Speech by Deputy Minister Narend Singh at the Presidential Billion Trees Programme - Heritage Day
In KwaZulu-Natal
Programme Director;
Our partner organisations representatives;
Community leaders;
Ladies and gentlemen;
Sanibonani.
Today marks a special moment in time as we celebrate Heritage Day and the official launch of the Presidential Billion Trees Programme.
Heritage Day is a day when we as South Africans celebrate our heritage, cultures, and communities. Today, we add yet another dimension to our celebrations—we plant for our future.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is the custodian of the forestry function in South Africa. Expanding and strengthening the tree-planting and greening programme is one of our key roles. We are taking this role to a new level by organising this campaign where we will be planting at least 10 million trees throughout the country in a single day.
This is a major national initiative that shows what can be achieved when government, communities, civil society, and the private sector join hands towards a common goal. The Presidential 1 Billion trees campaign has brought together government at national and provincial levels, municipalities, state-owned enterprises, NGOs, community groups, professional associations, the private sector, schools, universities, religious and cultural organisations, traditional authorities, and other partners. Each one of these partners plays a critical role.
The tree-planting campaign is not only a once-off event, but recognises that a tree planted today goes beyond just being counted. Rather, it gives us shade, improves the quality of our public spaces, provides us with food, and supports biodiversity. Indigenous plants and trees serve as living archives that hold generations of traditional knowledge, medicinal practices, and community identity. Native trees are deeply adapted to local climates, supporting unique biodiversity, preventing soil erosion, and preserving natural habitats. Take, for example, the iconic Baobab Tree (Adansonia), widely known as Africa's "Tree of Life". Its massive trunk stores thousands of gallons of water to survive harsh dry seasons while sustaining life by providing food, water, and shelter for both humans and animals in dry savannahs. Each and every tree helps in the rehabilitation of degraded land and over time contributes towards the creation of healthier, more sustainable communities. Tree planting is actively integrated into national celebrations like Heritage Day, supporting large-scale greening and environmental restoration initiatives across the country.
From the 2026/27 financial year, these interventions will be integrated into the Presidential Billion Trees Programme. The programme has an ambitious aim, namely to plant one billion trees. The achievement of this target will call for continuous efforts, planning, and, above all else, partnerships.
Our presence here today is a clear recognition of the fact that government cannot do this alone. We need municipalities to allocate suitable spaces for greening and incorporate the greening of these spaces in their development plans. We need communities to adopt trees after they have been planted. We need schools and universities to use the opportunity to teach our young people about our natural environment. We need the private sector and civil society to bring their resources and innovations. And we need traditional, religious, and cultural leaders to mobilise communities around the care of our natural environment.
Our approach should also be practical. So, trees will be planted in residential areas, parks, recreation grounds, and other open spaces; including areas that need rehabilitation. Degraded land and former dumping sites also fall under this category. Tree planting also contributes to food security through the planting of fruit trees, while indigenous and medicinal plants will benefit local communities and preserve knowledge. By greening our settlements, our communities become more appealing.
But there is much more to this. Forests and trees make an important contribution to our economy through employment opportunities and livelihoods, production of forest products, and value addition and beneficiation.
They contribute to climate change mitigation, biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as clean air and water. In other words, planting trees is not only about the environment. It is also about people, livelihoods, communities, and the economy.
This is the broader purpose of the Billion Trees Programme. It offers an opportunity to each one of the partners to make a meaningful contribution, whether through tree planting, allocation of land, mobilising of communities, provision of trees, maintenance, technical, or financial resource support.
Today, as we plant these trees, I urge each and every South African to view this campaign as a responsibility of all of us. The Government can coordinate this activity. Other partners can support the Government. But the success of this programme will ultimately depend on what will happen after the trees are planted. We should nurture them, protect them, and ensure that they survive and thrive.
Because the true test of success is not just how many trees we plant today. The real test is how many of them are still alive and flourishing and giving benefit to our communities years from now. While celebrating our heritage today, let us also think of the heritage we will leave for future generations. Let us plant trees under which our children and grandchildren will one day sit.
Let us create greener, healthier, and more sustainable communities. And let us make the Billion Trees Programme a lasting legacy for South Africa.
Thank you.
Enquiries:
Zolile Nqayi
Cell: 082 898 6483
E-mail: znqayi@dffe.gov.za
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