On Monday, 15 April, the Representation of the European Commission in Slovakia and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Slovakia, in cooperation with the conservation association BROZ, organized a tree planting event in the area of the Vojčianske rameno river branch of the Danube, a NATURA 2000 protected area which also falls under the LIFE – Living Rivers project. The event contributed to ongoing efforts to improve the local ecosystem by planting 30 cherry trees, which among others will further preserve soil and support wildlife.

"Together with colleagues from UNHCR and our partners from embassies and the nonprofit sector, we are delighted that the outcome of our collaborative efforts will positively contribute to improving the conditions in this protected area and facilitate its adaptation to climate change. As part of the European LIFE program, we collectively planted thirty symbolic trees, also commemorating the upcoming Earth Day on April 22. Through such modest contributions, we aim to emphasize the importance of environmental protection for future generations," said Vladimír Šucha, Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Slovakia.

The event was also a great opportunity to strengthen relations between the Representation of the European Commission and UNHCR Slovakia and other partners and was also an opportunity to further support the environmental activities of the European Union and UNHCR.

"We are delighted to contribute to the restoration of the Vojčianske rameno river branch of the Danube together with our partners. As you know, UNHCR is a humanitarian organization but we are also a strong ally in the collective action to combat climate change and its impacts. Among our priorities is to curb the most devastating humanitarian consequences of the climate crisis and avert a catastrophic future for displaced people and their host communities,“ said Danijela Popovic-Efendic, Head of the UNHCR National Office in Slovakia.

The planting of trees was coordinated by BROZ - a conservation association and was carried out on the banks of the recently revitalized Vojčianske rameno river branch of Danube. Bird cherries, native species in the Danube region, have been planted, which will be an important food component for pollinators and birds.

"The Lower Vojčianske rameno river branch is a beautiful Danube branch that has recently undergone revitalization, as it was partially backfilled in the past due to water management modifications, and the water regime in it was not sufficient. We carried out the revitalization of this branch within the European project LIFE - Restoration of Danube floodplain habitats in the area of European importance Dunajské luhy. In this symbolic way today, we made one more action to the already two European attributes in this place, namely by platning trees on the occasion of Slovakia‘s accession to the EU, by which we wanted to point out the importance of European resources for nature protection in Slovakia," says Tomáš Kušík, chairman of BROZ.

The symbolic planting of 30 new trees will contribute to regional and global efforts to combat climate change and promote a more ecological and sustainable future, in line with the EU's #ForOurPlanet campaign and UNHCR's Focus Area Strategic Plan for Climate Action 2024-2030. EU’s campaign, which was  launched in 2022 and is linked to the EU's commitment to plant an additional three billion trees by 2030, aims to support the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems through measures ranging from tree planting to wetland restoration. UNHCR's Focus Area Strategic Plan for Climate Action aims to address UNHCR’s organizational footprint and contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions from operations, facilities, and supply chain practices. Today UNHCR is recognized as a leader within the UN community for its efforts in “greening” its operations and for supporting environmental actions.