Croatian Army and veterans join afforestation action in Dalmatia
- by croatiaweek
- in News
(Photos: Igor Pavlović)
SPLIT, 9 October 2021 – The 27th afforestation action of areas in Dalmatia devastated by fires continued today in Korešnica, Split.
The afforestation action is part of the successful Boranka campaign which is organised by the Croatian Scout Association, Croatian Forests, the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS) and the Split Scout Association.
Today’s action was hosted by volunteers from the “Split” and “Marjan” Scout Clubs, and was attended by veterans from the Association of Homeland War Volunteers “Brodosplit”, mountaineers from the Mountaineering Club Split, employees of Philip Morris and and for the last two years, members of the Croatian Army from the ranks of the Croatian Navy.
(Photo: Igor Pavlović)
As many as a hundred employees of Raiffeisen Bank, Boranka’s main sponsor, also joined the afforestation campaign.
“We are still choked-up with horror when we think of 2017 and the catastrophic fire that literally entered the city of Split, and terribly devastated its surroundings. That is why we enthusiastically supported Boranka as soon as that initiative was born. I believe that today it is clear to everyone how important the environment is for our health and our planet. The benefits of a green environment and afforestation are manifold and we are glad that our hands can also help in this volunteer action. I know that I am also speaking on behalf of my colleagues when I say that we could hardly wait for this year’s afforestation. So, for us, Boranka is a pure win-win situation – happy me, happy Dalmatia,” said Sara Foršek, sustainability officer at Raiffeisen bank.
(Photo: Igor Pavlović)
All volunteers are provided with free transportation to and from the location of afforestation, seedlings, protective equipment, planting tools, professional supervision of Croatian Forest workers, drinking water, sandwiches and fruit.
(Photo: Igor Pavlović)
Boranka is the largest European volunteer action of afforestation of fires, which originated in Split, and has spread to other Dalmatian cities.
(Photo: Igor Pavlović)
Numerous institutions that provide support to scouts and other volunteers participate in the Boranka campaign. Croatian forests provide seedlings and other planting material, and their experts educate volunteers and perform professional supervision of the planting itself. HGSS volunteers are the main logistical support in the organiSation of afforestation. The Directorate of Civil Protection provides tools and equipment for planting and other logistics, the City of Split provides free transportation of volunteers by bus, Red Cross volunteers are available to volunteers in case of an accident or mishap.
(Photo: Igor Pavlović)
Boranka is supported by the European Parliament, the Ministry of Agriculture, the American Chamber of Commerce, the Embassy of Canada, UHDDR, the IMAGO agency and the German-Croatian Chamber of Industry and Commerce. The main sponsors of this year’s Boranka are Raiffeisen Bank, Radenska Adriatic, Henkel and FINA.
(Photo: Igor Pavlović)
