National Nature Park “Zacharovanyi krai” offered Irshava kids, the public and all who care about nature to conduct a joint environmental event "I will save the Christmas tree!" aimed at making own contribution into less destruction of coniferous trees. Children had to prepare Christmas trees from different alternative materials.
NGO FORZA actively supported this event of the Park, what is a partner in the project «FOR SOC Forests for society - forests without barriers", as for Irshava children-participants of the event there was organized a meeting with elements of forest pedagogy. In addition, employees of the park (Mariana Tsilio, Eugene Giga) and head of Pidhirnianske school forestry Lyudmila Schoka were trained upon forest pedagogy in the project training courses in Slovakia. So, it was a good opportunity to work out received knowledge.
Meeting was held with the participation of director of the Park I.Pinyashko, representative of the Department of Education A. Andrishko, teachers and pupils of the Pidhirnyanske, Osiyske school forestries (L.Mitrovtsi and L.Schoka). Organizers of the event - a specialist on environmental and educational work Irina Popovich and  park employee Mariana Tsilio and Raisa Lyashko - arrange for young participants a real Christmas party, conducted master classes and environmental games, taught children to make a variety of crafts and products made of natural materials, acted quiz on the subject of saving trees. Schoolchild also got some hot tea with forest and wild herbs, biscuits and sweets.
Partners from Uzhhorod - representatives of NGO FORZA Svetlana Kuptsova, Radmila Ustych and Yurii Derbal - conducted master class on making Christmas souvenir candles with natural materials, involved present kids and adults into filling of the questionnaire on the topic "What do you know / think about the forest?" and awarded prizes for the best works of kids.
Pupils from Osiyske school forestry Marika Yurina and Alexandra  Bereznay prepared presentation on illegal destruction of trees and relevant consequences, as well as about alternatives of traditional Christmas tree, and traditions of different countries about Christmas tree, Michailo Chernychko entertained the audience with cheerful New Year songs, Masha Mudraninets presented riddles about Christmas tree. Pupils from Pidhirnyanske school forestry Olexandra Vynychuk, Jaroslav Dovhinko, Peter Merenych and Darinka Schoka performed small spectacular about protection of nature and careful attitude towards Christmas trees.
Park director Park I. Pinyashko told children how many years are needed for a seed to grow into a tree. In particular, he said: "Christmas tree is a living being, preservation of which depends on each person, even little boy or girl. So, to save the forest resources of the earth, let's make our New Year's gift to nature and protect these magnificent trees, making homemade artificial Christmas trees and decorations!"
Today's environmental campaign "I will save the Christmas tree" was really fun winter event for children! The organizers of this campaign managed to persuade young Irshava citizens that on the eve of New Year holidays the Christmas trees should be protected.
Photos of the events are here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B2jZjG3vt_uVY2hyRkNtS2ZkaVE?usp=sharing

By materials of NNP Zacharovanyi kraiand NGO FORZA

Additionally: 
The “Forests for the society – forests without barriers” (CBC01013) project is implemented within the framework of SK08 Cross‐border Cooperation Programme of Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009 ‐ 2014. The intended outcome of the Cross‐border Cooperation Programme is the mitigation of existing barriers to cross-border cooperation, with the planned Program´s Output - new cross-border partnerships/networks established and existing partnerships/networks supported Project Coordinator - National Forest Centrum (Lead partner), partner are Municipal Forest Enterprise of Kosice city, Church Forest Enterprise PRO POPULO Poprad, Agency for Sustainable Development of the Carpathian region “FORZA”, National Nature Park “Zacharovanyi krai”, Skogbrukets Kursinstitutt Forestry Extension Institute, Vocational Forestry School, National Council of Persons with Disabilities in Slovaki, Transcarpathian Forest and Hunting Administration.
More information about project: www.forsoc.org and https://www.facebook.com/forsoc.eu/
Project is supported by a grant from Norway, co-financed by the State Budget of the Slovak Republic. Slovakia – Ukraine: Cooperation across the Border“/Cooperation with common values“, www.norwaygrants.org