By Nangamso Mabindla
6 September 2007

A THOUSAND indigenous trees are being planted at schools and in opens spaces around Buffalo City to mark Arbor Week.

The planting is a move by the City to do its bit to fight climate change. Kurt Rensburg, from the City's environmental services, said that the municipality would plant 1 000 trees and educate primary school children about the importance of trees to the environment.

"We want to play our part in climate change initiatives. But in order to be successful we decided to go to the younger generation and try to make an impact in their minds so that they take part in creating a better environment for the future," he said.

Also topping the City's agenda this Arbor Month is creating public awareness about the need to take ownership of the trees planted by the municipality.

"This year we will also be targeting places where there are not many trees and [we will] plant as many as we can. We want to involve communities and educate them about the importance of this month," Rensburg added. "We also want communities to look after these trees and to take pride in what they have in their areas."

Some of the schools that have taken part in the tree planting are Stirling Primary, Chumani Primary in Duncan Village and Nkangeleko Primary in Reeston.

Speaking about the benefits of involving young people in planting trees, Isabel Thompson, a councillor, said: "It is wonderful to see the youngsters involved, especially since climate change involves their future. I'm also happy that trees are [being] planted here at John Pierce Park."

Some of the indigenous trees planted by Buffalo City were yellowwood, dombeya, erythrina, Cape ash and wild plum.

Arbor Day – when people are encouraged to plant trees - is celebrated nationally on 1 September; in 1999, the government extended the celebration for a week, running from 1 to 7 September. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry's chosen trees to plant during Arbor Week this year are the Pavetta schumanniana (poison brides bush) and the Rhus pyroides (common wild currant).