On 10 September 2024 SOLO held the first in a series of Regional Nodes workshops in Keszthely, Hungary. The workshop highlighted the importance of collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches to environmental management. 

The combination of scientific insights and practical forestry knowledge facilitated a consensus on regional priorities, paving the way for targeted actions to combat land degradation, reduce soil pollution, and conserve biodiversity. 

During the initial reflection phase, participants ranked regional environmental issues and proposed actions, identifying biodiversity conservation and land degradation as top priorities. They highlighted the long-term impacts of soil pollution on forest health and fertility, with open discussion fostering exchange between scientific and forestry perspectives, supported by data, case studies and field experience.