Fresh air for neglected townships

Published Sep 3, 2008

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By Kanina Foss

Joburg is turning a shade greener. Dust bowls like Soweto, Lenasia and Alexandra townships are being given lungs in the form of indigenous trees planted by City Parks as part of their 2010 Greening Soweto Legacy Project.

More than 90 000 trees have been planted along main arterial roads since the project's inception in 2000.

During September, City Parks will spend R30-million planting a further 30 000 trees on the premises of institutions such churches, schools, police stations and municipal buildings.

At a cost of R1 000 per tree, this is a sizable investment.

"We urge residents to nurture these trees and water them when possible," said City Parks spokesperson Jenny Moodley.

According to Moodley, the trees not only improve air quality, but also act as catalysts for socio-economic development.

City Parks has seen a marked decrease in littering and illegal dumping in areas where trees have been planted.

Residents of Soweto who live adjacent to Thokoza Park, an area that has been beautified under the project, have started renovating their homes and taking better care of their gardens.

The trees are all indigenous species such as acacias and oleas.

They will grow to a minimum of 2m in height, and between 40 and 80mm in girth (the widest part of the trunk). Moodley said it would take about 10 years before the trees were big enough to provide a proper canopy.

On September 1 2006, Joburg mayor Amos Masondo set a target of 200 000 trees by 2010.

Two years later, City Parks is appealing to businesses to help them plant the 110 000 trees still needed to meet that target.

Joburg is said to be the world's largest man-made forest, but the title only applies to its northern suburbs. In the past, little attention was paid to planting trees in the south.

The project is capitalising on the momentum of the preparations for the 2010 Fifa World Cup to help address disparities in greenness between historically neglected parts of the city such as Soweto, Lenasia and Alexandra townships, and the more leafy northern suburbs.

But it's not only historically neglected areas which are in need of greening. Rapid city growth has created newly inhabited areas without trees.

"Joburg is one of the fastest growing metropolises in the world. Before there wasn't a Midrand, now there is, and Midrand is in need of trees," said Moodley.

The first week of September is Arbor Week.

Tomorrow Nelson Mandela will be celebrating his 90th birthday by ceremonially planting the 90 990th tree to take root under the Greening Soweto project.

City Parks is encouraging people to follow Madiba's lead and use Arbor Week to plant a tree.

"If you have space constraints, call us and we'll direct you," said Moodley.

- City Parks can be contacted on 011 712 6600 or [email protected]

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