Eighth cycle of the Plant a Tree project starts

The eighth cycle of the Plant a Tree (Zasadi drvo) project was officially opened this weekend at the Jevremovac Botanical Garden as part of the Nature Takes No Breaks event. Launched in 2019, the project continues to grow after seven cycles and over 1,250,000 planted saplings, bringing together citizens, institutions, experts, and partners around the shared goal of nature conservation and a more responsible attitude towards the environment.

In addition to planting new trees, the focus of the eighth cycle will be on restoring areas threatened by wildfires, while continuing educational programmes, activities for children and young people, and introducing new formats that link planting, learning, and community involvement.

The start of the eighth cycle was marked by a special programme at the Jevremovac Botanical Garden during the Family Day event dedicated to nature, education, and activities for the youngest visitors. Project partners and friends, alongside numerous guests and visitors, enjoyed a performance by the Vokal Kids children's choir, a science show by educator Milan Popović, the children's play Extinct Objects, and a guided tour of the Jevremovac Botanical Garden. Alongside the main programme, workshops were held for children and families, where young participants planted vegetation, learnt about various tree species, and discovered the importance of forests and nature conservation.

"When we launched the Plant a Tree initiative in 2019, we wanted to do something concrete for nature and bring people together for a good cause. Today, with more than 1,250,000 saplings planted across Serbia, we can see that the hard work and collective effort have paid off and delivered real results. For WMG, caring for the environment and people is an ongoing commitment, and through this eighth cycle, we continue to grow, nurture, and expand our partnerships," said Ana Aleksić, WMG board member and Chairwoman of the Managing Board of the WMG Foundation.

Across the seven cycles of the Plant a Tree project, more than 1,250,000 saplings have been planted at over 550 locations across Serbia, around 12.5 tonnes of seeds have been collected, and roughly 50 educational workshops for children have been organised.

"We enter the eighth cycle backed by seven years of experience and a clear direction for the project's future growth. Given that the past summer was marked by wildfires with catastrophic consequences for forests, forest soil, and habitats, our focus in the upcoming season will be on restoring affected areas. Furthermore, we continue to invest in education and programmes involving children, young people, and local communities, as well as new formats connecting knowledge, expertise, and practical field action. I am grateful to our partners who have been with us since day one, and I am confident that this year, too, we will achieve results we can all be proud of," stated Irena Petrović, Director of the WMG Foundation.

The Plant a Tree project is implemented by the WMG Foundation, with support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management – Directorate for Forests, the Ministry of Education, PE Srbijašume, PE Vojvodinašume, the Young Foresters Movement of Serbia, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, the Jevremovac Botanical Garden, the Faculties of Biology and Forestry at the University of Belgrade, the Forestry School in Kraljevo, the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, the Provincial Secretariat for Urbanism and Environmental Protection, the Institute of Forestry, and PUC Zelenilo Beograd.

Over the years, it has brought together thousands of volunteers, citizens, experts, and partners, linking practical field action with education and awareness-raising regarding the importance of preserving natural resources. The development of the project was accompanied by new initiatives and approaches to greening. During the seventh cycle, Serbia's first Miyawaki forest was planted in the village of Aleksandrovo, further extending the project's activities towards new models for creating green spaces.

In its eighth cycle, the project will continue developing activities that combine planting, education, and community engagement, with a particular focus on children and young people. Educational programmes, festivals, and new formats are planned to bring nature conservation, biodiversity, and environmental responsibility closer to the youngest generation through direct experience and active participation.

The opening of the eighth cycle of the Plant a Tree project was marked as part of the Nature Takes No Breaks event, organised by Mondo INC with the support of the WMG Foundation.