Young volunteers restoring Šibenik’s fire-ravaged “green lungs”

Photos: Igor Pavlović and Filip Kovačević

More than 350 volunteers, including secondary school students, company employees and local residents, joined scouts and forestry workers from Hrvatske šume in a major reforestation drive on Šubićevac Hill in Šibenik, as part of the ongoing Boranka project.

This was the first time the popular Boranka campaign had been held in Šibenik, marking the beginning of three major planting actions planned for the area this season. The event, held on Saturday, 4 October, also represented the 47th Boranka action since the project began.

Restoring Šibenik’s “Green Lungs”

Last summer’s devastating wildfire destroyed several hectares of forest on Šubićevac, a beloved local recreation area.

Quick intervention by firefighters saved nearby homes, but the blaze left behind a blackened landscape and thousands of burnt trees.

Following months of clean-up and preparation by Hrvatske šume, reforestation has now begun to restore the area’s natural balance, prevent soil erosion and revive what locals call the “lungs of Šibenik”.

Most of the volunteers were secondary school students from Šibenik and Split, including pupils from Gimnazija Antuna Vrančića (Šibenik), IV. Gimnazija Marka Marulića (Split), the Nadbiskupijska klasična gimnazija (Split), and the Graditeljsko-geodetska tehnička škola (Split).

Under the guidance of scouts and forestry experts, the young volunteers planted native Mediterranean species such as Holm oak (hrast crnika), black ash, cypress and primorac.

Despite the rocky terrain, their enthusiasm never faltered.

“Our teacher suggested we join, and we all agreed it would be a great idea,” said Lucija, a student from IV. Gimnazija Marka Marulića. “It feels amazing to plant a tree and think that one day I can bring my children here and tell them, ‘I planted that.’”

Alongside the students, 140 employees from Raiffeisen Bank, the main sponsor of Boranka, took part in the effort. Local residents also joined the planting, including families and elderly citizens who wanted to help rejuvenate their city’s green space.

“It will take time for these trees to grow, but we’re doing this for our children and grandchildren,” said Ana, a Šibenik resident who joined the action. “We’re proud to help restore our Šubićevac.”

The event was organised by the Croatian Scout Association (Savez izviđača Hrvatske) and Hrvatske šume, with support from the City of Šibenik, the Šibenik Fire Brigade, the local Red Cross, and the Šibenik-Knin County public institution Priroda.

A Record-Breaking Campaign

Since its launch, Boranka has mobilised over 13,000 volunteers from Croatia and abroad, planting more than 130,000 trees, seeds and acorns across fire-damaged areas near Split, Solin, Makarska, Trogir, Zadar and Šibenik.

Now in its eighth year, Boranka has grown into the largest volunteer-led reforestation campaign in Europe and an inspiring example of collective environmental action.

The initiative is supported by numerous partners and sponsors, including Hrvatske šume, the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS), the Directorate of Civil Protection, and the Red Cross. Major sponsors include Raiffeisen Bank, Radenska Adriatic, EuroCompany 99, Henkel, DM, Generali Insurance, Fina, Endava and Dacia.

Boranka also enjoys the patronage of the European Parliament, several Croatian ministries, the American Chamber of Commerce, the Embassy of Canada, the World Scout Foundation and the German-Croatian Chamber of Commerce.