By Levy Masiteng
In a bold effort to tackle climate change, the City of Joburg, in collaboration with key departmental stakeholders, has launched an ambitious Urban Forestry initiative to plant 200,000 trees across the city as part of a broader climate action plan.
Speaking at the opening of the four-day 2nd African Forum on Urban Forests (AFUF) summit in Bryanston, Joburg mayor Dada Morero said that the plan will focus on townships including Soweto, Alexandra, Ivory Park, and Diepsloot.
The forum, themed “Green Horizons: Shaping the Future Resilience of African Cities through Urban Forests,” underlines the importance of integrating nature into urban planning.
The discussion focused on how urban forests, which are increasingly seen as critical in combating the effects of climate change, can contribute to creating more resilient, liveable, and sustainable cities.
“The reality is that the heat levels in those areas are quite different from what you would find in the suburbs,” said Morero.
“We hope that by the end of the conference on Friday we will declare 200,000 trees.”
Morero emphasised the increasing urgency of urban greening efforts as part of the City’s strategy to mitigate climate change, improve biodiversity, and enhance residents’ quality of life.
“Urban forests are not just about planting trees; they are about creating ecosystems that serve both people and the planet. As Africa’s cities grow at an unprecedented rate, urban greening is no longer optional, it is vital for sustainable urban development,” said Morero.
Meanwhile, participants raised concerns about how the newly planted trees would be maintained, given recent reports of water shortages in the city.
In response, Morero clarified that the issue is not water scarcity but water loss.
“Yesterday, we had a very productive meeting with the Development Bank of South Africa, where we began raising capital. The bank has committed to supporting the city in securing the R3 billion needed annually over the next 10 years for the replacement of water pipes,” he explained.
Thanduxolo Mendrew, Managing Director of Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, highlighted ongoing community engagement efforts, noting that 30 Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) employees are currently going door-to-door in Diepsloot to educate residents about the mayor’s tree-planting initiative.
“We hope to expand the program, which has already begun in regions A, D, G, and F. In each of these areas, we plan to appoint young people to assist with training, development, and tree maintenance,” he said.
The summit, attended by stakeholders from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, as well as experts and scholars, focused on sustainable urban greening solutions.
Morero reaffirmed the city’s commitment to urban forestry, emphasizing its role in the broader Climate Action Plan, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality and resilience by 2050.
The plan includes a greenhouse gas emissions monitoring system, integrating climate action across all departments, and restoring vital ecosystems by removing invasive species and expanding green infrastructure.
Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts stressed the importance of tree planting and green spaces in reducing heat stress and improving residents’ quality of life.
“Tree planting, led by DFFE has been taking place for quite some time now. As we prepare to celebrate the International Day of Forests on 21 March 2025, I am pleased to announce that South Africa has designated 24 September 2025 as a national tree-planting day. On this day we aim to mobilise all government entities across all three spheres of government, Community Based Organisations, Non-Government Organisations, the corporate sector and citizens to plant one million trees in a single day. This ambitious initiative will contribute to creating sustainable settlements and mitigate the impact of climate change,” said Swarts.
“Additionally, under the Revamped National Greening Programme, initiated by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of South Africa, we have set a target to plant ten (10) million trees over a period of five years.”
Swarts emphasized the significance of #AFUF2025, noting that it comes at a crucial time as the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) has finalised the newly promulgated Climate Change Act.
“Implementation of the Climate Change Act, and the cleaning and greening programme is one of the key priorities that South Africa through the DFFE will be embarking upon for the next 5 years which demonstrates the importance that is given to this initiative,” said Swarts.
“It is a known fact that the world in general is starting to feel the effects of global warming and in particular climate change. This phenomenon is an environmental threat resulting from emissions of Green House Gases into the atmosphere. It is now crucial to face this phenomenon head on by adopting mitigation strategies and adapt our actions towards it. These changes in climate may have significant effects on various sectors globally.”
On Friday, Morero, Swarts, and AFUF conference organiser Tina Vahanen will visit Diepsloot Memorial Park to mark the International Day of Forests.
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