It has been a really nice few days on Hvar, watching two little ladies brimming with enthusiasm about the environment on Hvar.
As we previously reported for Google News, local NGO Sustainable Island has been engaged in a tree planting project to plant 1,500 Dalmatian black pine trees high above the village of Svirce, an action which has motivated some of the youngest members of the Hvar community.
As part of the awareness campaign, Sustainable Island set up an information point about the project on the main square in Jelsa. Apart from being an added winter attraction, there was considerable interest in the information left, and an excellent presentation was given by Antonio Moric Spanic at Jelsa’s Museum Night on Friday night.
Antonio’s presentation included lots of facts about the Dalmatian black pine, which in 1975 covered 1% of the island, with some 308 hectares. Today there are just 100 hectares on the island, almost a 70% decrease in just 40 years.
After his presentation, Antonio handed the floor to the youngest member of Sustainable Island, Taliah Bradbury, who explained why trees were important. See her small presentation below.
Bradders 4 talks trees
Posted by Paul Bradbury on Friday, 29 January 2016
Together with sister Hannah, Taliah worked on an information flyer the previous weekend to invite people to come and take part in yesterday’s planting.
One notable success was the level of interest from their teachers and classmates, and there is now interest from both classes in having some joint education on environmental issues with Sustainable Island.
And so to the planting yesterday.
The willing volunteers spanned three generations.
Some pre-planting training was provided by Gabro Kersic from Croatian Forests.
Little eyes were looking on and taking note.
There were even labourers all the way from Scotland, via Vrbanj.
In between all the work, there was time for interviews with national media. The projet will be on tomorrow’s national breakfast television show, Dobro Jutro Hrvatska.
And away from the cameras, some little freshly planted seedlings with a lot of growing to do.
To learn more about Sustainable Island and their work, follow their Facebook page.
