The Klipspruit - Klip River rehabilitation project was launched on World Environment Day, marking the start of the City's week-long environmental awareness programme.

THE City's week-long environmental awareness campaign kicked off on World Environment Day, 5 June, with the official launch of the Klipspruit - Klip River rehabilitation and greening project.

It is one of the City's 2010 Fifa World Cup™ legacy projects, and was launched by Executive Mayor Amos Masondo at Thokoza Park in Soweto.

Actors from the Industrial Theatre used their craft to spread environmental awarenession

The environmental awareness campaign looks at global warming and the effects of climate change. It includes a youth summit, spot testing of vehicle emissions and an extreme park make-over. The international theme for the day is Melting ice – a hot topic.

"The theme reflects the impact that climate change is having in all the regions of the world," Masondo said. "Environmental problems and issues of climate change have become increasingly significant over the years."

Economic development, rapid industrialisation, population growth, water scarcity and poverty were increasingly testing the limits of nature, he added. "Today's ecological and environmental problems cannot be looked at in isolation from the challenges of sustainable development and are global in nature."

The main objectives of the week's activities are to:

• Encourage people to become active participants in sustainable and equitable living;
• Promote awareness and an understanding that communities play a central role in changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and
• Develop partnerships that will ensure that nations and people enjoy a better quality of life.

Masondo said the Klipspruit - Klip River project was aimed at increasing the overall quality of the Klip River and Klipspruit catchment area and ensuring an improved outdoor recreation space for all citizens.

Executive Mayor, Amos Masondo, addresses the audience at a function to mark World Environmental Day

"The project's vision is to transform the dry and dusty landscape of Soweto into a green and vibrant corridor, conducive to healthy living. The targets we have set for ourselves involve the upgrading and development of parks, beautifying of road islands and sidewalks and planting of over 60 000 trees to restore the Klip River [Klipspruit] wetland system," Masondo explained.

"The project is about the creation of a living network of greenways and open spaces. It is about providing people with access to open spaces closer to where they live."

Members of the public who attended the launch had a chance to participate in the designs of the various eco-recreational parks proposed for the Klip River area, which were unveiled on the day.

"Today we unveiled the draft designs of various eco-recreational parks for the Klip River area and we gave members of the community the opportunity to express their views and give input," said Shoni Munzhedzi, Johannesburg City Parks's general manager for environment and conservation development.

"We believe that it is only through partnerships that we can make this dream even more of a reality. Let us plant more trees, build more parks, green our soccer fields and ensure that the south of Johannesburg is characterised by green spaces and a better quality of life," Masondo concluded.

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