This month, 8 schools in the Knysna, George and Plettenberg Bay region will receive indigenous shade and fruit trees donated by Konica Minolta South Africa (KMSA). The schools were identified by Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) as requiring indigenous shade trees following the devastating fires in the region in 2017. On the 20th of March 2018, KMSA staff will plant trees at Concordia High School, together with pupils and school staff, to kick off tree planting in the region.
This event falls one day before the International Day of the Forests, a day declared by the UN to recognise the importance of trees and forests of all kinds. These 300 trees will offset 110 tonnes of carbon dioxide in their lifetime, whilst providing shade, increasing biodiversity and providing access to fresh fruit for the local community. These gifts will keep on giving to the local community and the local environment for upward of 40 years. This tree planting forms part of KMSA’s commitment to plant 2,993 trees between January and June 2018 and brings the number of trees donated by KMSA to 37,796 since 2008, through the company’s ongoing commitment to ‘green’ South Africa.