{"id":975,"date":"2020-08-04T09:00:16","date_gmt":"2020-08-04T09:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandtoncentral.co.za\/blog\/?p=975"},"modified":"2020-08-19T07:51:54","modified_gmt":"2020-08-19T07:51:54","slug":"arbor-week-time-to-plant-some-trees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandtoncentral.co.za\/blog\/arbor-week-time-to-plant-some-trees\/","title":{"rendered":"Arbor Week: Time to plant some trees"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cBetween every two pines is a doorway to a new world.\u201d-<\/em> John Muir<\/p>\n

Celebrate Arbor Week with us from 31 August to 4 September. The custodian of forestry in South Africa, The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), is managing the annual campaign. The focus is on our country\u2019s champion trees in line with our heritage celebration in September – oldest, largest, and culturally significant trees. These include the Sophia Town Oak Tree and the Sagole Baobab Tree in Limpopo, which are part of our heritage.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to educate the youth about the benefits of keeping our environment as green as possible. Many countries around the globe celebrate Arbor Day on one day of the year to plant trees and place emphasis on the importance they play in the circle of life. As South Africans, we celebrate Arbor Day the entire week \u2013 because one day just isn\u2019t enough!<\/p>\n

Origin of Arbor Day<\/strong><\/h5>\n

In 1872 Mr J Sterling Morton, a newcomer to the treeless plains of Nebraska in the United States, was a keen proponent of the beauty and benefit of trees. He persuaded the local agricultural board to dedicate a tree-planting day. He encouraged participation in the local newspaper with articles on the value of trees for soil protection, fruit, shade, and building. Mr Morton\u2019s home, Arbor Lodge, inspired the name of the holiday \u2013 Arbor Day. Within two decades that this day was celebrated, it eventually spread around the world \u2013 \u201cother holidays repose the past; Arbor Day proposes for the future.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Plant trees this week<\/strong><\/h5>\n

In South Africa, this day was first honoured in 1983. We recognised the need to raise awareness of the value of trees in our society. Trees play a vital role in the health and wellbeing of our communities, especially as sources of building material, food, medicine, and pure scenic beauty.<\/p>\n

For one week every year, schools, businesses, and organisations are encouraged to participate in local greening projects to improve our environment and propose a green future for our country. To help increase awareness of the 2000 indigenous tree species, every Arbor Week highlights two specific trees \u2013 one common and one rare species \u2013 this year being Ekebergia capensis<\/em><\/a> Cape ash, Essenhout and Adansonia digitate<\/em><\/a> Baobab, Kremetart.<\/p>\n

This is the opportune time to call friends and family to plant indigenous trees as a practical and symbolic gesture of sustainable environmental management with the following benefits:<\/p>\n