Photos: Japanese Cherry Trees blooming in Skopje

Macedonia plants 7.5 million trees

Under motto "Growing Together", a total of 7,5 million trees are planted at 100 locations on Tuesday, in the framework of fifth campaign "Tree Day - Plant Your Future", which also has a regional character. President Gjorge Ivanov, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, Cabinet Ministers, MPs, Macedonian Army members, pupils, students took part in the campaign.
Vice Premier and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski, who planted seedlings in area Tri Krusi near Skopje, said the tree planting campaign has become a tradition by which Macedonia will be recognized in the region and Europe. "Nature and healthy environment contribute to the people's standard, enabling better life for all citizens", added Stavreski. Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, who also planted a tree in area Tri Krusi, said that as of this year, although symbolically, the campaign becomes a regional one, with seedlings also planted in Bulgaria and Albania, whereas mayors of bordering areas came to Macedonia to plant trees.
"The Tree Day campaign was launched following the 2007 wildfires in Macedonia. The afforesting represents serious potential for the future, the health of generations to come, along with creating a culture of environment enhancement among youth", stressed PM Gruevski.
The Government allocated Denar 50 million (EUR 815,000) for today's campaign. President Gjorge Ivanov planted seedlings in Veles, saying such a campaign united people regardless of their religious, ethnic and social affiliation. Approximately 20 million seedlings were planted in the previous four campaigns in the course of 2008 and 2009.

Macedonia plants new 7,5 million Trees

Under motto 'Imagine Macedonia in Green', Macedonia organizes Friday fourth campaign 'Tree Day-Plant Your Future', when 7,5 million seedlings are to be planted in 32 municipalities throughout the country. The 'Tree Day-Plant Your Future' Association offers free bus transport for citizens from 0800 to 1400h. It appeals for citizens massive support of the campaign for reforestation of the country the country and raising the ecological awareness.
To this affect, the Government has declared Friday as a non-working day. On the first showing in the spring of 2008, more than 150,000 Macedonians planted 2 million trees in one day (symbolically, one for each citizen).
Six million more were planted in November, while this March the event saw a combined 5 million trees planted nationwide by a diverse network of volunteers.
Organizers say the next spring campaign will also include Albania, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Serbia and Slovenia. Macedonia and the Tree Day will be the centre of developing ecological awareness and afforestation in neighbouring countries, they say.