September 1, 2006
By Thabang Mokoka
SPRING is in the air and Jozi is abuzz with outdoor activities for Arbor Week, which breaks into blossom from 1 September.
First off sees the launch of the Greening Soweto Legacy Project, where 6 000 trees are to be planted in Soweto. The campaign, along with Johannesburg City Parks, Johannesburg Water and Food and Trees for Africa, is a City project aimed at greening Soweto ahead of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
The trees will be planted along Old Potchefstroom, Vincent, Mooki and Roodepoort roads.
Leafy suburbs of Joburg have led the way in planting trees
The first trees will be planted by executive mayor Amos Masondo on Arbor Day, Friday, 1 September.
The mayor has outlined a number of priorities he has set for his current term of office. One of these is the creation of a "safe, clean and green city".
According to this priority, Johannesburg will be "a city where life, property and lifestyles are safe and secure, [where] the external environment is free of pollution and promotes environmental sustainability".
Other Arbor Day activities around the city include the holding of educational programmes at the Johannesburg Zoo, and the planting of trees, by Old Mutual and Radio 702, in Ivory Park.
Arbor Day celebrations will be followed by the unveiling of the Lenasia greening programme next to Lekagae, where the last of 2 000 trees will be planted on Saturday, 9 September.
Members of the mayoral committee will also be undertaking a roadshow to Alexandra, Riverlea and the inner city on Monday, 11 September, during which more trees will be planted.
During Arbor Week focus is placed on planting indigenous trees, particularly in disadvantaged communities.
The national theme for Arbor Week is Plant a tree, grow our future, with the trees of the year being the wild pomegranate or Burchellia bubalina and the Kosi palm or Raphia australis..
"It's about people taking ownership", says the communications and marketing manager for City Parks, Jenny Moodley.
Trees are important, providing oxygen, medicines and providing a sense of general well-being, according to Moodley. They also increase the value of the environment.
Moodley adds that people need to understand that without trees there is no life.
"Although we plant trees all the time we publicise this week to highlight the importance of planting trees in our communities," she says.
An initiative started in Nebraska in the US in 1872, Arbor Day celebrations are observed internationally at the beginning of spring to promote awareness for the need to plant and maintain trees.
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