- • As part of the Green Belt program in 2014, INA donated funds to the association Gea-active ecology for the Eco Park Bijeli Klanac
• Together with the members of the association, the INA Volunteers Club participated in the restoration of the old water mill on Saturday
• The aim of the INA Green Belt program is to raise public awareness on the importance of preserving the environment, as well as to encourage the involvement of citizens
Zagreb, 16 May 2015 – As part of the Green Belt program in 2014, funds were approved to the association GEA – active ecology for the Eco Park Bijeli Klanac. The works are in progress, and on Saturday the members of the INA Volunteers Club, together with the members of the Gea association, renovated the old water mill in Bijeli Klanac.The water mill, as well as its surroundings, were in a state of neglect, and INA volunteers were pleased to participate in the restoration and refurbishment of this unique environment. Next to the water mill there is a small lake from which rotting logs, branches and overgrown plants were removed. At the water mill itself, the old roof tiles were removed in order to replace the worn-out rails and beams, and new roof tiles were placed which helped conserve the facility from further deterioration.
“The entire campaign was reminiscent of parts of the story about Pero Kvržica written by Mato Lovrak, and all of us who participated in the action remembered our childhood through a cheerful and working atmosphere,” said Neven Pavao Poklepović, coordinator of INA volunteers.“The environmental action of repairing roofs and cleaning up the environment was joined by the members of the association GEA – active ecology from Zagreb, Rijeka, Split, Zadar and Osijek. In general, actions are held on a monthly basis for the entire duration of the project, and photos are regularly published on the Facebook page of the association,” added Mrs Ivančica Krivdić, president of the association GEA – active ecology.
The action in Bijeli Klanac is the fifth in a series of this year’s actions taken by INA volunteers relating to the Green Belt program. The actions were so far organised in Popovača (renovation of the therapeutic garden of the Association for rehabilitation and resocialisation of the mentally ill at the “Dr. Ivan Barbot” neuropsychiatric hospital); in the association “Ozana” Zagreb where volunteers took part in a creative workshop, as well as actions on location in the Botanical Garden in Zagreb and on the Island of Lastovo.
Green Belt is a program within which INA supports and finances projects such as reforestation, education on ecology, landscaping and playgrounds renovation, clean-up of the sea bed, coast, lakes and rivers, as well as other activities related to environmental and nature protection. This year as well, INA invited all civil society organisations and public educational institutions in Croatia to develop ideas and projects for the purposes of environmental and nature protection, and to implement them with financial support from INA and the assistance of the INA Volunteers Club.
The competition for Green Belt 2015 is in progress, and applications are being accepted until 31 May this year. Read more about the project at https://www.ina.hr/zelenipojas.