DID YOU KNOW? TREES OF THE YEAR 1 - PODOCARPUS ELONGATUS 2018 Trees bring diverse groups of people together. Tree plantings provide an opportunity for community involvement and empowerment that improves the quality of life in our neighbourhoods. 1 - PODOCARPUS ELONGATUS 2 - ALBITRUNCA All cultures, ages, and genders have an important role to play at a tree planting or tree care event.

? In , only 0.4% of our landmass is covered by natural forest. That’s only 500 000 ha, supported by 39 million ha covered by savannah systems. Facts: Trees and Forestry There are three main types of trees that grow on South African plantations; pine, eucalyptus and COPPICING BARK Trees are some of the oldest living organisms on wattle. earth, for example, a live oak can live up to be over 500 years. According to a report published by the World Economic Forum in July 2017, two South The age of a tree can be determined by the number African cities namely Durban and of growth rings. The size of the growth ring is Johannesburg form part of the top determined in part by environmental conditions such as temperature and water availability. 15 Cities in the world with the most trees.

Trees add unity. Trees as landmarks can give a FEMALE CONES Different parts of the tree grow at different times of neighbourhood a new identity and encourage the year. A typical pattern is for most of the foliage civic pride. growth to occur in the spring, followed by trunk growth in the summer and growth in the autumn Of the eight biomes in South Africa, the forest and winter. Not all trees follow the same pattern. biome is the smallest, covering only about 0.1% of the country. Trees mark the seasons; Is it winter, spring, summer The largest and most famous forests in South BARK or autumn? Look at the trees. MALE CONES Africa are Knysna and Tsitsikama Forests of the The world is home to just over 60 000 different Southern Cape. tree species. Trees boost wildlife by hosting complex TREE PROFILE TREE PROFILE microhabitats. When young, they offer habitation There are around 3.04 trillion trees on earth; and food to amazing communities of birds, FACTS AT A GLANCE USES: FACTS AT A GLANCE however to of these trees insects, lichen and fungi. When mature, their 1 2 3.5 billion 7 billion Due to its generally small size and bushy Medicinally, its green is used to treat are cut down every year. trunks also provide the hollow cover needed by habit, the Breede River Yellowwood is not of epilepsy, and a cold infusion of leaves can species such as bats, woodboring beetles, tawny SCIENTIFIC NAME: Podocarpus elongatus SCIENTIFIC NAME: Boscia albitrunca economic importance as a timber tree today, be applied to the inflamed eye of cattle. owls and woodpeckers. One mature oak can be COMMON NAME: Breede River Yellowwood however in the past when there were larger COMMON NAME: Shepherd’s tree Household utensils can also be made from the The yellow wood tree, also called the real yellow- home to as many as 500 different species. SIZE: Small to medium shrub/ tree of 6-20 m trees, the timber was used for making wagons, SIZE: Small to medium tree of 5 -7m wood. wood (Podocarpus latifolius) is the WATER REQUIREMENTS: Drought tolerant chairs and general wood turning. WATER REQUIREMENTS: Drought tolerant National Tree of South Africa. Trees create economic opportunities, for instance, LEAVES/FLOWERS: Evergreen, attractive LEAVES/FLOWERS: Evergreen, flat, fruit harvested from community orchards can GROWING: narrow grey/blue-green leaves that are GROWING: elliptic, leathery olive green leaves; star be sold, thus providing income. Small business Trees help fight the effects of climate change by usually crowded towards the ends of the Ideally fresh seeds must be sown soon after shaped yellow-green flowers without petals. The Shepherd’s tree can easily be propagated opportunities in nursery establishment, green absorbing carbon dioxide and other pollutant shoots; male and female cones can be found harvesting, in late summer-autumn. The FEATURE: Attractive dense, round to as it can grow from shoot and root cuttings. waste management and landscaping arise particulates, then store carbon and emit pure on two separate trees species is slow growing and is ideal for a small spreading crown, pale yellow bark Seedlings need to be transplanted directly when cities value mulching and its water-saving oxygen. A tree can absorb as much as FEATURE: Multi stemmed, has the ability garden and should be planted in a shade MAINTENANCE: Low maintenance. into the open