Australians, Brits and South Africans join locals in afforestation action in Split
- by croatiaweek
- in News
(Photo credit: Igor Pavlović)
SPLIT, 2 October 2021 – The afforestation action of areas in Dalmatia devastated by fires continued today in the Split settlement of Donje Sitno.
On Saturday, volunteers from Split were joined by foreigners gathered by the initiative “My Hidden Croatia” led by Australian Robyn Vulinovich.
The initiative brings together foreign nationals, mostly from English-speaking nations, living in and around Split. They joined the Boranka campaign last year and have been actively participating in all afforestation actions.
Among today’s volunteers were Australians, British, but also two families from the Republic of South Africa.
Robyn Vulinovich and Simon Collins (Photo credit: Igor Pavlović)
“On behalf of our initiative, I would like to thank the Boranka team for giving us the opportunity to participate in this wonderful action and help in the afforestation of the area around Split, which was badly damaged in the fires. Nature is extremely important to us and we see that the scouts and everyone else who participates in Boranka serve their community in the best possible way. We were thrilled today to see so many young people and parents with children who all came together to help reforest. By planting seedlings and seeds, they also learned a lot about the importance of forests and environmental protection,” said Robyn Vulinovich.
(Photo credit: Igor Pavlović)
Along with foreign guests, scouts from the hosts Split scouts from the Scout Detachment “Jadran”, Scout Detachment “Trogir”, students of the 5th gymnasium “Vladimir Nazor” from Split, students of the School of Science Split, employees of Henkel, DM and L’Occitane, volunteers of the City Red Cross Society of the City of Split and other citizens took part in today’s action.
(Photo credit: Igor Pavlović)
This is the 26th afforestation action in the Boranka campaign, which began in 2018, which has grown into the largest volunteer afforestation action in the whole of Europe.
(Photo credit: Igor Pavlović)
Scouts, as initiators and bearers of this popular campaign, have been organising every Boranka action for the 4th year in a row, and every year Renata Orhanović, a young scout leader from the “Jadran” Seafarers’ Scout Detachment from Split, participates.
“I remember well when a terrible fire engulfed the forest of this area and endangered people. It was awful to watch, and even worse to see the consequences. People often treat nature as if they do not depend on it and endanger it with their actions. I am a scout, I love nature and I would really like to one day walk with my children through this forest we are now planting and enjoy it. That is why I am here every year and I will continue to do so,” said Renata.
(Photo credit: Igor Pavlović)
The organisers of Boranka are the Croatian Scout Association, Croatian Forests, the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service and the Split Scout Choir. The organisation is also assisted by the Directorate of Civil Protection, the City of Split, the City Society of the Red Cross of the City of Split and numerous partners and sponsors. The main sponsors of this year’s Boranka are Raiffeisen Bank, Radenska Adriatic, Henkel and FINA.
(Photo credit: Igor Pavlović)
(Photo credit: Igor Pavlović)
