Hrvatski Telekom Employees use drones to reforest the Rijeka area

14.10.2026

Hrvatski Telekom, HT Towers, and Combis organized a volunteer tree-planting initiative on land owned by the City of Rijeka. Employees and pupils from local primary schools joined forces to help restore green areas and protect the natural environment. They planted black pine saplings across one hectare, while drones dispersed approximately 3,000 seed balls containing black pine seeds. The initiative combined traditional planting methods with modern technological solutions to support environmental conservation.

The initiative brought together members of the HT Management Board and employees of HT, HT Towers, and Combis, alongside around 40 pupils from two Rijeka primary schools, Ivan Zajc Primary School and Škurinje Primary School, and their teachers. In addition to planting trees, participants learned from forestry experts about the importance of forest conservation, biodiversity, and responsible care for the natural environment.

A distinctive feature of the initiative was the use of technology in reforestation. Alongside conventional tree planting, participants used pre-prepared seed balls to help restore vegetation. Dispersing them by drones showed how modern technology can support environmental protection.

"At Hrvatski Telekom, we see investing in the community as an important part of our business, and taking part in initiatives like this is one way we put that responsibility into practice. We continuously support initiatives that deliver tangible benefits to local communities, and we are particularly pleased when they bring together our employees, children, and technology. We believe that working together in this way can drive positive change and help preserve the environment for future generations," said Ivan Bartulović, Member of the Management Board and Chief Operating Officer for Human Resources and Customer Support at Hrvatski Telekom.

"For the past six years, we have been implementing reforestation projects that bring together schools, local communities, and the business sector, encouraging a shared commitment to environmental protection. Over the years, we have partnered with many leading Croatian companies, and we are particularly pleased to welcome HT and its employees to this initiative. Partnerships like these demonstrate how much we can achieve for nature and our communities by working together. We hope this is just the beginning of our cooperation," said Goran Ladišić, Director and Founder of Project 02.

This volunteer initiative is part of a series of sustainability activities HT regularly undertakes, focusing on reducing its environmental impact, improving energy efficiency, and using resources responsibly. The company's commitment to sustainable business practices also reflects in numerous awards, including the Golden HRIO award and the recently earnedEcoVadisa Gold Medal, which places HT among the top 5% of companies worldwide.