MEC NANDI MAYATHULA-KHOZA
ARBOR DAY SPEECH
3rd SEPTEMBER 2013
KUTSONG, MERAFONG
Programme Director:
Mayor of Merafong
MMC’s present
Councilors present
Members of the media
Officials from all spheres of government
Invited guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Good Morning, Dumelang, Sanibonani,
I am honoured to be here this beautiful spring morning as we bid
farewell to winter and usher in spring, a season associated with
rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection, and regrowth
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In spring, those who studied geography would recall is the period
when the axis of the Earth increases its tilt relative to the Sun,
increasing the length of daylight. Further, the hemisphere begins to
warm significantly causing new plant growth to "spring forth,"
hence the name of the season. So it is no wonder we celebrate Arbor
Day during spring!
Program Director, I am also further delighted to be with you all in
Kutsong, Merafong, to welcome spring and celebrate Arbor Week,
an important event in our provincial and national calendar, as it is
during this week that we remind our communities about the
importance of tree planting, not only for the environment, but also
for our health and wellbeing, while also urging us all to plant trees
in our homes, communities, churches, schools and everywhere
possible.
Programme
Director,
ladies
and
gentlemen,
unfortunately
historically South Africa has never had a culture of tree planting
until 1970 when a need to promote tree planting was recognized.
The concept of a National Arbor Day then ensued from the 1973
Green
Heritage
Campaign.
The
government
approved
the
establishment of National Arbor Day in 1982 and it has been in
place countrywide since 1983.
And it pleasing to note that since 1983, the event captured the
imagination of people who recognized the need for raising
awareness of the value of trees in our society. As sources of building
material, food, medicine, and simple scenic beauty, trees play a
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vital role in the health and well-being of our communities. And it
was the collective enthusiasm for the importance of this issue in
South Africa which inspired the national government.
And in 1996, former Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry Mr
Kader Asmal, emphasizing its importance in South Africa, extended
Arbor Day from one day to one week. The campaign has evolved
into an annual event celebrated throughout South Africa that
receives major publicity and public participation.
Ladies and gentlemen, the aim of Arbor Week as we realise is to
promote awareness of the need for planting and preserving
indigenous trees throughout South Africa. It highlights the
opportunities for sustainable economic development, community
participation, poverty alleviation and job creation in forestry in
order to create a better life for all.
And it is befitting that Arbor Week 2013 will be celebrated between
1 - 7 September under the theme “Our Forests Our Future”. As we
would all know, most of South African land is barren and lifeless
because of the lack of tress, gardens or plants. In the past, trees
were never planted in townships while suburbs have usually had
trees growing for many years.
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As such we as a Department must change that and inculcate in our
people the importance of tree planting noting the following as
reasons why trees are so important:
Tree
planting
is
not
just
about
the
beatification
of
our
surroundings, but is also in order to address two of our biggest
environmental
challenges,
namely
desertification
and
climate
change. Desertification and climate change have been scientifically
proved to be the common denominator in natural disasters such as
food shortage (famine); biodiversity loss; social instability including
conflicts; economic and environmental migrations; etc. The use of
indigenous plants is the way to go because of they contribute
positively towards water conservation, biodiversity management and
the promotion of our heritage.
The other reason why tree planting is important is due to the shade
they provide to shelter plants and to reduce evaporation of water
from soil by the sun.
Programme Director, this year we celebrate Arbor week with the
hope to highlight the opportunities for sustainable economic
development, community participation, poverty alleviation and job
creation in forestry in order to create a better life for all.
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Added to this, we are also celebrating the million trees programme
which encourages the planting of million trees in the country
annually, we therefore encourage partnerships across the three
spheres of government as well as the private sector to take the
greening
of
our
country
forward,
especially
in
previously
disadvantaged areas.
Lastly, we urge all sectors of society both private and public to
incorporate greening project through Arbor Week into school
environmental programs.
Programme Director, our vision and aim is to ensure that through
such Arbor Week events we leave behind legacy projects which will
include parks, and greening of communities and households.
Amongst those projects it is envisaged that fruit trees will be
planted and in the process ensure our communities are food secure.
In closing, let me also remind everyone that it is important we
preserve our environment not only for our benefit, but noting that
we have borrowed this land from our children and we need to leave
a legacy that they will cherish for years to come.
Thank you.
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