"Tree of Knowledge" planted in the park in Stara Zlatica: "We encourage citizens to take care of their environment and nature"

More than 60 students planted a "tree of knowledge" today in the Podgorica park on Stara Zlatica, marking the completion of their studies and making their contribution to environmental preservation, reports PR Center.

The "Tree of Knowledge" project is being implemented for the third year in a row by the Student Parliament of the University of Montenegro (SPUCG), the University of Montenegro, the Environmental Protection Agency, with the logistical support of the city enterprise DOO Zelenilo Podgorica.

The President of SPUCG, Jakov Vukčević, explained that the action represents a successful combination of education and practical activities.

"This project is becoming traditional for our Student Parliament. With it, we send a positive message to the community and encourage citizens to take care of their environment and nature," said Vukčević.

He said that more than 60 students have the opportunity to plant their own "trees of knowledge", stating that this symbolic act marks the completion of their studies, but also a contribution to environmental preservation.

Vukčević also highlighted the problems Montenegro has faced in recent years, such as fires in Podgorica and other cities, and stressed the importance of involving young people in environmental actions.

"The implementation of the project would be impossible without the support of the University of Montenegro, the Environmental Protection Agency, which donated the seedlings, as well as the Zelenilo company. We thank all partners who made the action successful and invite students to get involved in future projects," said Vukčević.

The Secretary General of the University of Montenegro, Vedran Vujisić, said that they launched the "Tree of Knowledge" project with the aim of connecting all students graduating from any level of study at the University of Montenegro with the environment, but also with their university.

"In this way, students, future academic citizens, show that they are aware of the need to preserve and protect the environment, and we, as a socially responsible organization, want to show how important it is to initiate such actions and projects that contribute to a healthier, more sustainable and greener future in the first ecological state in the world," said Vujisić.

He reminded that this is the third action within the project and that it is very significant that it has become traditional.

"We are very happy and satisfied that the interest of students is at a fairly high level from year to year. We are glad that students recognize this project as extremely important, and we are also glad that we continue to have the support of our University, the Environmental Protection Agency and the city company Zelenilo," said Vujisić.

He pointed out that the web platform "Tree of Knowledge" (stabloznanja.ucg.ac.me), where students can upload photos upon completion of the action and create a permanent album of memories, improved this year, and developed and launched in 2023.

"In this way, not only through photography, but also through the planting itself, students connect with nature and their university, take care of the tree over the years and create lasting value," Vujisić pointed out.

He said that they want students, as the driving force of society and a relevant social factor, to set an example to others that such actions can contribute to the affirmation of the idea of ​​a green university and that Montenegro is an ecological state.

"The best indicator that students in Montenegro have environmental awareness is the great interest in this action. With our example, we show other young people, organizations and relevant social actors that we can act both preventively and proactively. Everyone, within their capabilities, can design such an action or project that contributes to environmental protection and mobilizes the population in focus, and these are our students, a total of 16.000 at the University of Montenegro," said Vujisić.

The Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Milan Gazdić, said that the Agency has been working on such projects for the third year in a row, together with the University and the Student Parliament.

"We participated in the creation of a park on the campus of the Rectorate of the University of Montenegro, which is today one of the most beautiful places in Podgorica. I hope that the Capital and all of us together will continue to create new green spaces, especially in locations where there is major construction, such as Zabjelo, where we previously did not have park areas," said Gazdić.

He also announced new initiatives for the restoration of burned areas.

"Due to the circumstances of this summer, when fires destroyed large green areas, I am announcing the next projects in which we will participate, which will concern the afforestation and greening of burned areas," said Gazdić.

The executive director of the city company DOO Zelenilo Podgorica, Nemanja Gajović, said that 70 seedlings of indigenous species will be planted in the park on Zlatica.

"Greenery always responds to actions of this type, and in Stara Zlatica, the people who live here demonstrate extraordinary preservation of both the inventory and the plant life in the park," Gajović pointed out.

He said that the city company had 1.844 interventions in public areas in parks from June to September, stating that such projects help preserve greenery and educate young people.

"Here you have the opportunity to see for yourself how everything is preserved and left for generations to come. Personally, I am very happy about that and I believe that this location should be an example to all citizens of how the park's inventory and plant life are taken care of," said Gajović.