By Nangamso Mabindla
11 September 2008

A THOUSAND trees are being planted around Buffalo City to celebrate Arbor Month, according to the City’s environmental services’ officer, Gavin Koopman.

TheAreas earmarked for trees include the Amalinda Forest Community, Woolwash Road and selected roads in Winchester Gardens. “Tree species used ... include coral trees and the Cape ash, as well as some of the Tree of the Year species and the wild plum,” Koopman said.

The wild plum was a lovely indigenous shade tree that provided habitat for birds and produced a red fruit, a favourite of both people and birds. Trees will also be planted in the eastern district in places like Beacon Bay, Mzamomhle and Nompumelelo.

“The lovely acacia trees will be planted near the Road Lodge in Western Avenue. The streets of the Mercedes Benz houses are named after indigenous trees like Umnga, which is a fever tree, so we decided to plant according to [these street] names.”

Turning his attention to the benefit of trees for humanity, Koopman said that a number of products were taken from trees. These included building materials, paper, fiber and oils.

“We also recognise the visual benefits we reap from trees as leaves change colour from season to season, and small trees grow into larger trees. However, few of us ever stop to realise that trees provide more that just products and ornamental beauty; they offer an almost endless list of environmental and economic benefits, some crucial to our wellbeing.”

Trees also had a positive effect on the quality of air, soil and water, and on noise levels.

Buffalo City’s tree planting programme started on Arbor Day - Monday, 1 September - and will conclude on Friday, 12 September.

Arbor Week is celebrated from 1 to 7 September in South Africa each year - the week is often stretched to a month by separate municipalities.

It gives the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and other stakeholders the opportunity to undertake a major national awareness programme re-iterating the value of trees and their key role in sustaining our livelihoods, both now and for future generations.

Every year, two or three specific trees are highlighted, one common and one rare species. The three trees of the year for 2008 are Harpephyllum caffrum, or wild plum; Diospyros whyteana, or bladder nut; and Markhamia zanzibarica, or bell bean tree.