Miss Earth South Africa marked Arbor Day by planting 125 trees across three Johannesburg community spaces during Arbor Week.

Spreading environmental awareness

Spring Day, also known as Arbor Day, is celebrated in South Africa on September 1, marking the start of spring.

“One way to celebrate is to wear short sleeves and dresses; the other way is to plant indigenous trees,” said Ella Bella, educational officer for the Miss Earth programme.

Donated by the Marriott International Hotel Group, the trees support an initiative designed to create a lasting impact for younger generations.

Grade R to Grade Seven learners join in

The first 10 trees were planted at Mondeor Primary School, and eight were planted at Forest Hill Primary School, giving learners from Grade R to Grade Seven an opportunity to take part in an environmental assembly and tree-planting activity.

A further five trees were planted at Emma Broscius Preschool, an early childhood development centre, to introduce young children to nature.

The remaining trees were planted during the build-up to Arbor Month through the Miss Earth South Africa finalists’ tree-planting projects, which started in mid-August. These efforts contribute to the greening of vital community spaces.

The Arbor Day initiative reflects the philosophy of Miss Earth South Africa – that environmental action is most powerful when it is rooted in communities and driven by people who understand the needs of those communities.

Other stakeholders involved were Newsclip Media Monitoring, Cathay Pacific, Samsonite SA, Skin Renewal South Africa and Rand Stadium Toyota, which provided transport for the Miss Earth team.

Investing in future community leaders

Miss Earth South Africa is a leadership and empowerment programme aimed at upskilling and educating young women, who become environmental ambassadors in their communities around South Africa.

“We need to be investing in our communities and investing in our young people so that they are equipped to lead with knowledge, purpose and compassion,” said Catherine Constantinides, national director of the Miss Earth South Africa Leadership Programme.

“When we invest in young people, we are investing in the future of our communities and in our country. These 125 trees are more than trees; each tree represents growth, hope and a commitment to creating a healthier and more sustainable South Africa.”

The Arbor Day tree-planting initiative demonstrates that meaningful environmental change can begin with a single tree but becomes far more powerful when people come together.

For Miss Earth South Africa, planting trees is about planting the seeds of leadership, responsibility and environmental consciousness to shape a better tomorrow.