Four-hundred (400) marula and apple leaf trees have been planted in Etwatwa and Barcelona since the beginning of September to kick-start the national Arbor Month and to adorn barren spaces with indigenous trees. The City of Ekurhuleni in partnership with Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the National Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries have committed to embark on a drive to plant 1600 trees across the City of Ekurhuleni during September in areas such as Alra Park, Duduza, Winnie Mandela in Tembisa, and Tokoza. On Friday, 7 September, Grade six learners from Silindokuhle Primary School and the community members of Barcelona in the Benoni area, joined hands with the government officials to plant the marula tree at the Barcelona multi-purpose park. The marula tree is the official tree for the 2019 Arbor Month celebrations. "Trees are a source of life. They provide us with oxygen and a shade on a sunny day. Trees also serve as a shield during stormy seasons, and they prevent soil erosion. It is therefore very important for us to continue planting as many trees as possible and to educate each other about the significance of having trees in our environment. We call on the members of the community to care for the trees, not to cut them and to nurture them," said Ekurhuleni's Head of Department for Environment Resources and Waste Management Services Faith Mabindisa. Furthermore, Arbor Day celebration concept seeks to highlight the opportunity for sustainable environmental, social and economic development, community participation, poverty alleviation and job creation in forestry, thereby contributing towards growth, development and a better life for all.
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