In an attempt to replenish trees destroyed by wildfires and to green its countryside, Macedonia, a Balkan country that separated from Yugoslavia in 1991, recently held a mass reforestation project that planted 6 million trees. Imagine if citizens in every state of the United States planted 6 million trees or imagine if every country through reforestation and afforestation projects planted six million trees. Certainly, it would be a great event to bring the world together for a good cause. From Balkan Travellers, Bulgaria:

On Wednesday, Macedonians made history – for the second time this year – by planting some 6 million trees in a single day. An initiative of the non-governmental organization Den na Drvoto (‘Day of the Tree’), this astonishing event was the second coming of the inaugural efforts of March 12, when 2 million trees were planted all around Macedonia, representing one for each of Macedonia’s citizens.

Although Wednesday’s planting efforts had been envisioned back then, they were given extra urgency by the fact that, as in 2007, summer wildfires destroyed vast tracts of forest around the country. 2008 was a very dry year- good for the winemakers, but bad for rivers, lakes and forests, and so the Tree Day events were especially welcome.

The plantings were held at about 100 locations throughout Macedonia, with only a few of the more elevated locales being cancelled due to freezing conditions. Organizing the logistics alone was a monumental task, involving hundreds of volunteers, the guidance of forestry officials, and a great effort from the Macedonian army. Soldiers alone planted around 120,000 trees.

On the Net: Good Cheer, Cooperation Prevail as Macedonians Plant 6 Million Trees

Image Found Here

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