Thousands of new trees have been planted in different parts of Johannesburg in an effort to benefit communities for climate adaptation.
Johannesburg, South Africa (30 May 2025) — Earlier this week, Johannesburg’s Kanana Park welcomed new trees as part of a tree distribution effort undertaken by Johannesburg City Parks & Zoo (JCPZ) through the SUNCASA Project made possible by the World Resources Institute!
The SUNCASA Project is a climate adaptation initiative that aims to enhance African cities both environmentally and socially with natural resources.
According to NPO Food & Trees for Africa (who also teamed up with the Johannesburg Inner City Partnership for the transformative greening initiative), the SUNCASA Project isn’t just about trees but also empowering people to care for them. The NPO shares that the Project from their side includes the training of local environmental champions to “act as Community Educators”.
“These individuals will receive specialised training in climate change, tree care, environmental ethics, and community engagement to ensure the success of the project over the next six months,” Food & Trees for Africa said earlier this year.
Kanana Park is one of several areas where new trees are now growing. According to Joburg Parks, to date, 5200 trees have been planted for communities across Alexandra and Lombardy East, with 175,000 home trees distributed in Alexandra, Lawley, Vlakfontein and Kanana Park.
“The distribution event in Kanana Park not only celebrates our progress but also highlights the strength of collaboration with our partners and the communities we serve. This significant achievement would not have been possible without the dedicated support and collaboration of our valued partners: the World Resources Institute (WRI), the Johannesburg Inner City Partnership (JICP), and the City of Johannesburg Environment and Infrastructure Services,” shared Joburg Parks.

Meanwhile, in more eco news from Jozi, a Linden Librarian’s exciting vision make public libraries greener and more beneficial to communities has earned her international recognition!

