In the past two months, the action for afforestation of the forest plantations called “SONCHEVA GORA” was carried out, in which the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, National Forests, together with the volunteers of Pivara Skopje and the local population planted about 40,000 trees – 10,000 trees in Qojlija (Petrovec) and 30,000 trees in Veles, near Lake Mladost. With this action, the promise that was made this spring by Pivara Skopje, Man and Mountain, and Pakomak supported by the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, after the waste cleanup action – “GENERALKA WEEKEND 2022” – was realized for every 10 kilograms of waste that will be collected, to plant one tree at a time. The eco-action was carried out in 26 municipalities across the country, and more than 8000 volunteers participated in it, which deservedly won the primacy – the most massive environmental action that has ever been carried out in our country.

The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water welcomed the action and emphasized the importance of such actions and the commitment to a joint contribution to improving the quality of life in our country. “I’m glad that after GENERALKA WEEKEND, this is the first of ten such actions that will follow. We are here to give maximum support, but also to encourage everyone to join together. The green transition is one of the five priorities of the Ministry, our goal and focus is to change the way of thinking, habits, as well as to give our support to what life means. Every single tree means life!” said the Minister Ljupco Nikolovski.

The CEO of Pivara Skopje Goran Sladic, expressed his satisfaction for the incredible success and positive results of this action and called for even greater mass-participation in the actions that will follow. “I am proud of all the volunteers and Pivarci who were part of this action and I congratulate them from the bottom of my heart for the achieved success! Together with our partners we planted 40,000 trees. For Pivara Skopje, this is extremely important because it helps us to combine the two most important strategic initiatives – “World without waste” and the whole commitment we have to reduce CO2. I use this opportunity to call upon all our partners to join us, together to make our country even more better place to live,” said the CEO Goran Sladic.

Welcoming the initiative, the Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, Nasser Nuredini, congratulated the success of the organizers of this big eco-action: “The transformation of approximately 400 tons of collected waste into tree plantations and thus the creation of “SONCHEVA GORA” is a visible benefit for everyone! This is an excellent example of how the correct attitude towards waste, the will to collect and recycle including an innovative approach and creativity, can build a green future from the waste of the past,” noted Minister Nuredini.

The goal of GENERALKA WEEKEND and SONCHEVA GORA is to clean the country from the waste of the past and recycle it into a green future within the next ten years – from the 30th to the 40th birthday of our country. “All strata of society beyond the ethnic, social and political boundaries are joining forces to make a sustainable change in the way we deal with our environment and waste management. We are proud of all the people of our country, who chose to do the right thing: protecting and caring for our home country in order to build a future for us and the generations to come,” added Gordana Sofia and Hannes Jaetzkl from Man and Mountain.

The entire necessary infrastructure for the collection, selection and appropriate treatment of the waste was provided by Pakomak. “Today’s action is a good example to visually present the circularity of waste. For every 10 kilograms of waste that we collected in the past period, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water donated one tree, which we are planting today. This is another proof that by selecting waste and properly managing it, we can contribute to a greener planet,” says Filip Ivanovski, Executive Director of Pakomak.

GENERALKA WEEKEND 22 ended with the afforestation of “SONCHEVA GORA 2022” with approximately 40,000 seedlings, equivalent to the total waste of approximately 400 tons, collected in 2021 and 2022. The organizers expressed their immense gratitude to the volunteers who selflessly spared their time, “rolled up their sleeves” and got their hands dirty, all in order to show that a clean environment depends on each individual!

With new strength and even greater motivation, the organizers continue towards the goal, which is 2031 – a clean and green country.