Wildlands breaks tree planting record

WILDLANDS, a leading environmental non-profit organisation based in Hilton, kicked off Arbor Week with several tree-a-thon events nationwide from 1 to 7 September, with a planting goal of 100 000 trees.

The Wildlands’ Trees for Life project was started in 2004 in KwaZulu-Natal, where community members were encouraged to plant indigenous trees at homestead level as a way to ‘grow’ themselves out of poverty. The project expanded at a rate Wildlands could have never anticipated.

The tree planters, fondly referred to as Tree-preneurs, grow trees which have a value after reaching a certain height; which they then barter with Wildlands for livelihood support items such as water tanks, bicycles, building materials, health and wellness hampers or groceries.

Each of the 100 000 trees during Arbor Week were grown and nurtured by Tree-preneurs, each tree has a story linked to it – which makes these trees extraordinary.

Tree-a-thon events were hosted by Wildlands in Durban, Richards Bay, Pietermaritzburg, Magaliesburg, Acornhoek and the Western-Cape, with support from their local partners and donors.

“The Durban planting event was a big success. It enabled our donors and funders to gain an insight into what they are supporting and an opportunity to partake in the greater arbor week events, while knowing that each tree that has been planted has had a positive impact not only on the environment but the life of the Tree-preneur who nurtured it,” said Wildlands’ deputy director of fundraising and reporting, Nikara Mahadeo.

The Durban tree-a-thon, held on 1 September, was attended by eThekwini Municipality, Tongaat Hulett, Unilever, Jonsson, Futurelife Foundation and Thompsons Africa, and around 5 200 indigenous trees were planted in Cornubia, north of Durban.

If you would like to join at one of the upcoming Tree-a-thon events, email NoluthandoM@wildlands.co.za or visit www.wildlands.co.za