ground as growth tends to stop qualities. or semi shade area in a well-drained soil, if planted in nursery bags due to its tap 22 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year and to resprout from the trunk or stump. participation, poverty alleviation and job MAINTENANCE: Low maintenance. possibly with plenty of compost. It makes an system which requires enough room to grow. can sequester 1 ton (907kg) of carbon dioxide Trees grow the economy as people are attracted excellent container and can also be to live, work and invest in green surroundings. used as a screen plant. by the time it reaches 40 years old. Research shows that average house prices are DESCRIPTION APPEARANCE: B. albitrunca is a stocky evergreen tree that 5-18% higher when properties are close to DESCRIPTION One large tree can provide a day’s supply of APPEARANCE: ORIGIN: may reach a height of 5-7m. It usually has an mature trees. Companies benefit from a Breede River Yellowwoods are typically multi- oxygen for up to four people. Widespread in Southern Africa in the arid parts attractive well rounded or spreading crown healthier, happier workforce if there are parks ORIGIN: stemmed and are as broad as they are high. of KwaZulu Natal, Gauteng, Free State, North and owing to its nutritional value to livestock, and trees nearby. P. elongatus is endemic to Southern Africa The species may take a form of a round and Trees and vegetation prevent soil erosion and where it is mainly restricted to the Breede bushy shape or a neat pyramid shape with a West, Limpopo and Northern Cape. It also the tree often has a clear “browse line”. reduce runoff by holding soil in place, particularly While timber plantations only represent 7% of River Valley in the Western Cape. Its range smooth grey to brown bark that sometimes occurs in Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, The stem is light in colour and often folded, on hillsides or stream slopes, the quality of water is Zimbabwe, Zambia and the Kingdom of seamed and sometimes pitted with holes, the planet’s forest areas, they provide of extends as far north as the Cedarberg and peels longitudinally in long narrow strips. 50% when viewed from a distance it appears to be also improved when it is absorbed and filtered by the wood for industrial purposes. Bokkeveld Mountains. It typically grows eSwatini. It prefers dry, open woodland trees. along rivers on deep sandy soils and rocky FLOWERS, FRUIT AND LEAVES: and areas with sandy, loamy and whitewashed. By making use of biorefinery technologies, outcrops. This tree is a conifer i.e. a cone bearing calcrete soils. trade and marketing of forest Planting trees in public spaces and gardens can a number of value added products can be seed plant. There are male trees and female products. FLOWERS, FRUIT AND LEAVES: increase the aesthetic appeal of neighbourhoods manufactured from wood pulp and biomass ECOLOGY: trees. Male trees produce solitary cream to Flowers are small and inconspicuous, star pinkish cones made up of scales; female and the economic value of houses and property. waste. For example, biochemicals, non-nutritive P. elongatus is wind pollinated. Seeds are ECOLOGY: shaped and without petals. Flowering period food sweeteners such as xylitol as well as trees produce cones that turn bright red, and The species has a number of pollinators and is between August and November or after eaten and dispersed by small mammals each cone carries one seed that sits on top Trees provide food, for example an apple tree can nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) which can be rains. Fruit is round and berry like, yellow with and birds that enjoy the brightly coloured of the fleshy conical receptacle. The female is a source of food for various mammals, birds used in a range of applications. a reddish flesh. Leaves are evergreen, flat, yield up to 15-20 bushels of fruit per year and can and fleshy receptacles. cones develop into edible . The leaves and butterflies. The crown is often browsed elliptic and variable in size with rounded tips. be planted on the tiniest urban lot. Aside from fruit Kathu Forest is unique woodland of Camel thorn of the tree are spirally arranged, narrow and by livestock as well as other herbivores such for humans, trees provide food for birds and wildlife. trees to the north of the town of Kathu in the The tree has adapted to growing in unstable elongated. The leaves are blue/grey- green as giraffe, gemsbok and kudu. Its natural Leaves have a smooth margin, are tough, in colour