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Thousands of trees are being planted in Soweto under the award-winning Greening Soweto, aimed at turning the sprawling township into an urban forest ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. And the City is calling on more people to participate.
Trees for planting
WHEN Executive Mayor Amos Masondo led the planting of 6 000 trees to launch Greening Soweto in September 2006, an ambitious project to beautify the massive township ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, he began what has become Joburg's "biggest greening revolution".
Since then, 51 821 indigenous trees, worth R46-million, have been planted along Soweto's streets and in its gardens. Through Greening Soweto, a legacy project of the World Cup, the City aims to plant more than 300 000 trees in the country's biggest township.
"We are satisfied with the progress of the project," says Jenny Moodley, the spokesperson at Johannesburg City Parks, the agency charged with the mammoth task of implementing it.
With R7,6-million set aside for Greening Soweto, it is the City's biggest greening initiative. "It is by far the biggest greening initiative in terms of implementation. The landscape of Soweto is changing for the better."
In his budget speech for the 2006-07 financial year, Masondo said: "The greening of Soweto will receive R7,6-million, which will primarily be driven by the planting of street trees to enhance the quality of life and the environment; in 2006-07, 5 000 trees will be planted."
Johannesburg Water, City Power and Johannesburg Roads Agency are on board to ensure that there is sufficient water and power, and that roads are in good condition. The World Conservation Union and the national Department of Water Affairs and Forestry have also endorsed the programme.
Partnerships
Executive Mayor Amos Masondo launches the Greening Soweto project
Various organisations, companies, individuals and governments have been working with the City to implement Greening Soweto. They include Airports Company of South Africa, Talk Radio 702, Jody Scheckter, Rand Water and the governments of Norway and Denmark, which have forked out more than R2-million for the programme.
Moodley says the government, greening organisations, companies and Sowetans have responded positively to it. Many have pledged to take care of the trees way after the final whistle of the World Cup has been blown. "It is not only about 2010," she says, emphasizing that the project will benefit Sowetans after the tournament.
However, like any other huge project, rolling out Greening Soweto has its own challenges. The ever-increasing price of street trees is one of them. "The cost of street trees is not as affordable as it was three years ago," Moodley says, noting that businesses are cashing in on the opportunities created by hosting the event.
A variety of trees are being planted. Common species of indigenous trees, such as frost tolerant trees, are cheaper than others. "The more common species are affordable and others are [more] expensive." But companies are "very willing" to fund food trees.
Helping Soweto go green are Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and former Formula One champion Jody Scheckter
Nurturing is another challenge. As more trees are planted, City Parks has to increase its capacity to take care of them. "Watering and nurturing can be as expensive as buying the trees," Moodley notes.
Space is another major concern. Soweto has limited pavement space, with residents using it for other purposes, she says. Trees cannot be planted within 10 metres of an intersection, or within five metres of an electricity pole, vehicle entrance, road sign or storm water culvert.
Moodley says City Parks is working closely with all the stakeholders, including the community and Johannesburg Roads Agency, regarding this.
Weather is also on the list of worries. The ideal time to plant trees is early spring because it is cool, allowing the trees to establish roots in their new location. This means the City cannot plant trees during any season, which slows the speed of planting.
"Summer and spring are more conducive for planting trees."
Related projects
Improving the quality of life: regenerating the Klipspruit River catchment area in Mapetla Regional Park
The rehabilitation of the catchment area of the Klipspruit River in Mapetla Regional Park is part of Greening Soweto. At a clean-up in October 2007, Masondo said that the project was part of the City's broader plan to improve quality of life and to help stimulate economic development in Soweto.
Greening Soweto was a winner at the prestigious Liveable Communities (LivCom) Awards, organised by the United Nations, in London in November 2007. The programme received a merit gold award in the natural built project category together with the Regional Ivory Park and the Thokoza Park/Moroko Dam rehabilitation project.
This year, City Parks plans to plant more trees in Soweto, embark on awareness programmes, roll out its nursery project and ensure safety at public spaces, especially parks. To achieve some of these goals, it will establish more partnerships with companies, individuals and organisations that want to green Soweto. It will also maintain its existing relationships with external stakeholders.
"Clearly they have seen the benefits," Moodley says. Branding opportunities linked to the World Cup and an opportunity to secure carbon credits to offset company's carbon emissions are some of the incentives to participate in Greening Soweto. "We will increase [these] incentives."
Plans for 2008
Help from the Scandanavian countries
At least 20 000 street trees will be planted this year under Greening Soweto; 50 000 will be distributed in homes. To help reduce costs and fast track the planting, City Parks is developing a tree nursery, to grow its own trees and to supply surplus stock to communities for other greening projects and planting in their gardens.
To be based in Nancefield, the nursery will produce up to 100 000 tree seedlings a year. At five years, the seedlings will be large enough to plant on pavements and in parks. Younger trees will be given to householders to plant in their gardens, particularly where pavements are too narrow for trees.
"There will be a greater sense of urgency this year," Moodley says.
Much focus is also going to be put on awareness programmes. An estimated 15 000 learners from around Johannesburg will be taught about the importance of a clean and green environment.
Safety at parks is also high on City Parks's agenda. Police presence will be increased, and those breaking the law or misusing parks will be brought to book. "We are going to be tougher on the rules of the parks; we need to make sure that parks are ready by 2010.
"We are very confident that 2008 will be a better year for City Parks."
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