Scouts' tree-planting initiative aids wildfire recovery from Croatia to North Macedonia

Forests play an essential role in combating climate change and biodiversity loss. Our forests serve as carbon sinks and help reduce the effects of climate change. 

In summer 2021, North Macedonia saw its forests burn in one of the most severe wildfire seasons. Nearly 500,000 m3 of wood had been burned by the time the fire was extinguished, causing extreme ecological and climate damage.

It would take years, decades for forests to recover and native species to be restored. The damage caused by that summer would not be remedied immediately.

As the UN Decade of Restoration emphasises the need for land conservation and the world works to mitigate climate change, the Scout Association of Macedonia decided to contribute to the recovery of burned areas and strengthen prevention through workshops and raising public awareness through volunteer actions and an active campaign.

From Croatia to North Macedonia, from Boranka to Borenka

The Scout Association of Macedonia adapted the Croatian Scouts Association's reforestation campaign 'Boranka' to their national context, under the name 'Borenka'. The campaign involves planting trees in areas that were affected by fires. By 2022, the Boranka campaign had planted over 100,000 trees in Dalmatia. Scouts in North Macedonia organised a study visit to Croatia in Autumn 2022 with the support of the Ambassador of North Macedonia in Croatia.

Three months later, 4,500 stems have been planted

The project began by recognising the importance of local knowledge and then worked with the communities to incorporate it into joint restoration efforts. A series of educational workshops taught about the importance of forest and environment protection in Elementary Schools nationwide reaching more than 2,000 children and young people. 

From the ashes of the burned areas, they created charcoal pencils included in promotional packages. Children would draw trees and for each tree drawn, the organisation would plant real trees during voluntary events. Ash crayons, distributed with local newspapers, were reminders of the devastating fires. They provided a real connection to reforestation for those using the burned material to draw a tree to be planted. Volunteers, in return, would plant the natural forest that had been drawn and painted.

"I feel that this is a complete project from A to Z that makes a real impact. Starting from an education point of view where every kid that we reach out has the feeling that is helping, until the very moment where the drawing becomes a stem that will grow into a big tree that will tackle climate changes. I am enjoying watching Borenka grow" - Darko Zokov, local scout leader from Kavadarci.

Like a phoenix, the forest would regrow from its ashes.

On December 14, 2022, they organised the first open event in one of the identified burned areas in Northeast Macedonia. They were joined by 300 volunteers and 100 Scouts who planted more than 4,500 stems. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water management and the Ministry of Environment Protection were also in attendance. This was followed by one minister, mayors of two municipalities, embassy representatives, and members of the general public.

Sowing for the future

Through non-formal education and gathering drawings, the organisation aims to increase forest protection interest. Scouts of North Macedonia are planning to reach out to more than 10,000 kids and young people, and plant a tree for each of them.

In addition, together with Croatian Scouts, they are planning to bring volunteers for a weekly tree planting campaign. Through this, they plan to inspire and grow the Boranka/Borenka initiative in other National Scout Organizations.

“The importance of forests for the well-being of people and our planet is unquestionable," says H.E. Milaim Fetai, Ambassador of North Macedonia to Croatia. “Additionally, in this Decade of Action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals, every effort must be made at national and regional level to prevent forest degradation, restore forests and increase protected areas designated for biodiversity conservation.“ 

This article is part of the Scouting Forward campaign that aims to celebrate how scouting empowers youth to become active citizens to respond to the social, economic, and environmental challenges facing our world, supported by the Erasmus+ programme.