This Arbor Month is starting with a bang — with the planting of over 6,400 trees nationally in 2018. We’re planting trees at homes and schools throughout the country.

Food & Trees for Africa will be attending the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) launch of National Arbor Month on 7 September 2018 at Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela Local Municipality, Mpumalanga. Historically only a week long (Arbor Week), 2018 marks the first year of incorporating the entire month of September into Arbor Month.

We’ll be planting trees in Orange Farm with Konica Minolta South Africa (KMSA) who began planting trees with FTFA in the same area in 2008. We look forward to planting new trees as well as returning to those trees planted 10 years ago. This is to mark a decade of KMSA greening South Africa. KMSA’s commitment this Arbor Month is to plant a total of 2,000 trees in the area. This will benefit approximately 67 schools.

Grinding Media South Africa (GMSA) have committed 2,300 trees in the Katlehong Greenbelt, where we work with the local community to systematically green the areas of Thokoza, Vosloorus, and Katlehong. This project has enabled 1,000 homes and 10 schools to receive fruit and shade trees.

Ackermans return to Mamelodi this year — ensuring that a further 375 homes and 10 schools receive trees. This donation of 1,000 trees will have significant impact on air quality, soil erosion, property values, as well as shade for years to come.

AON South Africa have committed 1,000 trees to schools nationally. This initiative will ensure that 40 schools on FTFA’s waiting list receive fruit and indigenous shade trees.

The Arbor donations thus far will see 136 schools and 1375 homes receiving trees. A total of 55 local unemployed community members will be trained and will be provided with work opportunities as they help to monitor and care for the trees planted in Arbor Month.

Food & Trees for Africa would also like to thank the sponsors who have already committed trees including: Camargue Underwriters, Nampak, Fidelity ADT, The Post Office, Eaton Hydraulics, Barlowold, Isuzu Johannesburg, and Marriot Hotels Cape Town.

A special thanks to our ongoing sponsors who donate trees monthly: Urban Bistro, EcoCycle, Revolution Print — celebrating trees every month. Finally, thanks to the ongoing sponsors who keep FTFA running year round: Kulula.com, City Lodge Hotel Group, and AVIS Budget.

Donations big and small have enabled us to reach more beneficiaries and to plant a legacy this Arbor Month.