsony – Kisapáti is advisable.
For navigation, enter: Vulkán-kert, Kisapáti
It’s definitely worth checking the exact route with navigation before departure, as traffic around Lake Balaton – especially on Fridays and Sundays – can significantly affect travel time.
Finding the venue
In Kisapáti, you will reach Vulkán-kert by following Kossuth Street until you see the distinctive statue.
Parking spaces will be clearly marked on-site.
Arrival by public transport from Budapest
The most convenient route is usually:
Budapest-Déli railway station → Nemesgulács-Kisapáti train station
Trains operate towards the Balaton Highlands on the Székesfehérvár–Tapolca line.
Important
There is no ticket office at the train station, so it’s advisable to purchase your return ticket in advance, online, or via the MÁV Plus app.
Walking to the venue
The Vulkán-kert is easily accessible on foot from the Nemesgulács-Kisapáti train station.
Distance: approx. 1.5 km
Travel time: approx. 20 minutes on foot
No significant elevation changes
We will also organize carpools for some trains; details will be provided at the event.
Carpool
One week before the event, we will share a carpool table where travelers and drivers can easily coordinate.
Useful tips
Comfortable shoes are recommended, especially for those arriving on foot from the train station.
If arriving on Friday, expect heavier traffic around Lake Balaton.
For Sunday returns, it’s also wise to plan ahead, especially when using public transport.
JOIN US HERE!
Zsófi Kemény – live music stand-up – July 3, Friday
CARPOOL BUDAPEST-KISAPÁTI (Szent György Mountain) July 3-5.
If you are looking for a ride or have a free seat to or from the Restart, please use the carpool spreadsheet! It has two tabs: for the outbound and return trips.
It is also worth joining two carpool Facebook groups that can help.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/keszthelybudapest
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1628564384022314
If you don’t have your ticket yet, you can purchase it here 🙂
Tickets, day passes, family tickets, student tickets:
