The Šumoborci (Forest Figheters) campaign is a volunteer afforestation program and a part of the CO2MPENSATING BY PLANTING project, the first Croatian program to neutralize carbon dioxide by planting trees. The project is being implemented by the Croatian Scout and Guide Association, the HEARTH agency and the Croatian Forests as an innovative response to the consequences of climate change. This is the first such program in Croatia, but also in the entire region, and is intended for companies, institutions and other organizations, but also for all other stakeholders who want to compensate for CO2 emissions by planting trees and neutralize their own carbon footprint, thus becoming a positive example of environmental and community concern.

As part of the project, in addition to afforestation actions involving Scouts, students and all other interested citizens, educational workshops are held in schools on climate change, the importance of forests and the environment. The first Šumoborci campaign started at the end of last year, when in less than 2 months more than 1,500 Šumoborci volunteers, with the help of Croatian Forests employees, planted 26,000 new seedlings in locations around Zagreb, Velika Gorica, Ivanić Grad and the island of Čiovo. In addition to afforestation actions, 24 educational workshops were held in primary and secondary schools in cooperation with the Tatavaka Association, Croatian Forests and the Directorate of Civil Protection.

At the beginning of March 2022, the new season of the Šumoborci campaign began. In the Marča Forest near Kloštar Ivanić and in the forest near Draganić, Šumoborci volunteers have already planted over 8,000 new oak seedlings in the last week. The Draganić forest is probably the best example of the negative effects of climate change on forests and nature where the parasite, the fungus Chalara, which is a new disease, has destroyed tens of thousands of ash trees.

"Through the Šumoborci campaign, we enable children and young people, but also all others interested, to visit forests with the help of the forestry professionals, learn about their importance and vulnerability but also realize that climate change is present everywhere around us. By planting new seedlings together, we are helping to restore forests and create new forest stands that we will leave behind for generations to come. ”- said Dan Špicer, Business Director of the Croatian Scout and Guide Association.

For more details you can download the Šumoborci Press Release.