Croatian scouts lead Europe’s largest reforestation effort

(Photo credit: Filip Kovačević)

In the Dalmatian town of Trogir, the last Boranka action of this year was held – so far, more than 11,000 volunteers have participated in reforestation efforts in the fire-affected areas.

The Croatian Scout Association, Croatian Forests, the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, and the Directorate of Civil Protection, as the main organizers of the Boranka campaign, in collaboration with the City of Trogir and the Trogir Scout Unit, conducted a new reforestation action in the Dalmatian fire-stricken areas, the 38th in total. The reforestation took place in the Plano settlement, above Trogir.

(Photo credit: Filip Kovačević)

More than two hundred scouts and predominantly young volunteers spent this Saturday working, planting trees as part of the largest European volunteer reforestation campaign – the popular Boranka.

The event was attended by representatives of the Croatian Scout Association, representatives of Croatian Forests, and representatives of the Directorate of Civil Protection. Additionally, there were scouts from the Trogir Scout Unit, students, and teachers from the Ivana Lucić High School in Trogir and the 1st Gymnasium in Split, members of the Trogir Fire Department and Trogir Public Fire Service, volunteers from the Trogir Red Cross, members of the Trogir Sports Community, representatives of the Trogir Tourist Board, members of the Trogir Hunting Society, veteran women from the Trogir Women’s Veterans Handball Club, and other volunteers.

(Photo credit: Filip Kovačević)

The Deputy Mayor of Trogir, Mr. Viktor Novak, initially greeted all the volunteers, thanking them for their presence and their assistance in forest restoration. He then personally took up a spade and started planting seedlings.

Almost a hundred high school graduates from the 1st Gymnasium in Split, accompanied by their teachers, joined this action. Students Ema Franić and Klara Sikirica said that this was an experience they would wish for everyone. “Aside from doing something good, we also had fun, spent time in nature, and talked with the organizers of this event, learning a lot in the process,” they added.

(Photo credit: Filip Kovačević)

Agreeing with them, graduates Hana, Kate, and Lina further commented, “In such a short time, you do so much for the environment and future generations. One tree, one step closer to a greener planet.”

(Photo credit: Filip Kovačević)

According to the organizers, in 2023, five major fire reforestation actions were carried out as part of Boranka, with the participation of more than 1,000 volunteers. Thus, the total number of volunteers who have participated in reforestation actions since the beginning of the Boranka campaign in 2018 has risen to over 11,000. New reforestation actions, as well as new locations, are already being prepared for the coming year because Boranka, of course, continues.

(Photo credit: Filip Kovačević)

In the Boranka campaign, scouts and other volunteers from all over Croatia, as well as from abroad, have planted over 130,000 new trees in seedlings, seeds, and acorns in the fire-stricken areas near Split, Solin, Makarska, Trogir, and Zadar. Boranka has thus become the largest European volunteer reforestation campaign and a great example of how to bring together numerous volunteers, institutions, and organizations in the restoration of nature.

(Photo credit: Filip Kovačević)

Many institutions that support scouts and other volunteers are involved in the organization of Boranka – Croatian Forests, Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, Directorate of Civil Protection, Red Cross, City of Split, City of Trogir. The main sponsors of this year’s Boranka are Raiffeisen Bank, Radenska Adriatic, Henkel, DM, Eurospin, Dacia, and the Fraktura Publishing House.

(Photo credit: Filip Kovačević)

For years, Boranka has been supported by the European Parliament, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Science and Education, the American Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Embassy, the Association of Croatian Defenders, the IMAGO agency, the HEARTH agency, and the German-Croatian Chamber of Industry and Commerce.