Arbor Day .................................................... The Importance of Trees .................................................... Arbor Week .................................................... Origins of Arbor Day .................................................... Trees of the Year .................................................... South Africa's Plant a Million Trees Campaign .................................................... Billion Tree Campaign .................................................... Plant a Tree for Life .................................................... Measure Your Carbon Footprint .................................................... How to Plant a Tree .................................................... Home .................................................... Reduce .................................................... Reuse .................................................... About Greenworks .................................................... Recycle .................................................... Respect & Responsibility .................................................... Global Warming .................................................... Green Tip of the Week .................................................... Watch Your Waste .................................................... Compost .................................................... Get SASSI .................................................... Litter .................................................... Products .................................................... Contact Us .................................................... Daily Checklist .................................................... Your Carbon Footprint .................................................... Environmental Calendar .................................................... Office Greening .................................................... Landfills .................................................... Plant a Tree for Life .................................................... Campaigns .................................................... Earth Hour .................................................... Earth Day .................................................... World Environment Day .................................................... World Ocean Day .................................................... Arbor Day .................................................... Christmas .................................................... |
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September is Arbor Month 1 September National Arbor Day 1-7 September National Arbor Week National Arbor Month promotes the planting and maintenance of indigenous trees throughout South Africa. Arbor month provides stakeholders with the opportunity to raise awareness of South Africa's urban greening initiatives and encourages all communities and businesses to participate in various greening activities. The youth are encouraged to participate in tree planting activities and related environmental education programmes. It 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 (DAFF) is responsible for The National Arbor Month campaign as this department is the custodian of forestry in South Africa. The aim of Arbor Month is to promote and create a better life for all. The Importance of Trees Trees absorb carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen. The natural carbon dioxide cycle keeps a balance in the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere. But our actions and behaviours cause changes which upset this natural balance. The creation of too many greenhouse gases causes an imbalance with heat being trapped in the Earth's atmosphere, increasing the overall average temperature resulting in global warming. We produce excessive amount of carbon dioxide by burning coal and petrol (referred to as 'fossil fuels' or fossil energy) in our power plants, factories and cars, and in deforestation. The destruction of rainforests and cutting down of other forests also affects the balancing act. By destroying Earth's natural forestation we threaten our existence. Planting trees is one of the most cost-effective ways offsetting our carbon emissions, as well as beautifying an area. Trees play a vital role in rural and urban populations. They are needed to enrich and anchor soil, to maximise water supplies, to beautify and humanise townships and urban areas and to provide shade and shelter. They are also crucial for biodiversity conservation. Products and services from trees include food, timber, fibre, medicines and energy. Arbor Week Yearly, from 1 to 7 September schools, organisations and businesses participate in community "greening" events to improve the health and beauty of the local environment and develop a green future for South Africa. Events are held around the country highlighting the benefits of planting and conserving trees to offset carbon emissions and for greening to improve the quality of life and uplift the environment, and communities. In South Africa, Arbor Day was first celebrated in 1983. In 1999, the celebration of Arbour Day was extended to National Arbor Week. It is now celebrated for the entire month of September. The Origins of Arbor Day Arbor Day originated in Nebraska, United States of America. Mr J Sterling Morton, a newcomer to the treeless plains of Nebraska, persuaded the local agricultural board to set aside a day for planting trees. As editor of Nebraska's first newspaper, he encouraged participation in the event by publishing articles on the value of trees for soil protection, fruit and shade and building. On April 10 1872, the first official Arbor Day, the people of Nebraska planted one million trees. Trees of the Year Every Arbor Week celebration highlights two or three specific trees, one common and one rare species. In 2011 the trees being highlighted are: Common: Jacket-plum or Doppruim (Pappea capensis) Rare: Bride's Bushes or Bruidsbome Genus Pavetta Common Wild Elder or Gewone Wildevlier (Nuxia congesta) In 2012 the trees being highlighted are: Common: Water Berry or Waterbessie (Syzygium cordatum) Rare: Red Beech or Rooiboekenhout (Protorhus longifolia) Black Mangrove or Swartwortelboom (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza) In 2013 the trees being highlighted