Learning to Protect Nature

More than 90 elementary school students from Kragujevac took part in a lecture and two workshops titled “Get to Know a Tree to Love It”, organized within the project “Paths of Nature”, implemented by the City of Kragujevac in cooperation with the association “Prvi prvi na skali.”

The goal of the project, implemented as a part of the “PRO - Local Governance for People and Nature” programme, is to expand green areas and strengthen citizens’ environmental awareness through tree planting, educational workshops, and promotional campaigns.

The lecture, which served as an introduction to the workshops, presented various types of seedlings that will be planted in the territory of the City of Kragujevac in the upcoming period.

The workshops were interactive, providing students with the opportunity to gain new knowledge about different tree species and the importance of their preservation, for a healthier environment and surroundings, through various tasks and teamwork.

"We have learned how to protect nature and that we should not pollute it, that we should plant trees so we can have more oxygen and so the air would not be polluted," says Andrej, one of the students who attended the workshops.

Through a series of activities, including the classification of tree species by regions of Serbia, students engaged with the topic in a fun and interactive way. An educational play was also held, creatively conveying the message of the importance of protecting the environment.

"Today we had a play and I played a squirrel. I had the main role and I was very happy. I talked about everything that is important for nature. In the workshop, we glued tree leaves and divided into groups. I learned that trees are important for oxygen, as well as for the health of animals," says Nikolija.

The “Paths of Nature” project is an example of good practice in applying the principles of good governance, with a particular emphasis on citizen participation, with the overall aim to improve environmental governance and create a greener environment.

The Programme "PRO - Local Government for People and Nature" is jointly implemented by the United Nations agencies in Serbia - UNOPS, UNICEF, UNFPA and UNEP, in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Serbia and with the financial support of the Government of Switzerland.