PHOTOS: 1,000 volunteers plant 10,000 trees to reforest fire-damaged Kučine

Volunteers in Kučine on the weekend (Photo: Scouts Croatia)

13 October 2019 – This weekend, the second action of the year in the Boranka campaign, which aims to reforest areas in Dalmatia damaged by fires, took place. 

A 1000 volunteers from various parts of Croatia gathered at Kučine near Solin on Saturday and Sunday to help reforest areas damaged by catastrophic fires in 2017.

It is estimated that more than 10,000 new trees were planted over the weekend, exceeding all expectations of the organisers. 

(Photo: Scouts Croatia)

“My heart is really filled because we didn’t expect this kind of response and result. There was so much positive energy in one place that it was wonderful. At the same time, I am happy and sad – happy because we have done a lot of work together, and sad to see how much forest has been destroyed by fires and how much more work is ahead of us,” said Igor Spetic, Chairman of Poseidon Naval Scout Squad and one of the organisers of the action.

(Photo: Scouts Croatia)

(Photo: Scouts Croatia)

Scouts from Solin, Split, Trogir, Rijeka and Pula took part in the action, as well as school students and members of the mountaineering association. Assistance was at hand to volunteers from Croatian Forest experts, Red Cross volunteers, HGSS, firefighters and the Civil Protection Directorate.

(Photo: Scouts Croatia)

(Photo: Scouts Croatia)

The action this weekend was organised by Scouts Croatia, Grad Solin, Posejdon from Solin, Croatian Forestry Society and the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service with the help of various partners and officials. 

(Photo: Scouts Croatia)

(Photo: Scouts Croatia)

The Boranka campaign was officially supported by the British Embassy in Croatia.The British Ambassador, HE Mr. Andrew Dalgleish, along with 15 other Embassy staff, personally joined the action on Saturday and Sunday as a sign of support for the country where the embassy operates and is a favourite destination for thousands of British tourists.

(Photo: Scouts Croatia)

“We are here because Croatia is the country we live and work in and we know how much nature has suffered here in the fires,” Ambassador Dalgleish said. “We are also here because both Croatia and the UK are rich in natural beauty that we want to preserve; that is why the UK is serious about taking action to protect the environment and combat climate change. We are also here to show that each of us can do something for our ‘green’ future, ”Ambassador Dalgleish concluded, noting that the UK adopted a 25-year plan for environmental protection last year, and will co-chair the UN Climate Conference next year.

(Photo: Scouts Croatia)

(Photo: Scouts Croatia)

Last weekend, Over 600 volunteers from various parts of Croatia gathered at Žrnovnica in Split on Saturday to help reforest areas as part of the Boranka campaign.