International initiative on sustainability
The focus of this year's Week of Discovering European Cemeteries is on the dedication of cemeteries to environmental sustainability and fight against climate change. In this context, Pogrebno podjetje Maribor, the presiding member of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE), in collaboration with the Chamber of Public Utilities of Slovenia (ZKGS), has prepared a national initiative featuring various year-round activities focused on environmental sustainability. A key component of this initiative is the invitation to cemetery managers to plant sample graves with drought-resistant plants at their cemeteries.
All members of GZS chamber have already been invited to participate, and quite a few have responded positively to the initiative.
As an example to others, Pogrebno podjetje Maribor has prepared its program for the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries based on this initiative. Below are the projects, events, and activities on this topic that will take place at the Dobrava Cemetery and Pobrežje Cemetery in Maribor, Slovenia.
WDEC 2024 at Dobrava Cemetery
➤ Planting nectar-rich plants – an invaluable forage for bees and other pollinators.
➤ Installation of beehives in May 2024.
WDEC 2024 at Pobrežje Cemetery
➤ Planting nectar-rich plants – an invaluable forage for bees and other pollinators.
➤ Arrangement of three sample graves with plants that tolerate drought and require less watering. The sample graves will be marked with special plaques. Implementation is in progress.
➤ A flower and floral arrangement exhibition, showcasing plants resistant to drought, will be held in front of the Cvetličarna Aralija flower shop, located at the entrance of Pobrežje Cemetery, from May 27th to June 1st.
➤ On May 28th, a cultural day will take place at the Pobrežje Cemetery for students from Tone Čufar Primary School Maribor. The event will feature presentations on the ARtour mobile application and sustainable solutions implemented at the cemetery.
➤ On May 28th at 5:30 PM, an event in collaboration with the Maribor Multigenerational Center (VGC Maribor) will take place in the multipurpose hall at the Pobrežje Cemetery. The event will host a round table discussion focusing on sustainable development in funeral and cemetery services, examining various generational perspectives with a particular emphasis on youth.The event will conclude at 7 PM with a guided tour showcasing the sustainable initiatives implemented at the Pobrežje Cemetery. This will include visits to sustainably arranged sample graves, areas planted with nectar-rich plants and other bee-friendly initiatives, discussions on biodiversity at the cemetery, and a presentation of the ARtour application. As part of this event, VGC Maribor will conduct a survey among both younger and older attendees to gather their perceptions of sustainability in funeral services. The survey results will be discussed during the round table discussion.
Drought-resistant grave planting
Below, you can see some sample graves at Pobrežje Cemetery that have been cleaned, arranged, and planted with drought-resistant plants. They are also marked with special boards describing the project and listing the plants planted on each specific grave.
