Trees are closely interwoven with our heritage and history. The Kwa-Thema Indaba Tree, for instance, is the spot on the outskirts of Springs in Gauteng where elders met and negotiated the start of the township founded nearby.
There’s also a tree stump near the Tugela River Mouth that marks the spot where the Anglo-Zulu war was sparked. Under the shade of what was once a towering sycamore fig, British representatives handed an ultimatum to Zulu warriors ordering them to dissolve the Zulu nation.
But as much as they’re interwoven with our past, they are also part of how we map out our future.
Since 1983 when the first Arbour Day was celebrated in South Africa hundreds of thousands of trees have been planted in a bid to highlight the importance of trees as a natural resource.
According to Jeunesse Park, director of Food and Trees for Africa (FTFA), more than 1,7-million trees have been distributed for planting by her organisation alone in the last two decades.
One of the biggest participators in Arbour Day are school children and their involvement has contributed to making Arbour Day one of the most popular annual events.
“Tree awareness and interest has grown enormously and Arbour Day has become so popular that in 1997 it was extended to a National Arbour Week that is now coordinated by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry,” says Park.
Arbour Week takes place from September 1 to September 7 and this year’s theme is “Trees are life”. The focus will be on all aspects of trees including issues such as urban greening, the conservation and management of indigenous forests, the prevention of forest fires and commercial forestry.
“Trees supply the most basic elements of life – oxygen, water vapour, food and fuel. The planting of trees is crucial to improving the living conditions of one-third of our population, who still rely on wood as their primary source of fuel,” says Park.
For many South African children, the shade of a tree makes bearable a makeshift outdoor classroom during the hot summer months. Many schools and other communities have planted trees to act as fencing or natural insect repellents. Trees in schools and larger properties also help to settle the dust.
This kind of action goes a long way towards protecting against soil erosion, which is a major problem as South Africa loses over five million tonnes of topsoil each year.
Park adds: “Trees beautify the treeless urban townships and mitigate noise pollution. Trees give us dignity and life. They help to heal the Earth and our souls.”