3 September 2009

By Keotshepile wa Mogotsi

THE dazzling colours of the blossoms on the trees and the warmth of Spring lifted the spirits of everyone attending the launch of Arbor Week in Mogale City.

Arbor Week takes place nationally at the beginning of September and in Mogale City the department of integrated environmental management (DIEM) joined in by planting 25 indigenous trees at the Rietvallei Sports Complex.

Mogale City’s portfolio head of environment, Nomalanga Ntamane, DIEM’s executive manager, Morakane Mokoena, and Mogale City councillors, officials and members of the community took part in the event.

Arbor Week is seen as an opportunity to focus on the environment, and plan for the future.

During this time people are encouraged to plant and care for trees in their communities. Rietvallei, a township on the outskirts of Kagiso, is an area where the planting of trees and greening programmes would make a vast difference to the quality of life of the residents.

Mogale City’s portfolio head of environment, Nomalanga Ntamane, outlined the history of Arbor Week for the local community.

She pointed out that the first Arbor Day took place in Nebraska, in the US, on 10 April 1872, the brainchild of politician and journalist Julius Sterling Morton.

“Morton worked to improve agricultural techniques in his adopted state and throughout the United States when he served as President Grover Cleveland's Secretary of Agriculture. But his most important legacy is Arbor Day, a day where people are encouraged to plant and care for trees.”

The Rietvallei residents attending the launch of Arbor Week, were asked to think about how planting new trees would improve their environment, beautifying it, or providing wind or heat protection.

Carbon footprint
Arbor Week was also used to highlight the City’s contribution to reducing the region’s carbon footprint for 2010 and ensuring Mogale City becomes greener and more environmentally friendly.

About 1 000 indigenous trees were donated to Mogale City by the Wonderful World Tree Planting festival, an organization based in Japan.

Donations were also made through Food & Trees for Africa, which has planted more than 6 000 trees around Mogale City to date.

Good record
Mogale City has a strong record of environmental awareness and action, winning a number of prizes in the annual Bontle Ke Botho Cleanliness Campaigns.

The Bontle Ke Botho programme is an initiative by Gauteng’s department of agriculture, conservation, environment and land affairs (DACEL), along with the provincial departments of education, development planning and local government, and health. Municipalities also get involved in the campaigns.

Food & Tree for Africa’s Lucky Xaba praised the municipality for its consistent efforts in tackling environmental issues.

Parks manager Rinus Bouwer said his department would take the greening programme further. “We have involved the youth, disabled and rural communities in previous arbor programmes and this one will take the awareness of greening and climate change even further.”