Already the largest manmade urban forest in the world, Johannesburg is
planning to add thousands more trees to its landscape, greening the
traditionally neglected townships.
THOUSANDS of trees will be planted across Joburg over the next three years
under City Parks's new One tree at a time campaign.
Some 100 000 indigenous trees will planted on the streets of new and
developing suburbs under the campaign, which will be launched on Monday, 3
September.
'Trees are the lifelines of our city,' says City Parks' Luther Williamson
According to Prema Naidoo, the member of the mayoral committee for
environment, the campaign is aimed at solving greening problems caused by
urbanisation. "There is a collective need to accelerate greening programmes to
enhance the quality of life of every resident."
One tree at a time is an appeal to individuals and business to work with the
City in building a greener and healthier Johannesburg, says Jenny Moodley, the
City Parks spokesperson. The agency will plant 9 500 street trees during Arbor
Month to add to the 2 100 already planted. Various completed road island
initiatives will also be unveiled.
Arbor Day – when people are encouraged to plant trees - is celebrated
nationally on 1 September; in 1999, the government extended the celebration for
a week, running from 1 to 7 September. City Parks will run its programmes over
the full month.
Some R44-million has been set aside for the City Parks campaign. "This is a
huge investment in greening and beatifying our city," says Johnny Masinga, the
organisational developmental adviser at Equity Aviation, one of the companies
that is working with City Parks on One tree at a time. Through supporting the
project, companies will have a chance to help fight climate change.
"Residents are reminded that we have a collective responsibility to nurture
our greenery, as trees improve air quality, provide a habitat for wildlife and
have the potential to increase property values," Moodley adds.
Luther Williamson, the managing director of City Parks, says Arbor Month
gives people an opportunity to reflect on the importance of trees. "Tress, with
their health, economic and environmental benefits, are the lifelines of our
city."
Arbor Month events
City Parks has partnered with a number of
companies to plant thousands of trees across Johannesburg.
First off, Executive Mayor Amos Masondo will join hundreds of people at
Dorothy Nyembe Park in Dobsonville Soweto on Saturday, 1 September, where 11 000
trees will be handed over to Dobsonville residents.
South African former Formula One world champion Jody Scheckter donated the
trees in support of the City's ambitious Greening Soweto project, under which it
aims to turn the township into an urban forest before the 2010 Fifa World Cup™.
He has partnered with City Parks, Talk Radio 702 and Food and Trees for Africa.
The event will start at 11am.
Alexandra
At River Park in Alexandra, more than 500 people
will receive 1 000 tress donated by Equity Aviation on Tuesday, 4 September. The
event will start at 10am.
Pikitup
Meanwhile, Pikitup will be planting more than 80
trees in Soweto, Alexandra and Diepsloot.
Under the theme, My tree for 2010 and beyond, a team led by Amanda Buzo, the
utility's head of environmental management, will be working with three
environmental organisations from these places to promote the role of trees in
achieving a healthy environment. Residents will be urged to adopt the trees to
ensure that they are maintained.
"We need to reconcile with the environment and realise the importance of
trees to us human beings," says Smith Radigoana, the utility's manager of
environmental education awareness and community development.
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry's chosen trees to plant during
Arbor Week this year are the Pavetta schumanniana (poison brides bush)
and the Rhus pyroides (common wild currant).
Related stories:
|
