Autumn Favors Planting and Collaboration: Thanks to the “Planting the Future” Program, Trees Will Be Added in 30 Locations

Thirty communities across Slovakia have received over 70,000 euros for planting fruit orchards, alleys, and woodlots. These new trees will make the landscape more beautiful, diverse, and, most importantly, more resilient to the adverse effects of climate change. With the support of the Visegrad Fund, the idea of planting for the future is also crossing Slovakia’s borders.

The second grant round of the Planting the Future program this year attracted 84 applications, out of which 30 were selected by an expert committee. Civic associations, municipalities, schools, and informal community initiatives received funding not only for planting materials but also for subsequent care. “We are witnessing weather extremes, and future forecasts are not optimistic. We face the decision of how quickly we can react to accelerating climate change. Trees are one of the available tools to help us in this fight. We decided to return them to the landscape where they are most needed, but we must also recognize that planting is just the beginning. It is crucial to care for both new and existing trees, and our program considers this when awarding grants,” says Martina Hromadová, program manager of the Planting the Future program.

The plantings will take place across Slovakia this autumn. Most often, these involve planting fruit trees in villages, school grounds, or social service facilities, providing both environmental and practical benefits for local residents. Volunteers are also bringing trees back to landscapes where they once grew naturally but gradually disappeared—such as windbreaks, woodlots in agricultural areas, or avenues along roads and cycling routes. Many projects aim to help residents with cooling during summer heatwaves or improving water retention. A complete list of supported projects can be found at this link.

When Trees Unite—People and Nations

The autumn planting season officially began on October 11 in Nová Bystrica. “Although the weather was not on our side, we managed to plant 22 trees and 14 shrubs in two locations—at the Elementary School in Vychylovka and along the cycling route in the village. This was made possible thanks to the dedication of the local municipal office, schools, volunteer firefighters, expert Róbert Podoba, and, of course, the financial partners of the planting,” Hromadová explains. This planting also marked the start of collaboration with partners from the Czech Republic and Poland, enabling the creation of the Planting Our Future project with the support of the Visegrad Fund. This initiative aims to share knowledge and experience in tree planting with other European countries.

Since its inception in autumn 2021, the Planting the Future program has supported the planting of approximately 4,000 trees. “Our goal is not to plant thousands of trees annually but to focus on quality over quantity. We have strict criteria to ensure that supported projects prioritize species diversity, favor traditional native species and regional varieties, and involve local communities—volunteers from civic associations, schools, and other institutions. We also evaluate the suitability of locations to ensure trees provide long-term benefits. Additionally, we emphasize post-planting care and monitor it in the years following,”explains Milan Hronec, one of the program’s evaluators from the Ekopolis Foundation.

“We are succeeding in fulfilling the initiative’s goal thanks to individual partners from the private sector who join us throughout the year and recognize the importance of these projects. The initiative itself came to life and has persisted for three years primarily thanks to the general partner, GLS General Logistics Systems Slovakia s. r. o. This autumn, we extend our gratitude and best wishes especially to the active citizens who implement planting projects across Slovakia,” concludes Peter Medveď, director of the Ekopolis Foundation. This autumn’s plantings were supported by Prvá stavebná sporiteľňa, Kaufland, L’Oréal, Nadácia Slovenskej sporiteľne, Green Print, EPF Group, Fond na podporu vzdelávania, Mondeléz, Deloitte, Starbucks, Deutsche Telekom, and Answear.

Overall, the program has supported the planting of more than 4,000 trees across 60 locations in Slovakia, involving over a thousand volunteers. In this way, it contributes to achieving the European Commission’s goal of planting at least three billion trees in the EU by 2030.

Media Contact and More Information:
Martina Hromadová, Program Manager, the Ekopolis Foundation.
hromadova@ekopolis.sk,  +421 908 371 289

About the Planting the Future program:

The Planting the Future program engages people in planning, planting, and caring for trees, symbolizing solidarity between people and nature. The program aims to return trees to settlements and open landscapes where they are needed most—particularly in areas where green infrastructure is lacking or degraded. An essential part of the program is supporting local communities, active municipalities, schools, and civic associations. The initiative includes educational, informational, and demonstration activities to raise awareness about the importance of trees in the landscape.

You can find all additional information at www.sadimebuducnost.sk or www.ekopolis.sk.
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