IN CONVERSATION WITH BERNICE SWARTS
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Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Bernice Swarts, has officially launched the One Million Trees Campaign under the theme: “My Tree, My Oxygen. Plant Yours Today.”
The campaign forms part of the Presidential Ten Million Trees Flagship Project, now in its fourth year, and aims to inspire the planting of one million trees in a single day. It calls on all South Africans—from government, business, and civil society to traditional leaders, youth, and faith-based organisations—to pledge and donate trees in support of the country’s environmental goals.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), as the custodian of South Africa’s forestry function, is leading this effort through its National Greening Programme. The programme targets the planting of two million trees per year over five years, contributing to the overall goal of ten million trees.
The One Million Trees Campaign is being used to revamp and accelerate national greening efforts by:
• Raising awareness about the importance of trees,
• Encouraging communities to take ownership of their environment, and
• Mobilising broad participation in tree planting activities.
As part of the campaign launch, Deputy Minister Swarts introduced the Information Technology Pledge Form System, which allows individuals and organisations to register tree pledges. She also showcased the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s (SANBI) Tree Bank, where donated trees will be stored and distributed from 11 national botanical gardens and DFFE nurseries across the country.
The initiative reinforces government’s commitment to sustainable development, climate action, and building a greener, healthier South Africa for generations to come
The campaign forms part of the Presidential Ten Million Trees Flagship Project, now in its fourth year, and aims to inspire the planting of one million trees in a single day. It calls on all South Africans—from government, business, and civil society to traditional leaders, youth, and faith-based organisations—to pledge and donate trees in support of the country’s environmental goals.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), as the custodian of South Africa’s forestry function, is leading this effort through its National Greening Programme. The programme targets the planting of two million trees per year over five years, contributing to the overall goal of ten million trees.
The One Million Trees Campaign is being used to revamp and accelerate national greening efforts by:
• Raising awareness about the importance of trees,
• Encouraging communities to take ownership of their environment, and
• Mobilising broad participation in tree planting activities.
As part of the campaign launch, Deputy Minister Swarts introduced the Information Technology Pledge Form System, which allows individuals and organisations to register tree pledges. She also showcased the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s (SANBI) Tree Bank, where donated trees will be stored and distributed from 11 national botanical gardens and DFFE nurseries across the country.
The initiative reinforces government’s commitment to sustainable development, climate action, and building a greener, healthier South Africa for generations to come