Programme Director
Mayor of Tshwane
MMC presents
Councilors present
Members of the media
Officials from all spheres of government
Invited guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Molweni, sanibonani, dumelang, goeie more, good morning to you all and may I convey greetings from our Gauteng Provincial Government, led by the honorable Premier Nomvula Mokonyane.
Good morning and thank you all for coming to this important event, today we gather here to start the celebration of Arbour week.
Historically, South Africa has never had a culture of tree planting until 1970 where a real need to promote tree planting was recognised. The concept of a National Arbour Day ensued from 1973 Green Heritage Campaign. The government approved in 1982 the establishment of National Arbour Day and it has been in place country wide since 1983.
The event captured the imagination of people who recognised the need for raising awareness of the value of trees in our society. As sources of building material, food, medicine, and simple scenic beauty, trees play a vital role in the health and well-being of our communities.
Collective enthusiasm for the importance of this issue in South Africa inspired the national government. In 1996, the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry then, emphasising its importance in South Africa extended Arbour Day from one day to one week. The campaign has evolved into a major event that receives major publicity and public participation throughout South Africa.
Arbour Week is celebrated annually in South Africa throughout the country. The aim of Arbour Week is to promote awareness of the need for planting and preserving indigenous trees throughout South Africa. It highlights the opportunities for sustainable economic development, community participation, poverty alleviation and job creation in forestry in order to create a better life for all.
Arbour week 2011 will be celebrated from the 1-7 September under the theme “Forests for People”. The theme was decided upon after a series of consultations with various stakeholders and is the same theme used by the UNNF for International Year of the Forests. This is a move to align South Africa with the rest of the world in celebrating the International Year of Forests. This year the Tree of year Pappea capensis (Jacket Plum)
The aim of Arbour Week is to promote awareness of the need for planting and preserving indigenous trees throughout South Africa. Tree planting is not just about the beatification of our surroundings, but is also in order to address two of our biggest environmental challenges, i.e. desertification and climate change. Desertification and climate change have been scientifically proved to be the common denominator in natural disasters such as food shortage (famine); biodiversity loss; social instability including conflicts; economic and environmental migrations; etc.
The use of indigenous plants is the way to go because of they contribute positively towards water conservation, biodiversity management and the promotion of our heritage. The other reasons for planting trees are for shade, to shelter plants and to reduce evaporation of water from soil by the sun.
This year South Africa is hosting an international conference on climate change called COP 17 as we know that Gauteng being the most populous province, the economic hub of the country and a major contributor and victim of global climate change, it is therefore important that the province contributes in the reduction of greenhouse gas emission and at the same time adapts to the effects of climate change. Planting of trees will play a major role in mitigating the effects of Climate change.
Soil erosion and degradation is a big concern for Gauteng. It is very important to ensure that our soil is of good quality so that we can use effectively and live on it. If it is left unattended it attracts all sorts of invasive alien plant. Gauteng Provincial Government has been instrumental in promoting restoration of degraded local areas particularly in the twenty priority townships of Gauteng.
This is through the eradication of invasive alien plants through the Expanded Public Works Programme. Alien invasive plants are plants that do not originate in South Africa. There are different types of alien invasive plants that are occurring in the Gauteng Province.
This year we celebrate this week with the hope to highlight the opportunities for sustainable economic development, community participation, poverty alleviation and job creation in forestry in order to create a better life for all, We are celebrating the million trees programme which encourage the planting of million trees in the country annually, we encourage partnerships across the three spheres of government and the private sector in taking the greening of our country forward, especially in previously disadvantaged areas, and lastly to incorporate greening project through Arbour Week into schools environmental programme
The Arbor Week events will leave behind legacy projects which will include parks, and greening of RDP houses. Amongst those projects it is envisaged that fruit trees will be planted and in the process food security issues will be addressed.
It is very important that we preserve our environment not only for our benefit but because we have borrowed this land from our children and we need to live a legacy that they will cherish for years to come. It is therefore important to teach them about the importance of arbour day.
Let us teach them about different trees and their importance. Let us teach them about wetlands and the role tree planting play in the preservation of our scarce and precious wetlands.
The Arbour Week events will leave behind legacy projects which will include parks, and greening of RDP houses. Amongst those projects it is envisaged that fruit trees will be planted and in the process food security issues will be addressed.
We will continue doing public awareness on the importance of trees and their benefits.
We will continue partnership with greening projects in all the spheres of government including private sector will be achieved, and also development of greening plans by municipalities will be encouraged
Remember: working together we can do more!
Thank you.
