Students from Hani i Elezit learn about forests and their importance

September 17, 2014 – The company for cement production Sharrcem, within the project “Laboratory for business activities”, has taken the initiative to organize a visit to the management unit of” Uji i Bardhë” in Gorancë with the students of high school “Dardania” in Hani i Elezit. The main purpose of the visit was to introduce students to the activities of the “Laboratory for business activities”, through which it aims to contribute to the increase of the knowledge of students on the forest resources of the area, their importance for the environment, society, and economy in general.

Initially the students were informed about the importance of forests in general, then they had the opportunity to learn more about each type of wood found in this part, as well as forestry activities of LAB which are being developed in collaboration with the Forest Agency of Kosovo and the Municipal Director of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, with the aim of improving and managing the forest space of 20 hectares, which is in public ownership.

Students had the opportunity to learn that through forestry precautions it is intended to influence positively the improvement of the quality and quantity of wood masses widely available in this area, giving a positive image to the manmade interventions and constant contribution to protect and improve the forest in general. “With these forestry measures the productivity optimization will be impacted by adjusting artificially participation of each type of wood and optimal density, as well as other comprehensive forest functions handled. On the other hand the timber attained from these treatments will be processed for the production of chips that will be utilized as combustible for the production of energy to heat a school nearby the treatment zone.” said Hysen Shabanaj, director of LAB, in an informative lecture held for the students during the visit.

On the other hand the students were pleased with the initiative of LAB whereby they learned much more about the world of forests. “I am so happy that I had the opportunity to learn more about the role of forests in our lives, and at the same time about the means and due care in treating the forests. It was a nice experience to get to know the features of each type of timber in the area. This knowledge that I managed to pick up today will also be conveyed to other family members and friends, because I think it is of a high importance” said Alma Curri, one of the students from the school “Dardania “.

The long term objective of the project of LAB is that this tested concept should be established and applied to a wider surface by improving things for forest management and provide sufficient quantities of timber from clearing of forests. The waste after regular cuttings will be used in processing chips which will be used for heating of all public buildings in the municipality of Hani i Elezit.