Joburg residents urged to plant trees during Arbor Month

Media Statement

Tuesday, 1 September 2020

For immediate release

Joburg residents urged to plant trees during Arbor Month

Annual Arbor Week observed from 1-7 September  commenced in the City of Joburg with the planting of  indigenous trees in Gamka Park, in Riverlea and a door-to-door distribution of 200 peach; citrus and apple trees, to new homeowners in Protea Glen, Soweto. A further 5 000 indigenous trees will be planted during Arbor Month in September, across Johannesburg.

Councillor Margaret Arnolds the MMC for Community Development joined by Councillor Mpho Moerane, the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services in the City of Joburg, reaffirmed that tree planting programmes are being accelerated to bridge the green-divide in the City and to tackle the growing concerns of the ageing tree canopy that has been adversely affected by pests and diseases such as the Polyphagus Shot Hole Borer (PSHB); illegal tree felling, erratic weather and urbanization.

“A large portion of Joburg’s tree canopy will be reaching its full life expectancy in the next two (2) to three (3) decades. We therefore urgently need to adopt a multi-stakeholder plan to grow Joburg’s urban canopy or future generations will pay the price of us failing to act, now,” stated Arnolds.

JCPZ is in the process of recovering over R1m in fines issued during the lockdown to delinquent residents who illegal felled trees in the City. Penalties for the illegal removal of trees includes a fine, and the replacement value of the tree which is based on age, size, species, availability, location, historical significance and current market prices that varies between R20k – R100k per tree. City Parks is inundated by requests to remove trees due to falling leaves. These requests reflects the need for residents to be educated on recycling and the immeasurable value of a tree.

Tree planting plans are being expedited to offset tree-losses. Progress however has been hampered due to seasonal water restrictions and space constraints. Residents who have the space are therefore encouraged to plant fruit or indigenous trees to support the dwindling urban canopy.

“A tree, no matter what the season works as a natural air sanitizer,  that keeps your air filtered from pollutants; deters erosion; acts as a coolant; provides a habitat for wildlife; serves as a food source; has the potential to increase property values and has far reaching benefits for mental health,” she added.

As part of the proceedings trees were planted in memory of the lives lost due to Covid19.

Arnolds urged residents to make tree planting a way of life to pay tribute to love ones. “The legacy of a tree planted to mark a family milestone is a lifelong gift and can be extremely healing,” she stated.

ENDS.

Issued on behalf of

Councillor Margaret Arnolds

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development

City of Joburg

For media enquiries:

Jenny Moodley

GM: Stakeholder and Media Relations

Tel: 082 8030 748/082 906 1515

Email: jmoodley@jhbcityparks.com

 Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo celebrates Arbor Month

“Forests and Biodiversity”                                                                

Bridging the green-divide by creating a more liveable Joburg