SPRING is in the air in Zululand, and it’s a South African tradition to welcome the new season by planting trees.
With September been National Arbor Month, Zululand schools, organisations and businesses will be participating in community ‘greening’ events to improve the health and beauty of the local environment and develop a green future for South Africa.
‘Greening’ in the South African context takes place in towns, townships and informal settlements previous neglected in this regard.
Even the local children are getting involved with trees been planted, gardens created and general cleaning up of parks and recreational areas taking place.
Events held around the country highlight the benefits of planting and conserving trees to offset carbon emissions and for “greening” to improve the quality of life and uplift the environment.
Arbor Month highlights the essential role trees play in sustainable development, and the livelihoods of people and their environment, now and for the future.
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is responsible for the National Arbor Month campaign, as the custodian of forestry in South Africa.
In South Africa, Arbor Day was first celebrated in 1983.
In 1999, the celebration of Arbor Day was extended to National Arbor Week and this year an Arbor Month is been celebrated.
Every year, two or three specific trees are highlighted, one common and one rare species.
This year the common tree is the Lavender Tree or Laventelbome (Genus Heteropyxis) and the rare tree is the White Ironwood or Wit Ysterhout (Vepris lanceolata)
