Landscape use
The dominant constituents of the landscape in the region are rivers, grassland, forests, arable land and scattered farmsteads. The areas outside of the town limits comprise three distinct areas: flood-prone low-lying areas with sizeable wooded patches in the North East; grassland in the South and South East, mainly in the Körös Maros National Park and its vicinity; and, between these two areas, scattered farmsteads, arable land and rivers (the Fekete and Fehér Köröses and the Élővíz Canal) with their wetlands adding to biodiversity.

Respect for natural habitats
Despite changes to the landscape, including river regulations and consolidation of landholdings (commassation) etc., representatives of the former flora and fauna have survived at numerous places and are now protected for posterity both locally and nationally.
Areas of national protection: areas under the control of the Directorate of the Körös Maros National Park, Dénesmajor Csigáserdő (‘forest teeming with snails’) Nature Conservation Area, Natura 2000 areas, sensitive nature conservation areas of importance or key importance, prospective nature conservation areas, buffer zones for protected nature conservation areas, and Cumanian barrows protected ex lege.
Number of local nature protection areas and constituents (within/ outside of town limits): 33
Number of particularly valuable landscapes: 215.

Characteristics of the town’s green space
Gyula is ‘green’ in more than one sense. It is a characteristic of the town’s green space that there are sizeable forests and gardens in the town’s environs that constitute a transition from urban space to a landscape made up of agricultural areas, sizeable grassland and wooded areas. Dominant features include spacious parks connected to each other by rows of trees, loosely built-up residential areas within the town and lakes near the edges of the town. The size of well-maintained public green space is 35.53 m² per capita. Historic parks around listed buildings and monuments are particularly important.

Plans and implementation
Green space development is on-going. The town’s public administrative centre and places frequented by visitors to the town had undergone a major overhaul by 2015.
Capital projects implemented over the past 8 years in conformity with the criteria of the ‘For the City of Tomorrow Award 2016’ include: 2006: Complex retrofitting and reconstruction of Kossuth Square (suppression of road traffic, and the expansion of green space and bodies of water), 2007: Complex retrofitting and reconstruction of the town centre (suppression of road traffic, and the expansion of green space and bodies of water), 2007: Park reconstruction in Csigakert (increasing the ratio of green space, and demolition of an open-air stage and buildings), 2009: refurbishing of the Erkel Memorial House and reconstruction of its garden (energy efficiency upgrades – soil probes), 2010–2013: Energy efficiency upgrades of educational institutions (József Implom Primary School and the Máriafalva, Németváros, Mágocsi út, and Béke Sugárút Nursery Schools/Infant Schools), 2005-2011: Recultivation of abandoned waste disposal sites (so that the quality of ground water can be improved; forestation), 2013: Complex retrofitting and reconstruction of Béke Sugárút and Göndöcs-kert (construction of cycle lanes, and energy efficiency upgrades of buildings – heat pumps), 2013: Development of the Castle Baths (heating for the new water park is provided by the residual heat of thermal water), 2014: Upgrade of LED street lighting, 2014–2015: Renovation, park reconstruction and opening to the public of the Harruckern–Wenckheim–Almásy Mansion (energy efficiency upgrades – soil probes)

Permanent greenery
There are a number of parks with an ageing stock of plants, with some valuable old species being the object of admiration by visitors to the town (there are 33 protected local species). Approximately 800 rootballed saplings have been planted each year over the past 4 years. Credit for this goes, in part, to local councillors who often contribute some of their remuneration as councillors to such purposes, and, in part, to local regulations pursuant to which felled trees have to be replaced in accordance with the diameter of their trunk. Thanks to this programme, complete rows of trees have been replaced in a number of streets.

Seasonal plants
48,000 ornamental annuals have been planted in public spaces each year since 2000. Furthermore, 21 flower pillars are purchased each year to embellish local landmarks. Another 10,000 to 12,000 annuals are planted at the premises of the Castle Baths. As a result, the town can boast of consistent floral decoration all through the tourist season. 10,000 to 12,000 tulips and pansies are planted in spring and autumn, respectively.

