Greening the Planet aims to plant one million trees in one day in 100 countries to raise awareness about concerns related to the environment and the restoration of the planet’s ecosystem!
Western Cape, South Africa (13 April 2021) – The City of Cape Town joined the Ukrainian Embassy in a tree planting event in the Bo–Kaap yesterday!
The event forms part of a global environmental project entitled Greening the Planet, which aims to plant one million trees in one day in 100 countries to raise awareness about concerns related to the environment and the restoration of the planet’s ecosystem.
All planted trees will be placed on the project’s geolocation map.
The Ukrainian Embassy is providing six pomegranate fruit trees, while the Recreation and Parks Department prepared the planting location and potting soil; and will tend to the future maintenance of the trees.
“We are very excited to be part of this initiative, which ties in with the City’s own goal of achieving urban forest status for Cape Town. While our horticultural staff will maintain the trees that are being planted, we also call on the local community to take ownership of the trees. With this event, we are putting the importance of trees in the spotlight – a lovely precursor to our annual Arbor Week activities that will take place in September this year. On behalf of the City, we thank the Ukrainian Embassy for including us in this project,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
International organisers and partners of the Greening the Planet project include Greening Ukraine, CEO Club Ukraine, Business Woman Club, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, as well as the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine.
The event was also attended by representatives from the Ukrainian Association of South Africa.
“It is a great honour for me as the Ambassador of Ukraine to write a page in the Green Book of Cape Town. It is a book of life, health, and well-being of one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. New trees are what everyone needs today, regardless of their political views, property status, religion, gender. Such simple and ordinary things like green leaves, crown shade and protection from the scorching sun are really what we all depend on today. It is especially gratifying that today’s event is also a page in the development of friendly relations between Ukraine and South Africa. Let the lungs of Cape Town always breathe freely and let the oxygen they inhale always remind them of Ukraine,” said Ms Liubov Abravitova, Ambassador of Ukraine to South Africa.
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