Afforestation around Split: Volunteers cover 500,000m2 to water thousands of seedlings

SPLIT, 21 August 2020 – Over the past six weeks, volunteers from various parts of Croatia have covered 500,000m2 and watered thousands of seedlings planted in the vicinity of Split as part of the campaign Boranka – the largest afforestation volunteer action.

(Photo: Croatian Scouts Associaton)

Over the past two years, more than 6,200 scouts and other volunteers involved in the Boranka campaign have planted more than 65,000 trees in seedlings, seeds and acorns with the help of Croatian Forests in areas in Dalmatia damaged by devastating fires. Boranka thus became the largest volunteer action of afforestation because of fires, not only in Croatia but in the whole of Europe.

(Photo: Croatian Scouts Associaton)

Long dry periods and reduced rainfall during the year are a major obstacle to the survival of planted seedlings. Climate change is causing increasing weather extremes, but also a general increase in temperature, which in itself reduces the likelihood of seedlings being successful. 

According to the profession, without watering, a total of 20-30% of planted seedlings will survive only. Periodic watering, especially in dry periods, the probability of seedling survival rises to as much as 70-80%.

(Photo: Croatian Scouts Associaton)

Precisely for this reason, and in order for the results of planting in the Boranka campaign to be much more effective, the Croatian Scout Association launched the project “Be my water”, as a kind of upgrade of the Boranka campaign. 

The project was approved for co-financing through the European Solidarity Force program through the Agency for Mobility and EU programs. The aim of the European Solidarity Force is to enable more young people to take part in a wide range of activities through volunteering or internships and employment, in order to contribute to resolving difficult situations across the European Union, with a view to strengthening solidarity.

(Photo: Croatian Scouts Associaton)

In addition to volunteer watering actions, volunteers also participate in numerous other educational activities on the topic of environmental protection and nature conservation.

(Photo: Croatian Scouts Associaton)

In addition to Croatian Forests, the project was being carried out in cooperation with the Directorate of Civil Protection, which has provided protective and other equipment.

(Photo: Croatian Scouts Associaton)

A new season of the Boranka campaign and new actions of afforestation of fires in the vicinity of Split will start in the fall. According to the Croatian Scout Association, they are looking forward to the continuation of activities and can hardly wait to see the new forests that will be cover the fire-damaged areas.