In its efforts to promote a sustainable environment, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo hosted its annual Environmental Awards at Rietfontein Nature Reserve in Paulshof on June 10.
The event was part of the World Environment Day commemoration that is observed on June 5 every year.
City Parks spokesperson Jenny Moodley said the awards aim to promote a greener and healthy environment in communities.
She said this year’s awards were held under the theme Only One Earth extracted from the 1972 Stockholm Conference, focused on the need to live sustainably in harmony with nature.
“The main purpose of the competition is to explore the role that these institutions play in the conservation and protection of public open spaces and also to recognise their outstanding environmental projects.”
She said, “The competition promotes awareness on the importance of public open spaces, other natural resources. It also encourages positive community involvement in the management, protection and conservation of these spaces as well as encouraging greening and proper waste management systems for the protection and preservation of the environment and its natural goods and services.”
Moodley encouraged members of the community and learners from schools across the city to refrain from littering and illegal dumping which has a negative impact on the environment.
Inner city-based non-profit organisation The Green House Project scooped first place in community-based environment organisation while Moletsane Secondary School and Lesedi La Kreste Primary School were announced the winner in the school projects category.
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