1. Göncöl Foundation
Member of IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature
Deed
The Göncöl Foundation is a Hungarian conservation, environmental and cultural
organisation, seated in the Göncöl House in Vác, Hungary. Started as a science youth group in
1973, it has been founded in 1989 in its present form. It is a not-for-profit, non-partisan
organisation independent of any political or commercial interest, registered as high public
utility non-governmental organisation in Hungary and Central & Eastern Europe. It is the core
of a structured, autonomous not-for-profit Alliance of legal bodies, individuals, NGOs,
volunteers and experts engaged in environmental, cultural and social programs.
Mission and Objectives
It was founded in order to fulfil its common mission shared with the Göncöl Alliance to
preserve and engender nature, social and human values, and to advance transforming
societies into more sustainable ones as those are now, and based on co-operation of small,
human sized communities. It declares the primacy of common weal; does and facilitates
public utility activities; and values complexity and diversity by nature. Provides services in
science, education and dissemination, on the fields of conservation, environment and culture
for all sectors of the society, assists cross-sector co-operation and networking.
Organisation
The right of the founders is experienced by the Board of the Göncöl Alliance who appoints
the Board of Trusties and the Board of Auditors of the Foundation. The Foundation has five
workgroups: Main Office, Community Learning Group, Regional Studies Institute, Editorial
and Publishing Office and Kilátó Gallery. Its’ management comprises of the heads of the
workgroups. The Foundation is co-founder and/or member of several other non-profit
organisations. Main activities are being done in Hungary, in Central and Eastern Europe
and internationally as member of IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature. A
priority is given for local and regional activities in north-central Hungary including Budapest
and its’ agglomeration. The Foundation is winner of the Hungarian Pro Natura Price (1993).
MAIN OFFICE – Vác, 3 Ilona street, Göncöl House (national monument)
It is the central managerial, administrative, legal, financial and technical office of the
Foundation. Its’ activities includes monument protection, fund raising and project management
further. The Main Office provides space for offices and programs, technical assistance and
clearinghouse support for the member organisations of Göncöl Alliance and for others, hosting
the Hungarian National Committee of IUCN, etc.
COMMUNITY LEARNING GROUP – Vác, Göncöl House
Principles: inquiry teaching, procreative and field activities, personal caring and
responsibilities, community learning. Facilities: in the Göncöl House Geological Museum and
Exhibition, Conservation and Environment Public Library, community rooms and offices, and
Renewable Energy Point (under development); in the vicinity Boardwalk in the Flooded
Forest, in the garden BBB Tourism facilities (“boat” house, “bicycle” workshop and “boot”
nature camp stuff). The Composting Yard and the Herbal Garden for education are under
restoration. Field Education Centre: in Bakony Mountains, two buildings, forest school, bio-
garden and nature trails owned together with Pangea Association and managed by Pangea.
Programs: are lecturing in Apor V. Catholic College (elementary school teachers’ education),
field and indoor education programs, curriculum related and extra curricular activities,
programs for disabled, international “green days”, voluntary fieldworks, Public Helpdesk,
Open Museum Evenings and other events.
Staff: 4 persons in Göncöl, 4 persons in Pangea. Visitors & guests: about 60 thousand / year.
Göncöl Foundation
3 Ilona street, Vác, 2600 Hungary, ph + 36 27 512030, fax + 36 27 512040, www.goncol.hu, goncol@goncol.hu

2. 2
REGIONAL STUDIES INSTITUTE – Vác, Göncöl House
Studies: Field research and integral spatial planning; making protection, management and
development plans, preparing and supporting decision making, interpretations, negotiations.
Basis: Recent field inventories & databases, stakeholder participation & conflict management.
Main accomplishments: Field Inventories & Proposal for establishing Danube-Ipoly National
Park, Reconciliation Committee of the Law of Environment, Sustainable Land-use Planning of
the Main Drinking-water Reserves of Budapest, studies on riparian eco-systems, quarries’
reconstruction, Danube navigation, local & regional environmental & development plans, etc.
Present works: on Danube participating in WB Black-see Nutrient Reduction and EU
Improving Danube Navigation projects; on forests CO2 reduction & afforestation, gallery
forests; on genetic resources conservation Nagymaros chestnut and Hungarian Giant rabbit.
Strategic partner: St. Stephen University Gödöllő, Environmental and Conservation Institute.
EDITORIAL & PUBLISHING OFFICE – Budapest, 67 Váci street
Publishing two, bimonthly, nationally distributed, full colour, 52 pages magazines on nature the
Süni magazine and the Vadon magazine with a total of 10.000 copies per each issue. Süni
(English: hedgehog) primarily for kids and teenagers, established by Göncöl in 1986, and
Vadon (English: “wildlife”) for adults, established by the Budapest Zoological and Botanical
Gardens in 1898. Further regular periodicals, books, newsletters and booklets are published.
Movements: “Live just like a forest and the forest will survive”, which is promoting
responsible lifestyles and environmentally-sane practices, and the Süni National Students’
Science Competition which is evaluating motivations & competences of participating groups.
Co-owner: Budapest Zoological & Botanical Gardens. Strategic partner: ÖKO-Pannon Ltd.
Staff: 7 persons. Sold: 100.000 copies/year, References: media coverage, scientific citations.
KILÁTÓ GALLERY – Budapest, Margaret Island, Water tower (national monument)
The tower is rented by Göncöl since 1984, run as a gallery for contemporary art exhibitions
and events. Main achievements of more than quarter of century long activities are more than
100 exhibitions, more than 500 exhibitors and more than 1 million visitors, management and
partial restoration of the water tower which is a national monument in the heart of Budapest.
Presenting: temporary art exhibitions, collection on History of Margaret Island, look-out site
and Information Point of Hungarian National Parks. (“kilátó” in English means “look-out”)
Big events: May 1st, International Day of Children, events for public sports and “big-families”.
Open: Summer. Staff: 1 permanent + 2 seasonal, Visitors: about 20.000 / year, free for kids.
Stakeholders
Besides Göncöl Alliance and its’ members where the Foundation offers broad scale assistance
the main interest in the divers projects comes from private visitors and public institutions
concerned with environmental issues. The Foundation co-founder and/or member of several
national groups and networks on environmental education, air pollution, waste management
and transport. It is member of IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature,
hosting its’ National Committee and European Chair of Commission on Education &
Communication. Key partners are: the City of Vác (where seated), Apor Catholic College,
Hungarian Natural History Museum, St. Stephen University, Budapest Zoological & Botanical
Gardens, ÖKO-Pannon Ltd., Ipoly-Erdő State Forestry Ltd. Co. and Budapest Capitol City.
The Foundation is co-operating with several local, regional and state offices / authorities.
Needs
Göncöl Foundation aims to become financially self-sustaining and already runs many activities
out of the values it creates. The large focus of its projects however requires high efforts in
investment and liquidity that cannot be covered from its daily activity in its initial phase. For
that reason, donations, grants and bona-fide contributions are essential forms of partnership.
Private individuals, enterprises, associations and foundations sensitive in environmental and
social issues are the main supporters of Göncöl Foundation.
Göncöl Foundation
3 Ilona street, Vác, 2600 Hungary, ph + 36 27 512030, fax + 36 27 512040, www.goncol.hu, goncol@goncol.hu