Arbor Week is celebrated from the 1 - 7 September in South
Africa annually throughout the country. It affords the Department of Water and Sanitation and other stakeholders the opportunity to undertake a major national awareness programme re-iterating the value of trees and its key role towards sustaining our livelihoods, both now and for future generations. The Theme for the 2007 campaign is “Plant a tree - Grow our future”.
Every Arbor Week celebration highlights two specific trees, one common and one rare species.
A major aspect of Arbor Week this year is that the campaign will be used to launch the Trees for Food Programme which will see a million trees planted annually beginning in the current financial year.
The Arbor Week campaign is aimed at achieving the following objectives:
- To promote the better knowledge of trees particularly indigenous trees and their importance.
- To stress the necessity for everyone to contribute to the greening of South Africa by planting and caring for trees.
- To highlight the vital roles of trees in the natural environment.
- To contribute to the achievement of green dignified and healthy environments in all parts of the country.
- To encourage the youth to participate in tree planting activities and related environmental education programmes.
The two
trees of the year are: Pavetta schumanniana (Poison brides-bush) and Rhus pyroides (Common wild currant).
