NEW TREE SEEDLINGS INSTEAD OF OLD TREES
19.03.2010
Within the Program of activities of residential blocks greenery and resolving the requests of Palilula citizens, the activity of sanitary cutting of dry or diseased trees, decayed at roots, which are prone to fall and endanger the security of citizens. Municipal Administration intensively works on the development of the projects for preparing the ground for spring planting of new trees. With the action of "sustainable development" - World Day of Forests in Palilula Municipality was celebrated.

This week the activity of alley arrangement took place in so called Old Railway Colony settlement in `Rasadnik` street, Palilula. In the cooperation with Public Enterprise "Gorica", professionally and technically equipped enterprise for these activities, eight decayed trees, poplar, walnut and oak were removed. On the occasion of World Day of Forests (March 21) celebration about the results of planning residential greenery and greening of Palilula in the last year and plans for 2010, but also about very successful cooperation of Municipality and Public Enterprise "Gorica", spoke the representatives of Palilula Municipal authorities, Milan Djurdjevic, president of the Assembly, Milos Stojkovic, member of the Municipal Council, Slavoljub Savic, Assistant of the head of Municipal Administration and Branimir Jezdimirović, director of the Public Enterprise "Gorica".

Palilula Municipality is the participant of national campaign project `Green cities of Serbia` that was initiated last year by the Public office of the president of the Republic, as well as world wide ecological campaigns `Billion tree seedlings for Planet Earth` - `Green paths of Europe`, Stop to climate changes`, ` Clean up Serbia- Clean up the world` that are realized in cooperation with EKOpolis net. The aim of our activities is to increase green and park areas in Palilula and  the City of Nis-emphasizes PhD Igor Novakovic, president of Palilula Municipality. Our activities in 2010, apart from increasing and formation  of green areas and adaptation of residential greenery (Memorial Park `Bubanj`,  Delijski Vis, Old cemeteries "Gorica", Kula, Botanical Garden) provides the continuation of planting trees in central parts of Palilula and along public roads.

Besides planting and areas cleaning, Palilula realizes and implements ecological and educational programs in the cooperation with non-governmental organizations (EKOpolis, Scout Association, sports clubs), volunteer and educational institutions (primary schools, universities, high school "Svetozar Markovic", kindergartens) organizations that all participate in activities. With such activities, Palilula Municipality, as one certified local organization and self-government unit (ISO 9001:2008), wants to be closer to EU standards, which requests minimum of 25 square meters of green area per capita in cities.

UN Organization for food and agriculture (FAO) in 1971 declared March 21 for the World Day of Forests, considering that in this way it would contribute to increasing awareness and beliefs of the broadest global public about the importance and the role of forests for humans. Saving forests is of great importance and directly affects the reduction of pollution. Afforestation of larger areas is of particular importance in urban space, where pollution is greatest. It is known that forest vegetation has positive effect on climate, soil, and to mitigate effects of exhaust gases. Based on research conducted in the last thirty years, the number of green areas in Serbian cities has been reduced for the fifth, leading to harmful consequences for the environment.

Palilula Municipality developed a Project of clearing area and planting alley in the `Dusan Popovic` street next to the railroad. Professional team of associates from Gorica was also engaged in this ecological action aimed at cleaning plants and weeds, digging holes and removal of illegal dump garbage sites. 160 trees of birch were planted in this area. Within the project `Ground clearance for the formation of Bubanj picnic place`, which Palilula Municipality implemented with technical support of "Gorica "and national campaign," Green cities of Serbia,  `Billion trees for the Planet Earth" - "Greenways of Europe" - " Stop climate change", promoted by EKOpolis, we organized the planting of 500 trees - birch, black pine, maple, spruce. It is very important that with such actions and projects, but also with continuous education of children and youth, we develop and promote environmental awareness and properly evaluate opportunities that nature offers us- reminds the authorities of Palilula Municipality. For this purpose Palilula became also a member of "Green Network of the City of Nis` and the chairman of the regional ecological network" Clean Up the World ". With the help of `Gorica` and "Mediana" enterprise experts and their utilities, that will organize the planting and clearing-off space, we will try also this year to improve the situation in this field.