By Nangamso Mabindla
27 September 2005

BUFFALO City Municipality is doing its bit in the fight against global warming, by planting trees around the city and educating people about the importance of preserving flora.

It also promotes the importance of trees to the environment.

Global warming is the progressive, gradual rise of the earth's surface temperature, thought to be caused by the greenhouse effect. It may also be responsible for changes in global climate patterns.

Gavin Koopman, the assistant manager in the City's environmental services department, said global warming needed to be halted. To play its part, during Arbor Week the City planted 425 trees and shrubs in the coastal region alone.

"We planted 85 shrubs and at least 340 trees. We also went to schools, educating young children about the importance of trees in our lives," he said.

According to research, one big tree produced oxygen for four people for a lifetime.

"We no longer plant trees only for oxygen, but we need to plant more trees as gas emissions threaten our environment. Trees act as filters in our environment."

Koopman said the City was planting indigenous trees because they grew faster than exotics.

"When we plant them we start from about a metre upwards. We would like them to grow very fast. That is why we have a programme to plant trees throughout the year, and not only during Arbor Month."

Trees are planted across the city, but particularly in previously disadvantaged places like Mdantsane, Duncan Village and Ginsberg in King William's Town.

Koopman said the education programme was directed at day-care centres, schools and communities.

The City was also involved in a joint environmental project, the Gately Stream Park, with DaimlerChrysler South Africa, which was aimed at promoting environmental awareness.

"But we especially want to focus on the youth because they are tomorrow's leaders. We would like them to grow up knowing about the importance of trees in our lives."

Though the City's arboriculture section was responsible for the maintenance of the trees, communities were taught to take ownership of the trees that the City planted in their areas.

"If they look after the trees in their own neighbourhoods, then it will be easy for them to take care of trees in public spaces. That is why we educate them as we go along planting trees," Koopman said.