The #ACCESS project in the Hungarian-Slovakian border region aims to improve cross-border mobility, administrative and legal interoperability, and accessibility for both citizens and authorities. During 2024, the project mapped obstacles in the border area through professional interviews, reference groups, questionnaires and an obstacle reporting form open to the public. The forestry sector receives special attention in the analyses, as the ecosystem of Central European forests is in danger due to climate change and human intervention, but can still be saved with well-timed interventions and a common policy. In order to accurately identify and address the problems, within the framework of the #ACCESS project, the project partners organised a Hungarian-Slovak forest meeting on 4 February 2025.

At the second meeting of forestry experts, three main topics were discussed: hunting and game management, sustainable forest management, and beekeeping and bee diseases. In the field of game management, the focus has been on cross-border regulatory challenges, such as the designation and information of hunting areas, the prevention and management of animal diseases and the regulation of the antler trade. Bans on forest visits for hunting in the border area are not always clear, especially if they are communicated differently on both sides of the border. In the case of diseases affecting wildlife, such as African swine fever, cooperation and rapid exchange of information between authorities is essential.

Responsible game management, collective conservation of the stock, or even the case of wounded game crossing the border poses challenges, as the regulation of border crossing with weapons differs from country to country. The experts highlighted that in the framework of responsible game management, it would be necessary to develop a uniform protocol for communication and licensing processes between hunting societies operating in the border region. Similarly, the illegal trade in antlers is a serious problem that requires joint action to tackle it more effectively. Although trade in dead game trophies is subject to authorisation in both Hungary and Slovakia, cross-border control is not yet effective enough.