30 August 2006
The Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, Mrs Lindiwe Hendricks, will
launch Arbor Week 2006 at Johannesburg Zoo on Friday, 1 September 2006.
This year�s Arbor Week will take place from 1 - 7 September. The theme of
the event is �Plant a Tree, Grow our Future�.
The event will be attended by approximately 3 500 learners from 32 schools
in Gauteng and North West provinces. The learners will participate in a
tree-planting ceremony and will be given seeds and trees to plant in their own
schools. This is a joint initiative by the Department of Water Affairs and
Forestry and Total South Africa to educate the country�s youth about the
importance of planting trees.
Issues that will be communicated and highlighted throughout the campaign
are:
* the importance of trees and their key role towards sustaining our
livelihoods, both now and for future generations
* ensuring the maintenance of our forests in order that all our trees are
protected
* ensuring the long-term sustainability of our forest resources
* empowering communities, especially women in managing and improving their
living conditions
* highlighting the vital interdependence between the economy and our forest
resources
* developing a South African society across the demographic spectrum that is
aware of forestry related issues and that is taking responsibility for it
* celebrating trees as a source of life and the contribution of the sector to a
prosperous future.
Arbor Week is an annual awareness campaign in which thousands of South
Africans in urban and rural areas celebrate by planting trees in schools,
parks, churches, gardens, streets, etc, to herald the beginning of Spring. The
campaign, which is driven by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, is a
platform for highlighting opportunities for sustainable economic development,
poverty alleviation through job creation and community participation.
The event was changed from Arbor Day to Arbor Week in 1997 when the number
of participants grew, leading to a demand for more trees. The event is also
part of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry�s campaign for Greening
South Africa. The campaign seeks to accelerate the greening of areas such as
the townships that were previously overlooked when trees were planted.
Enquires:
Thandi Mapukata
Chief Director: Communication
Tel: (012) 336 8264
Cell: 082 8853 324
Themba Khumalo
Media liaison officer
Tel: (012) 336 8270
Cell: 082 802 3432
Issued by: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
30 August 2006
