In 2008, the Greenway program developed to a new level, up from the local and micro-regional and made serious efforts to promote and realise its approach nationally as well. Towards the end of the year, the ‘Greenway Methodology Association’ was established by representatives HEPF and its local partners to develop and disseminate the principles of Greenways and to help overall coordination of the Hungarian network.
As a major strategic direction, more emphasis was placed on developing long distance Greenways: the planned Greenway along the Danube and the Iron Curtain Greenway along the Western border with Austria are going to be the models for this Hungary. Through participation in local projects HEPF also helped the further development of the Amber Trail Greenway spanning from Cracow to Budapest, by giving assistance in writing applications to EU institutions and funds.
New partnerships with universities, national parks and other professional organisations were also developed to spread the Greenway methodology in broader circles. In the second semester, Corvinus University of Budapest started a course about Greenway development, with the contribution of HEPF colleagues and partners .They also joined the tourism working group of the Cycling Hungary Alliance in order to promote the Greenway idea in tourist cycling developments.
Greenways are trails or natural corridors used in harmony with their environmental function and potential for sport, tourism and recreation. They improve possibilities for transportation, recreation and tourism, and encourage a healthier lifestyle and sustainable use of local resources.
