Pretoria:Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Deputy Minister Bernice Swarts is set to spearhead a nationwide campaign to plant 10 million trees across South Africa on Heritage Day, 24 September 2026. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance climate resilience and foster environmental sustainability.
According to South African Government News Agency, the tree-planting campaign is a key component of President Cyril Ramaphosa's Presidential One Billion Trees Programme. This programme aims to engage South Africans from diverse backgrounds in a collective effort to green the nation and mitigate climate change impacts.
The initiative unites various sectors, including government, businesses, private entities, interfaith groups, the diplomatic community, traditional leaders, non-governmental organizations, youth groups, and local communities, in a shared tree-planting mission.
The campaign aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 13, which emphasizes the importance of strengthening resilience to climate-related hazards, integrating climate measures into national policies, and improving public awareness on climate action. Main events will take place in Pretoria and Johannesburg, with Deputy Minister Swarts leading activities at Freedom Park Heritage Site in Pretoria before joining Gauteng MEC for Environment Ewan Botha in Soweto, Johannesburg.
Tree-planting activities will be conducted in all nine provinces, with Premiers and MECs responsible for environmental affairs taking the lead. This initiative not only promotes climate resilience and environmental awareness but also encourages community involvement in greening efforts, complementing the SDGs focus on sustainable management of terrestrial ecosystems.