JOHANNESBURG
More than 7 million trees have been planted across South Africa since April under a government campaign that aims to improve food security, create economic opportunities and address inequalities in access to green spaces, President Cyril Ramaphosa said.
Writing in his weekly “From the Desk of the President” newsletter on Monday, Ramaphosa said the Presidential One Billion Trees Campaign aims to plant 1 billion trees over the next five years in partnership with communities, traditional leaders and the private sector.
More than 2 million trees have been planted in the Western Cape, while Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal have each planted more than 1 million. More than 500,000 have been planted in the Northern Cape, the country’s driest province.
Ramaphosa said the initiative is also intended to address inequalities created by apartheid-era urban planning, which left historically white suburbs with more trees and green spaces than many townships.
The campaign is focusing largely on indigenous trees suited to local conditions. Fruit trees, including citrus and avocado, are also being planted to strengthen household food security and support community and school gardens. Surplus produce could provide an additional source of income.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has also signed an agreement with the Department of Human Settlements aimed at ensuring a fruit tree is planted with every new subsidized house.
Ramaphosa said the program could create employment and business opportunities, particularly for young people and women. Workers from the Expanded Public Works Programme are helping prepare land, transport and plant trees, and provide horticultural maintenance.
The campaign also emphasizes replacing invasive alien vegetation, which can consume scarce water, threaten indigenous plants and increase wildfire risks.
Cleared invasive trees can provide economic opportunities, Ramaphosa said, including their conversion into biomass, fuel, furniture and other wood products.
Ramaphosa called on South Africans, businesses, schools and community organizations to participate by planting or donating trees.
“Together, we can achieve our goal of planting one billion trees across South Africa over the next five years,” he said.
