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1 September National Arbour Day 1-7 September National Arbour Week National Arbour Week (Iviki Lezihlahla) promotes the planting and maintenance of indigenous trees throughout South Africa. Arbour week 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 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. Arbour 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. Trees of the Year Every Arbour Week celebration highlights two or three specific trees, one common and one rare species. In 2009 the trees being highlighted are: Common: Monkey Thorn or Apiesdoring (Acacia galpinii) Rare: Tree Fuchsia or Notsung (Halleria lucida) and Round-leaved Teak or Dopperkiaat (Pterocarpus rotundifolius) For more information on the trees click here In South Africa, Arbour Day was first celebrated in 1983. In 1999, the celebration of Arbour Day was extended to National Arbour Week. The Origins of Arbour 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. 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 this year. Ethiopia planted the most trees with a count of 700 million, followed by Turkey with 400 million, Mexico with 250 million, and Kenya with 100 million. Over half of all tree plantings took place in Africa. Patrons of this campaign are Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Kenyan Green Belt Movement founder Wangari Maathai and Prince Albert II of Monaco. The UN Environment Programme is calling on individuals, communities, business and industry, civil society organisations and governments to evolve this initiative on to a new and even higher level. Plant a Tree For Life with Greenworks We are engaged with tree planting organisations to do the physical planting of trees, not only in honour of Arbour Day and Week, but as an ongoing project. Purchase a tree. Greenworks will make the arrangements for a tree to be planted on your behalf. Your purchase of one or more trees helps offset your carbon emissions and assists in greening South Africa. You will receive a Plant a Tree for Life certificate electronically. Planting a tree in someone's name is also a great gift! The cost per Tree is R50. Click here to purchase your Tree and include the following information in the body of the email (Or fax the information to 086 531 6340) • Name and contact details including an email address. • Name to appear on the certificate and email address of recipient. • If you'd like to add in something such as: On the occasion of/In celebration of ........... (information you'd like to include if giving a gift. For example your birthday, your birth, your promotion, our friendship) • 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 Greenworks Nedbank Account # 1686100795 Branch code 168642 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 www.greenworks.co.za to see what steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint. Take a step in the green direction. |
Measure Your Carbon Footprint |
Plant a Tree with Greenworks |
The Importance of Trees |
Plant an indigenous tree with your family. Purchase a tree planting certificate and we'll make the necessary arrangements on your behalf. |
Trees are about renewal, growth and regeneration, and memory. Tree trunks chart the passage of time. Each ring tells the story of a year in the life of the tree. |
