CO2MPENSATING BY PLANTING: First Croatian programme to compensate for CO2 emissions by planting trees

(Photo: Igor Pavlović)

ZAGREB, 5 November 2021 – A new innovative ecological project titled CO2MPENSATING BY PLANTING – the first Croatian program for compensating CO2 emissions by planting trees – was presented today in Zagreb.

The project is organised by the Croatian Scout Association, Croatian Forests and HEARTH as an innovative response to the consequences of climate change. 

This is the first such programme in Croatia, but also in the entire region, and is intended for companies, institutions and other organisations, but also for all other interested parties who want to compensate for CO2 emissions and neutralise their own carbon footprint by planting trees and becoming a positive example of environmental and community concern. 

The project will afforest forest areas in Croatia that have already been destroyed by climate change. The first afforestation campaign is starting this Saturday, in the Zagreb settlement of Demerje, where oak seedlings will be planted instead of dried conifers.

(Photo: Igor Pavlović)

The project was presented to numerous partners, sponsors and other guests by representatives of the organisers – the Croatian Scout Association, HEARTH and Croatian Forests, where the main coordinator of the project and business director of the Scout Association, Dan Špicer, said:

“We realised that, as scouts, experts from Croatian Forests and creatives from the HEARTH agency, together we can do more and bring awareness of the importance of forests, but also the need to change harmful behaviour and impact on nature, to companies and citizens. We designed the CO2MPENSATING BY PLANTING project in order to provide an opportunity for those who pollute a little, but also for those who pollute a lot more, to completely or partially neutralise their naturally harmful effects by planting trees. This project essentially enables the introduction of a balance between what we harm nature with and what we can help nature with.”

(Photo: Igor Pavlović)

As an envoy of the Speaker of Parliament, MP Ante Bačić turned up today’s presentation to support the project, as well as representatives of the project sponsors – from the US Embassy, the European Parliament Office in Croatia and the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development.

The presentation was also attended by representatives of partner companies that are the first holders of the CO2MPENSATING BY PLANTING Label – Coca-Cola HBC Adria, Raiffeisenbank Croatia, E.ON Croatia, PwC Croatia and L’Oreal Adria. 

(Photo: Igor Pavlović)

As the first afforestation campaign is starting at this location tomorrow, the representatives of the partner companies, organisers and sponsors planted the first seedlings today as part of the presentation. The presentation was personally supported by project associates from the Hrvoje Požar Energy Institute, the Croatian Forestry Institute, the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service and the Tatavaka Association, as well as representatives of the technological sponsor, GIS Cloud.

(Photo: Igor Pavlović)

According to the project organisers, in addition to planting new seedlings and revitalising forest stands destroyed by climate change, the project aims to educate children and youth and raise awareness of the general public about the carbon footprint we create, the effects of climate change, the importance of environmental protection and sustainable development.

(Photo: Igor Pavlović)

As part of the campaign, interactive educational workshops will be conducted in primary and secondary schools throughout Croatia through an educational program called ŠUMOBORCI. The Šumoborci program is an educational part of the CO2MPENSATING BY PLANTING campaign, and all Šumoborci, in addition to participating in interesting workshops, will be able to plant their seedlings through afforestation actions and thus compensate for part of CO2 emissions from their own carbon footprint. 

(Photo: Igor Pavlović)

It is planned to include more than 1000 volunteers from Šumoborac in afforestation actions this year, and to continue the actions in the coming years, with even greater intensity and by involving numerous other organisations and volunteers throughout Croatia.