"GREEN" AUDI HELPS PLANT 1450 TREES

Audi SA is celebrating Arbor Month through the planting of 1450 trees in Olievenhoutbosch and Atteridgeville. Audi SA’s green campaign began in 2009 and will continue to 2012, resulting in over 25 000 residents of settlements in Gauteng and other provinces participating in FTFA’s (Food & Trees for Africa) Trees for Homes programme.

Thousands of householders will receive trees to plant to improve their homes and settlements, and 600 unemployed community members will be trained and given some short term employment as Community Based Educators (CBEs). The result will be over 625 hectares of urban forest developed, and 9 400 tons of carbon dioxide sequestered.
  The distribution of the Arbor Month 1 450 trees will take place as follows:

The first event was held on 01 September in an Open Space in Extension 26 in Olievenhoutbosch where 500 trees were distributed to the residents of that area. This marked the first celebration of the Arbor Month events by FTFA in 2010.

Mr Edwin Makushu, a Community Forester at FTFA, describes the month of September as special as the nation is made aware of the vital role of trees in their daily lives, “Everyday is Arbor day at FTFA because planting trees and spreading knowledge and awareness about trees is our culture. Arbor celebrations have now been extended to a month so we can promote the importance of trees in our lives and livelihoods and encourage care and consideration of the environment. This is also a time to add to the number of trees we are able to plant with disadvantaged communities living in barren settlements.”

FTFA has also set aside the 4^th September for Audi, where 100 trees will be planted at Bokgoni High School in Pretoria the capital city of South Africa. “The message is very clear. The students need to take this idea further. We would like to see the youth getting involved. This is their planet and the problems of global warming affect everyone, especially the generations to come,” commented Solomon Mondlane, FTFA Community Forester.

The 6^th September will mark the third event to be celebrated by FTFA and Audi SA. Another 500 trees will be distributed in Olievenhoutbosch, in Extension 36. “Our continued efforts to green the community of Olievenhoutbosch are bearing fruit. When Audi and FTFA are finished every household will have a tree which will result in a beautiful and healthy environment for this and future generations,” said Solomon Mondlane.

The last Audi SA Arbor Month event for 2010 will take place on the 16th September which is the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. 350 trees will be distributed to residents of  Olievenhoutbosch.

Overall, the month of September will be exciting as thousands of trees are planted, responding the national Arbor slogan, Plant for the Planet Grow Green.

STORY BY AUDI