Eskom partners with Norkem Park community to celebrate Arbor Day

The community of Norkem Park took a few minutes out of their schedules to celebrate Arbor Day on September 8.

Residents were joined by Eskom Transmission Central Grid and its business partners and stakeholders along with Ward 91 Clr Desmond McKenzie.

National Arbor Week is celebrated from August 29 to September 4, but Arbor Month lasts for the whole of September.

“A journalist called Morton from the State of Nebraska, USA, found Arbor Day in 1872.

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“He proposed a day that would encourage residents to plant trees in their community and reflect on the appreciation of trees, because of their various benefits to humanity,” said Vuyokazi Buckland, environmental manager from Eskom Transmission Central Grid.

Buckland said the National Arbor Week was a time to call on all South Africans to plant indigenous trees as a practical and symbolic gesture of sustainable environmental management.

“It gives the government, the private sector, non-governmental and community-based organisations, to be involved in ‘greening’ their communities.”

According to Buckland, the public needs to join hands with partners in local government and community-based organisations in this integrated approach, which aims at planting, caring and managing vegetation in urban and rural areas to secure multiple benefits for communities.

Buckland said the group had a wonderful day planting trees in Norkem Park.

“We believe we have taken action in contributing to the achievement of the great challenge set and have created awareness on the benefits of trees and forests,” she said.

“We planted palm trees for decorative purposes, as requested by the local community since that was on a road island,” she added.

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Buckland said they would continue planting fruit trees at various sites for the rest of the month.

McKenzie said the purpose of the gathering was to show gratitude and appreciation to the community of Wards 91 and 104.

He said Arbor Day’s aim was sensitising communities about the need to conserve, protect and plant trees for environmental and human-related ideas. It also highlights the value and importance of trees.

“Trees are an essential feature of every society. They surround our streets, parks, playgrounds, and backyards, creating a visually beautiful atmosphere.

“Trees improve our quality of life. Trees benefit the environment by producing oxygen that we need to breathe and improve the air quality,” said McKenzie.