Beyond Srebrenica was honoured to have our Chair, Sabina Kadić-Mackenzie, invited to the Royal Botanic Garden at Dawyck to plant three endangered Picea omorika alongside her young daughters.
Set against the sunshine of the Scottish Borders, the experience was made all the more meaningful through the thoughtful guidance of Thomas Knott, who originally propagated the species many years ago in the Drina Valley – the site of the Srebrenica genocide.
The Picea omorika, which has survived since the Ice Age, is native to the Drina River Valley. It came perilously close to extinction during the Bosnian War when landmines and widespread environmental destruction devastated its already fragile habitat.
In the midst of conflict, a dedicated team from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh undertook a courageous conservation mission. Working under dangerous conditions, they partnered with local botanists to collect seeds and propagate the species, ensuring its survival.
The story of the Picea omorika mirrors, in many ways, the suffering endured by the people of Bosnia. Both faced destruction, displacement, and the threat of erasure. Yet both endured. Like the spruce, Bosnian communities have shown extraordinary resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship as they made Scotland their home.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh for their care, kindness, and commitment to preservation. Special thanks to Thomas Gifford and David Knott for their support and generosity in making this moment possible.
Sabina Kadic-Mackenzie, chair of Beyond Srebrenica, a Scottish genocide education charity, said:
“This tree, like so many Bosnians, found a way to survive despite everything that was done to erase it.
“As we near the 31st anniversary of the genocide, we remember not just the loss and horror – but the endurance. This tree now thrives in Scotland, just as so many of us Bosnians have. Its roots now touch Scottish soil, linking our two nations in remembrance and in hope.”
Sabina, who is a survivor of the war, continued: “This Spruce is more than a tree. It is a living memorial to all that we lost, and all that we refused to let be destroyed. It stands as a symbol of our survival, and of the profound connection between Bosnia and Scotland forged in the most painful of times.
“The tree stands now not only as a symbol of ecological resilience but also as a quiet testament to the resilience and grace of the Bosnian people who, like it, endured immense suffering yet refused to disappear.”