Green transport
The proportion of those using bicycles as their means of transport in Gyula significantly exceeds both the national and, by an even higher margin, the Great Plain average. Due to the complex retrofitting and reconstruction of the town centre in 2006, vehicle traffic at Kossuth Square and in the neighbouring areas has dropped to a minimum. There are several rent-a-bike operations in the town. Near-term development plans include the establishment of a cycle lane network and a public bike-sharing system.

Waste management and reduction in the amount of waste
5 refuse collection vehicles collect household, green and separated waste in the town every day. Household and green waste is collected once a week. Gyulai Közüzemi Kft. is in charge of collecting municipal waste from close to 12,000 residential properties. The total annual quantity of municipal waste delivered to the waste disposal site in Békéscsaba is 6,500 to 7,000 tonnes, which is steadily decreasing each year.
The company also organises bulk waste collection twice a year when local residents may dispose of, in addition to unwanted items, electronic waste, used cooking oil and fats, each of which is collected separately.
30 containers have been available for the storage of separated waste (paper, plastic and glass) in the town since 2006. They are emptied three times a week. Gyulai Közüzemi Kft. makes the separated waste (300 tonnes/year) available for recycling.

Waste disposal site recultivation
The town’s solid waste disposal site was constructed in the 1970s and it was closed in 2005. Financed fully by funds awarded in a bidding procedure, the recultivation of the waste disposal site was implemented in 2010-2011. Implementation included spatial planning, the establishment of a biogas collection system, the provision of water- and gas-resistant insulation for landfills and banks, the boring of wells for ground water monitoring, and the construction of storm water drainage. Then turf was laid over the entire site. As a result of these interventions, risk to human health has decreased and there has been an increase in the number of protected habitats and landscape assets.

Green waste management and composting
The town is outstandingly ‘green’ even by environmental protection and sustainable development standards. Urban composting has been carried out for 14 years; waste is collected separately. Flower beds are maintained and tended by Gyulai Közüzemi Kft., which uses compost made from green waste when replacing soil in flower beds.

Encouraging sustainable energy use
Sustainable energy use is a primary consideration when new capital projects are planned and implemented. In this region of Hungary, potential sources of renewable energy are geothermal energy (geothermal heat and thermal water), solar energy and biomass.

Geothermal heat – soil probes operating at the Erkel Memorial House and the Harruckern–Wenckheim–Almásy Mansion.
Air heat – heat pump operating at the Kohán Gallery.
Solar energy – Mágocsi Út Nursery School/Infant School (solar panels), the Corvin Hotel (solar panels), the Komló Hotel (solar panels), and locker rooms and shower rooms at the town’s sports ground (solar panels).
Biomass – Biofarm Kft.’s biogas plant.
Secondary utilisation of thermal water – the Castle Baths – used thermal water is collected in receptacles in the basement of AquaPalota; the residual heat of the thermal water collected is extracted by means of pumps and used to heat the building.
Street lighting upgrades – LED tender.
Heating system upgrades – A number of educational institutions and the local Cultural Centre (replacement of old doors and windows; external wall insulation) were involved.

Schools
Environmental literacy programmes include familiarising children with sustainable development and teaching them how to cherish folklore and traditional culture. In addition to fun activities focusing on the dissemination of environmental protection-related information, hands-on activities, outings and the teaching of traditional crafts are also incorporated into the syllabuses of the programmes.

Forest School
A forest school in Gyula-Városerdő (‘town forest’), 6 kilometres from the town, is operated by a forest management company. Refurbished and extended, the buildings erected at the premises of a former scout camp in 1937 now house an institution that operates, outside in a natural environment, all through the year. The buildings can accommodate and provide catering for 36 students and 10 teachers and a further 90 students and 7 teachers outside of the heating season.