Trees for a community on Arbor Day
The tree handover at Phameni Village formed part of implementing the greening of villages bordering the Kruger National Park
The people of Phameni Village outside Numbi Gate received 120 indigenous tree seedlings from the Kruger National Park (KNP) management on September 14.
They were handed over by general manager of community liaison and land claims, William Mabasa, as part of the park’s Arbor Day celebrations. It also concluded the activities for the National Parks Week in the KNP.
With the theme ‘Forests and sustainable cities’, the tree handover at Phameni Village formed part of implementing the greening of villages bordering the park, while strengthening relations with them. “This is another way of promoting community based conservation initiatives among our stakeholders so that they can also play a meaningful role in the environmental conservation,” Mabasa said.
Various role players, including the local municipality, traditional council, People and Parks, Rand Water, South African Weather Services, Inkomati Usuthu Catchment Management Agency and government departments like Dardlea gave messages of support, encouraging community members to value the trees and what it offers.
Villagers were urged to plant these indigenous trees in their backyards to boost their health as the trees could provide roots, twigs and bark for the soothing and healing of many common standard ailments.
Mabasa encouraged the beneficiaries to regularly check on the trees’ progress as they would serve as shade, fresh air, soil protection and wind reduction. The park engages with community forums and other relevant committees to build capacity and assist local communities to come up with ideas, develop and implement sustainable greening projects in their communities.
These types of projects are part of the government’s expanded public works programme, which form part of the KNP’s broader strategy for economic empowerment and social responsibility line-up aimed at communities around the park.
The trees of the year (common and rare) were also planted to symbolise the Arbor Week celebrations and stakeholders who attended the handover each received an indigenous tree.
