South Africa unveils program to plant 1 mln trees on Sept. 24

8/7/2025 6:45

South Africa launched an ambitious program on Monday to plant 1 million trees in one day, aiming to mitigate climate change, boost employment, and enhance food security.



At the launch of the program at the National Botanical Garden in Pretoria, South Africa's administrative capital, Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Bernice Swarts said her department is currently finalizing logistics for the "1 million trees" planting day.



Swarts said communities are experiencing heat waves, heavy rains, floods, and prolonged droughts, which call for joint actions like planting trees. She encouraged corporations, students, civil society, and government departments to donate trees to add to the 1 million that will be planted in a single day on Sept. 24, to celebrate Arbor Month.



"Tree planting is one of the mitigating factors that are recommended to slow down this environmental threat. It is for this reason that the department is pursuing the coordination and implementation of the National Greening Program," said the deputy minister.