Almost 800 trees were planted in Cape Town in celebration of Arbor Month in September. The City’s tree-planting initiative is part of local government’s commitment to promote healthy neighbourhoods and beautify the urban environment.

Plants act as natural filters to clean our air by reducing carbon emissions, thus mitigating some of the effects of climate change.

The wild plum (Harpephullum caffrum) is the common tree of 2008, and the bladder-nut tree (Diospyros whyteana) is the rare (uncommon) tree of the year.

A few wild plum trees were planted in the Strand area. The bladder-nut tree is not suitable for planting in the Western Cape region due to the different soil type in the Peninsula. The City therefore planted other species of indigenous trees such as fig trees (Ficus rubignosa), fever trees (Acacia xanthoploea) and sweet thorn trees (Acacia karoo) best suited to the soil of a specific area.

South Africa first celebrated Arbor Day in 1983. So positive was the reaction that the authorities extended the celebration period to create Arbor Week. Schools and businesses were encouraged to participate and contribute to the greening of the country, and to recognize the advantages of trees in improving air and water quality and as a renewable source of food, shelter and fuel.

With the theme ‘Plant a tree for life’, Cape Town’s Arbor Month festivities kicked off with special lights in Adderly Street and from the main entrance to the Company’s Garden down Government Avenue. These lights are similar to the lights put up in the festive season.

City Parks adopted a theme of ‘Healthy parks, healthy people’ for Arbor month, and ensured that some of the trees were planted in parks, cemeteries and other council facilities such as civic centres and libraries.