TREES FOR OUR FUTURE
Arbor Week 2017
There seems to be consensus that the first Arbor Day was celebrated in 1872 in the United States territory of Nebraska when Mr J Sterling Morton persuaded the local agricultural board to set aside a day for planting trees. In South Africa, Arbor Day was first celebrated in 1983. It rapidly became such an appealing annual event that the national government was inspired, in 1999, to extend the celebration to a National Arbor Week, from 1st to 7th September each year.
National Arbor Week Events
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), as the official custodian of forestry in South Africa, takes responsibility for the National Arbor Week campaign. Many organisations, including the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), work in partnership with DAFF during this week. But there are also hundreds of other organisations – governmental (such as schools), nongovernmental and community-based organisations, the private sector and the pubic – which facilitate their own events across the country.
The National Arbor Week events usually include planting trees and/or greening within communities. However, the events also aim to raise awareness on the value of trees to humanity, as well as to other living organisms. For example, we obtain products from trees (building materials, fibres, paper, medicines, fruit and nuts); trees provide simple scenic beauty; they act as windbreaks, sound barriers and dust filters; and they provide shade. Trees also provide oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide; provide habitats for animals and certain plants; contribute to soil fertility; and reduce soil erosion as well as flooding.
National Arbor Week 2017
The theme for National Arbor Week 2017 is “Forests and Water”, and everyone is encouraged to not only plant waterwise indigenous trees, but also to use water-saving methods for the planting and maintenance thereof. The need to conserve indigenous forests and threatened indigenous trees should also be highlighted.
For 2017, the common tree of the year is Ziziphus mucronata, also known as the hairy buffalo-thorn tree, and the rare (uncommon) tree of the year is Euclea pseudebenus, or ebony tree.
This year, SANBI will once again be facilitating National Arbor Week events nationally with schools and communities, especially the many disadvantaged communities who live in areas that have lost most of their biodiversity due to urban development.