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| 2 000 Trees Planted in Arbor Month thanks to Konica Minolta |
| Posted by Enviroadmin |
| Monday, 19 September 2011 22:33 |
 Bidvest company, Konica Minolta South Africa, has been working with South Africa’s national greening and food gardening social enterprise, Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA), since 2008 to plant trees to offset some of their carbon emissions and improve environments. Initially 4 100 trees were planted in Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg, through FTFAs award winning trees for Homes programme and this proved so successful that, with the need to offset more carbon dioxide emissions, Konica Minolta South Africa distributed a further 4 500 trees to the disadvantaged settlements of Polokwane, Kimberley, East London, Port Elizabeth and Newcastle.2011 is the International Year of Forests which aims to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and development of all types of forests and these urban forests planted by Konica Minolta South Africa are doing just that. To top this off, Konica Minolta South Africa has now donated a further 3 000 Trees for Homes to the residents of Lotus Gardens in Pretoria, Mshlozi in Nelspruit and Thembalethu in George. September is Arbor Month, South Africa’s time to raise awareness of the value of trees in our lives and the community of Mshlozi, on the R40, from Nelspruit heading towards White River, are preparing the ground for the 1 000 trees to be planted. This little village is now growing rapidly and these Konica Minolta trees will be planted at the new RDP houses, built in 2011. 2011 is in fact the International Year of Forests to raise awareness of sustainable management, conservation and development of all types of forests and these urban forests planted by Konica Minolta South Africa are doing just that. Through the distribution of these 1 000 trees, 20 residents of Mshlozi will receive training and stipends as community educators to promote the need for greening and provide reports on the status of the trees over a period of one year. So this is a skills development, greening, carbon offset programme that also provides all the many benefits that accrue from tree planting. “Through these trees for homeowners around the country we are helping to improve properties for the residents in dusty settlements and are spreading climate change awareness,” says Konica Minolta South Africa’s MD, Alan Griffith. “As part of our Corporate Social Investment initiative, and in an effort to offset our carbon emissions, tree planting works for us. In addition to absorbing carbon dioxide, one of the major greenhouse gases, these trees provide many other environmental and social benefits such as preventing water runoff and erosion, settling the dust, providing shade and shelter, lessening noise and beautifying neighbourhoods,” says Griffith. These trees will also be registered with the United Nations Billion Tree programme, which has already recorded 11 billion trees planted, more than one per person on the planet. “Not only will we see these trees beautifying the area, they will change everybody’s life through cleaning the air we breathe around Msholozi. This area has no trees and these fruit trees will additionally supplement nutrition. Thanks to Konica Minolta South Africa,” said councillor Mkhonto. 500 fruit trees will be distributed on 20 September at 10am from the Phumulani Tent, Msholozi. The remaining 500 fruit trees will be distributed on 21 September from the King Procell Church Tent, Phumulani, Msholozi at 10am. Another 1 000 trees are scheduled to be distributed in Thembalethu, George in the Western Cape at 10am on 19 and 20 September, from Allbricks Hall, 13th Street off Sandkraal Street, and Lawaaikamp Hall, Vuyani Ncamazana Street, Lawaaikamp, respectively. For more information or to attend the distribution events, please contact Joanne Lee Rolt on 011 656 9802/3 or joanne@trees.org.za |
