INA Continues Implementation of the ‘Green Belt’ Program Supporting 11 Sustainable Projects

Traditionally, on Earth Day, INA announced this year’s winners of the Green Belt program. An expert commission composed of representatives from the Croatian Business Council for Sustainable Development, independent sustainable development experts, and representatives from INA selected 11 winning projects, with one additional project chosen by fans of INA’s Facebook page, as stated in the announcement. The selected projects will be implemented with financial support from INA totaling 250,000 kuna, and some projects will be realized with the help of INA’s Volunteer Club.

The call for the Green Belt was open from March 1 to March 31, and applications were submitted via the website, which received 280 ideas. The winning projects were selected based on clearly defined criteria, the most important of which were sustainability, revitalization of land and water areas aimed at preserving biodiversity, combating climate change, and education.

The selected projects are:

• Croatian Mountaineering Society „Željezničar“, Speleological Section – Caves Without Drama – Underground Without Microplastics
• Diving Club ''Murter-Kornati'' – Find the Scallop!
• Croatian Mountain Rescue Service Station Split – Ecological Action for Cleaning the Cetina Spring in the Dinara Nature Park Area
• Geopark Vis Archipelago – Island of Vis – Clean and Below the Surface
• HUP Beehive – Croatian Beekeeping Service 112 (HPS-112)
• ELEMENTARY SCHOOL JOSIP KOZARAC, LIPOVLJANI – Arboretum – A Place for Learning, Play, and Fun
• Croatian Blind Union – Plant a Plant on Yourself
• ITALIAN HIGH SCHOOL – SCUOLA MEDIA SUPERIORE ITALIANA ROVINJ – ROVIGNO – Preservation of the Local Habitat of the Endangered Species Pholas dactylus in the Coastal Area of Rovinj
• Elementary School Mitnica – From an Unremarkable Lawn to Own Products
• Volunteer Fire Department Vela Luka – Beach Cleaning on the Island of Proizd
• Kindergarten Ivančica, Oriovac – Garden for the Future

– INA is focused on sustainable development and pays great attention to helping communities realize their projects because we believe that each of us can contribute to creating a better, more sustainable future. This year, we provided an opportunity for everyone who 'thinks green' to realize their ideas aimed at preserving the environment we share with our support – said Tamara Karagity, Director of Corporate Communications and Marketing at INA.

What is the ‘Green Belt’ program?

INA launched the ‘Green Belt’ program in 2014, inviting non-governmental organizations and educational institutions to collaborate in contributing to environmental preservation in local communities and mitigating the effects of climate change. Through this program, INA co-finances ecological projects such as afforestation, landscaping green areas, cleaning underwater, coastal areas, lakes, and rivers, education on ecology, and other similar activities in the field of environmental protection, nature, and climate.

Over the past eight years, 123 projects have been realized, which INA co-financed with more than 2.5 million kuna, and an area larger than 98,000 m² has been greened. INA’s Green Belt program has been included as a best practice example in the Global Sustainable Development Report for 2018. It has been recognized as a program that directly contributes to the preservation of life on Earth, one of the 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development of the United Nations.