are: Common: Blossom Tree or Keurboom (Virgilia oroboides) Rare: Cross-Berry or Kruisbessie (Grewia occidentalis) Powder-puff Tree or Poeierkwasboom (Barringtonia racemosa) In 2014 the trees being highlighted are: Common: Lavender Trees or Laventelbome (Genus Heteropyxis) Rare: White Ironwood or Witysterhout (Vepris lanceolata) In 2010 the trees being highlighted were: Common: Fever Tree or Koorsboom (Acacia xanthophloea) Rare: Cape Gardenia or Kaapse Katjiepiering (Rothmania capensis) Bell Gardenia or Klokkieskatjiepiering (R.globosa) Tonga-kerrie or Tongakierie (Cladostemom kirkii) For more information on the trees click here South Africa's Plant a Million Tree Campaign South Africa aims to plant more than one million trees throughout the country every year. The project was launched in 2007 by former President Thabo Mbeki and then Water Affairs and Forestry Minister Lindiwe Hendricks as part of a UN programme to encourage all countries to plant more than a billion trees a year. Billion Tree Campaign The Billion Tree Campaign was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Agro-forestry Centre in 2006 in response to the threat of global warming. The campaign planted two billion trees in 18 months, with the target being raised to seven billion trees. The Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign is a worldwide tree planting initiative. People, communities, businesses, industry, civil society organizations and governments are encouraged to enter tree planting pledges on-line. The campaign encourages the planting of indigenous trees and trees that are appropriate to the local environment. By the end of 2009, more than 7.4 billion trees had been planted under this campaign - in excess of the year-end target of 7 billion - by participants in 170 countries. Patrons of this campaign are Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Kenyan Green Belt Movement founder Wangari Maathai and Prince Albert II of Monaco. For more information: www.unep.org/billiontreecampaign/index.asp Plant a Tree for Life with Greenworks Purchase a tree through our programme and Greenworks will make the arrangements for a tree to be planted on your behalf. We partner with companies and organisations that do the actual growing and planting of the trees. We provide you with an electronic Plant a Tree for Life certificate with a reference number to your tree. Planting a tree in someone's name is also a great gift! The cost per Tree is R50. While your purchase of one or more trees assists in offsetting your carbon emissions and in greening South Africa, planting trees to offset our carbon footprint is the step following taking active measures to reduce our carbon footprints. For more information: Carbon Footprint Global Warming Green Your Office Guide As of February 2011 we have facilitated the planting of almost 1500 trees. Thank you to all who have purchased trees! Click here to purchase your Tree. Please include the following information in the body of the email or fax the information to 086 531 6340. • Your name and contact details including an email address. • The name to appear on the certificate and the email address of the recipient. (Please confirm which address you'd like the certificate sent to.) • If you'd like to add in something such as: On the occasion of ......... your marriage, your promotion, birthday In celebration of ......... the birth of your baby, our anniversary, our friendship To offset my/our carbon footprint To show our commitment to sustainability Or your own choice of words (please keep to a maximum of 15) • Confirmation of Payment (Please use your name as the reference when making the EFT and provide this reference on the email or fax) Payment can be made via EFT to Nedbank Account # 1686100795 Branch code 168642 Account Name: GL Sidley Your Carbon Footprint Find out what your carbon footprint is : Measure your Carbon Footprint Your carbon footprint is your personal measure of how much carbon dioxide you create. As trees grow they absorb and store carbon that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere. This process is known as carbon sequestration. It is estimated that every 5 or 6 new trees planted, that live for 50-100 years, offsets 1 ton of carbon dioxide. Different trees absorb different amounts of CO2, with older trees offsetting greater amounts of CO2 (greenhouse gases) than newer trees. Planting trees is one way of reducing your impact; however it's not the total solution. It's essential to take other steps to reduce your emissions in addition to offsetting them. Take a look through this website to see what steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint. How to Plant a Tree • Dig a hole, 1/2 metre wide x 1/2 metre wide, square in shape. • Separate the top soil (darker soil) from the bottom lighter soil. • Put the dark topsoil into the bottom of the hole. • Remove the tree from its container or plastic bag. • Place the tree into the hole. The tree base should be below the ground level. • Plant either a pipe at an angle, or use a 2 litre plastic colddrink bottle with holes cut in the bottom of the bottle, next to the roots of the tree, with the top of the pipe or plastic bottle sticking out of the ground. • Mix a small amount of compost into the lighter soil, and pack it into the hole. • Measure one spade length space around the tree. • Remove all the grass and weeds from this space. • Water the tree. • Add a 10 cm layer of mulch (leaves, straw, or strips of newspaper), around the tree but not touching the tree. • Once a week, water the tree through the pipe or water funnel. This sends the water directly to the roots (and prevents wasting water) • Put the lid onto the bottle to prevent the water evaporating. • After the 1st year, water the tree only when the soil is dry. • Dig a straight wooden stake or stick next to the tree. Using something soft - like a stocking or piece of fabric - tie the tree to the stake to assist the tree in growing straight. • Love and enjoy your tree! |
Measure Your Carbon Footprint |
Plant a Tree with Greenworks |
The Importance of Trees |
Plant an indigenous tree with your family or Purchase a tree planting certificate and we'll make the necessary arrangements on your behalf. Plant a Tree for Life |
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second best time is today. - Confucius |
