ONE MILLION TREES CAMPAIGN

The One Million Trees campaign was launched in July at the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens under the theme “My Tree. My Oxygen. Plant Yours Today.”

Part of the Presidential Ten Million Trees Flagship Project currently in its fourth year, the campaign aims to mobilise South Africans from all walks of life, government, the private sector, business, interfaith groups, diplomatic corps, traditional leaders, NGOs and the youth to pledge and donate trees. At the launch, the plan to plant one million trees in a day, was outlined.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is the custodian of the forestry function in the country. A key function in this regard is the implementation of the National Greening Programme, aimed at planting at least two million trees per annum for a period of five years to realise the Presidential Ten Million Trees Flagship Project.

The One Million Trees Campaign serves as one of the platforms of revamping the national greening programme to ensure that the set target of planting ten million trees over a period of five years is achieved. This will be done through creating awareness on the importance of tree planting, encouraging stakeholders to take ownership of their environment through the planting of trees and ensuring that one million trees are planted in one day.

At the launch, the Information Technology Pledge Form System and the SANBI Tree Bank, where donated trees will be stored, was showcased. Donated trees will be stored at the 11 national botanical gardens around the country, and at DFFE nurseries.

www.dffe.gov.za