Today , The Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Environmental Empowerment Management Services is launching Arbor Month in partnership with Department of Forest, Fisheries and Environment and City of uMhlathuze at Ingweni Primary School.

National Arbor Month is a national campaign aimed to celebrate South Africa’s trees and to raise awareness about their importance. The theme for Arbor Month 2024 is “Celebrating 30 Years of Freedom: Promoting environmental conservation and sustainable forest management”.

This year the department would like to ask you to:

To protect our indigenous forests, preventing veld and forest fire, plant a tree to green our country and to mitigate against climate change. Planting indigenous trees that save water, use water conserving methods when planting trees and integrate fruit trees into your food gardens.

In 2023 under the School Environmental Education Programme by EDTEA, Ingweni Primary School was granted a status Green School.

Amongst other speakers present is King Cetshwayo District Municipality, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Richards Bay IDZ, Tronox, Mondi, Siyaqhubeka Forest, Richards Bay Minerals, Richards Bay Coal Terminal, South 32, Foskor, Transnet Port Terminal, uMngeni uThukela Water and Eskom. Stakeholders sponsored with trees both indigenous and fruit trees for greening initiative at the King Cetshwayo District to be led by EDTEA.