Some of the people who participated in the Arbor Month event.
The Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA) and the Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality partnered to celebrate Arbor Month on September 24 by planting trees across the municipality.
This yearly programme is part of a national effort to promote tree planting and forest conservation, contributing to the broader goal of greening communities throughout South Africa.
This year’s campaign was amplified by a national initiative to plant one million trees nationwide under the theme
“My Tree, My Oxygen. Plant Yours Today.” The Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality has already contributed to this effort by planting 100 trees, with plans to plant another 400, bringing their total to 500. The trees are being planted in newly developed and expanding wards to ensure that growing communities can benefit from a cleaner, healthier environment.
The initiative is about more than just making the city look good. It highlights the crucial environmental benefits of trees, such as their ability to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, which improves air quality and promotes healthier lifestyles.
To guarantee the success of this project, the DARDLEA will continue to monitor the newly planted trees to ensure they thrive.
Acting Executive Mayor and MMC for Corporate Services, Cllr Gugu Zulu-Khumalo, expressed her support for the programme. “This initiative should be extended to all wards in the municipality so that every community can benefit from its environmental and health advantages,” she said.
The tree-planting programme reinforces the municipality’s dedication to environmental conservation, community involvement, and creating a healthier living space for all its residents.
