In 2009, the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Declaration on Slovenia’s Active Role in the Formation of a New World Climate Change Policy (DeONSPPS) that sets out the country’s general positions on climate change. In doing so, Slovenia has committed to the principles of sustainable development, which represents the present generation’s pledge to improve options for future generations. Slovenia is fulfilling this commitment through the sustainable management of natural resources, including forests.

Forests cover almost 60 percent of Slovenia’s surface area, making the country the third most forested in Europe. Planting trees can positively affect climate change, reduce carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere and regulate non-removable carbon emissions caused by human actions.

For this reason, InnoRenew CoE decided to take action and sign a letter of intent for planting 3,000 oak trees. The Municipality of Izola joined the action and provided locations where the oak trees can be planted, while the Slovenia Forest Service provided professional help and Komunala Izola provided technical help. The action was also supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport as they are aware of the importance of environmental protection and mitigation of climate change for society’s sustainable development.

Once built, the new InnoRenew CoE building will be the largest wooden building in Slovenia. For its construction, 870 cubic meters of wood will be used, which is approximately the size of 160 adult oak trees such as the ones planted in the framework of this action. In Slovenia’s sustainably managed forests, enough trees will grow in one year so that almost 3,000 similar buildings could be built. The new building will store 1456 tons of carbon dioxide, and, after its end of life, it will be possible to transform the building’s components (with low energy) into new products to reuse them. Carbon dioxide stored in this wood will be “sealed” in the structure for decades and not released into the atmosphere where it can cause problems such as global warming.

The 3,000 oak trees planted by InnoRenew CoE in Izola, will grow 1450 cubic meters of wood in 200 years, storing 2647 tons of carbon dioxide. Thus, the carbon imprint of the InnoRenew CoE building will be additionally negative.

You can learn more about the event and signing ceremony in the article Posadili bodo 3000 hrastov puhovcev, published in the journal Primorske novice.