Volunteering for communities and nature: KONČAR marks Earth Day
KONČAR’s tradition of volunteering spans many years and proudly reflects the values and culture we build together every day. Caring for people, local communities and the environment is an integral part of our business, and this year our efforts extended to Zagreb’s Maksimir Park and the Rečica area near Karlovac.
In the lead-up to Earth Day, we organised two volunteer actions involving our employees.
One group of volunteers worked diligently in Maksimir Park, preparing areas that will be adorned with beautiful rose bushes this spring. They were joined by representatives of the Zagreb Volunteer Centre and employees of Maksimir Park, whose guidance and professional advice further enriched the experience. Thanks to their support, our volunteers had the opportunity to learn more about local flora and fauna, park maintenance practices, and the consequences of the recent severe storm that damaged more than 4,000 trees in the park.
At the same time, another group of volunteers took part in planting 500 young pedunculate oak trees in the Rečica area near Karlovac, in cooperation with the Croatian Scout Association. The planting took place in an area affected by the dieback of an old alder forest. By the beginning of next week, a total of 21,000 new saplings will have been planted, fully reforesting the area. This was the 173rd reforestation action carried out as part of the CO2MPENSATING BY PLANTING project, which has been implemented for the fifth consecutive year by the Croatian Scout Association, the HEARTH agency and Croatian Forests. To date, more than 14,000 volunteers have participated in these reforestation activities, planting over 240,000 saplings (mostly oak trees), contributing to environmental renewal and creating lasting positive value for local communities.
Both volunteer actions serve as a strong reminder that success is not measured solely by business results, but also by the sense of togetherness, pride and responsibility that remains long after the gloves are taken off and the mud washed away. Through their example, our volunteers demonstrated how much can be achieved when each individual contributes a little goodwill and effort for the common good.
Earth Day, celebrated globally every year on 22 April, reminds us all that Earth is the only planet we have, and that our role in its preservation does not have to be large to be meaningful.
