Prisoners in Strumica Will Participate in Clearing and Reforestation

The Public Enterprise and the correctional institution from Strumica signed a memorandum of cooperation which foresees the engagement of convicts to carry out community service activities in the forest.

Representatives of the Public Enterprise "National Forests" and of the Correctional Institution "Prison" – Strumica took part in the document. At the ceremony the signatories were Kire Mihailov, listed in the document as director of the Public Enterprise "Macedonian Forests", and the director of the Correctional Institution "Prison" – Strumica, Zoran Ristov, and also present was the director of the Belasica Forestry Branch – Strumica, Nikola Trenchovski.

What tasks the convicts will perform

In the press release that accompanied the memorandum it is stated that the planned tasks will include activities in the area of reforestation and land clearing. The exact quote from the press release reads: "It is envisaged that the prisoners will actively participate in processes of reforestation, clearing of land and other activities in the field of forestry, in order to contribute to the protection of nature and the public interest."

The forestry branch clarified that such inter-institutional coordination should enable more efficient implementation of field activities and concrete benefits for the local community and for forest management.

The press release did not state how many convicted persons will be engaged and when exactly the first work actions will begin. The program is described as community service which will serve to supplement regular forestry activities.

As a goal, the responsible parties also highlighted the opportunity for the resocialization of the convicts through involvement in useful joint projects while simultaneously contributing to the protection of nature in the Strumica region.

Photo: Administration for Enforcement of Sanctions / Facebook