Pretoria:The Presidential One Billion Trees Campaign has achieved the planting of over seven million trees throughout South Africa since April, aiming to enhance food security, create jobs, support rural development, and promote economic empowerment.
According to South African Government News Agency, President Cyril Ramaphosa shared in his weekly newsletter that the campaign, part of the National Greening Programme, involves planting trees across all provinces. The initiative seeks to plant one billion trees in five years, collaborating with communities, traditional leaders, and the private sector.
In the Western Cape, more than two million trees have been planted, while Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal have each seen over one million trees planted. Even the Northern Cape, the country's driest province, has seen more than half a million trees planted. The campaign's goals include addressing the spatial inequality resulting from apartheid-era urban planning, which favored greenery in historically white suburbs over townships.
The campaign prioritizes planting trees that offer direct benefits, such as fruit trees like citrus, avocado, and grapes, which can enhance food security and potentially generate income. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment has partnered with the Department of Human Settlements to ensure each new subsidized house includes a fruit tree.
The initiative also supports women's livelihoods through projects like She Evolves in the Free State's Tswelopele Local Municipality, where women lead tree-planting activities. In Sandton, Gauteng, a mother and daughter team grows produce to support local feeding schemes and create employment for women.
The campaign involves the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), which employs workers for land preparation and tree planting, providing skills that can lead to job opportunities in landscaping, horticulture, and more.
Focusing on indigenous trees is another campaign facet, as non-native species introduced during colonial times are often invasive and threaten local ecosystems. The campaign includes removing invasive species, which presents economic opportunities by converting these plants into biomass for industrial use. The Eco-Furniture Programme, run by the DFFE and South African National Parks, trains workers to produce wood products from these cleared trees.
President Ramaphosa emphasized that the campaign aligns with South Africa's commitment to sustainable resource use and development, demonstrating that conservation and socio-economic progress can occur simultaneously. He encouraged South Africans to participate in the initiative by planting or donating a tree to help reach the goal of one billion trees.