and generally crowded towards the leathery and sometimes hairy. Northern Cape. This woodland of about 4000 environments such as riverbanks where it adaptation to arid areas also makes the tree Trees conserve energy; three trees placed is often exposed to floods or rocks carried end of the branchlets. a source of shade, shelter and refuge to a strategically around a single-family home can hectares, known as Kathu forest because Other yellowwood tree species recognised for of the exceptional size and density of the tree in the water, as a result it has evolved a number of animals. cut summer air conditioning needs by up to 50%. the year 2018 include P. latifolius, P. falcatus, cover, is one of only two such woodlands in the survival strategy of having the ability to By reducing the energy demand for cooling our and P. henkelii. world, with the other one occurring in Namibia. resprout from the buds on the trunk of the REFERENCES USES: houses, we reduce carbon dioxide and other tree. Farjon, A. 2010. A handbook of the world’s conifers. Koniklijke Brill, Leiden. B. albitrunca is often termed the tree of life as pollution emissions from power . The Tree of the Year 2018 Boscia albitrunca Palmer, E. 1981. A field guide to the trees of southern Africa. 2nd Edition. nearly every part of it can be used or eaten William Collins &Co. Ltd. London. plays a significant role in butterfly migrations in REFERENCES Leistner, O.A. (ed.) 2000. Seed plants of southern Africa: families and by humans or animals. Culturally, in some Trees reduce violence; neighbourhoods and the world. The foliage of Shepherd’s trees are genera, Strelitzia 10. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria. areas it is believed that the wood must not be Van Wyk, B and Van Wyk, P. 1997. Field guide to Trees of Southern Africa. the main source of nutrition for the Brown-veined Struik, Cape Town. homes that are barren have shown to have a Van Wyk, B and Van Wyk, P. 1997. Field guide to Trees of Southern Africa. burnt as this will result in cows only producing Bothma, J du P. 1982. There’s no end to the shepherd’s tree. Custos 11 greater incidence of violence in and out of the White butterfly (Belenois aurota). Struik, Cape Town. bull calves. Nutritionally, it is used as a source (9): 17-21. Palmer, E. 1981. A field guide to the trees of southern Africa. 2nd Edition. home than their greener counterparts. Trees and of food where its roots are used to make William Collins &Co. Ltd. London. Wood is carbon-neutral, renewable and Venter F & JA. 1996. Making the most of Indigenous trees. Briza landscaping help to reduce the level of fear. porridge and as a substitute for coffee. versatile. Publications, Pretoria.

Boscia albitrunca: Shepherd’s Tree (Common Green plants are a vital defence against climate How can you help to prevent forest fires? National Arbor Month name: English) This tree has been selected change because they have the natural ability to from the list of rare/uncommon species. remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store the The history of Arbor Week Each year veld and forest fires destroy thousandsof carbon as biomass. Trees are especially valuable CONTACT US hectares of trees and grasslands. Many people are because they produce wood, in which large The idea for Arbor Day originally came from Nebraska. Champion Trees Project injured and even killed. Animals are endangered quantities of carbon is locked up for many years. When visiting the state today one would not find The purpose of the Champion Tree Project is to and people’s livelihoods are destroyed. These evidence that the area was once a treeless plain. Yes identify and protect trees that are of national fires also damage our economy by destroying To put this into perspective; one hectare of it was a lack of trees there that led to the founding of importance and worthy of special protection, valuable assets. Trees produce oxygen while using up carbon forest growing at the rate of producing 10m3 Arbor Week in the 1800s. dioxide. Some scientists contend that the over- due to their remarkable size, age, aesthetic, of wood per year will be removing carbon to abundance of carbon dioxide in the earth’s cultural, historic or tourism value. Similar projects Do not light fires in the open air during winter time the equivalent of 14 million m3 of air. One can For further information on Arbor Month, including atmosphere will lead to the “greenhouse effect”. have been established in several other countries, Arbor Day in South Africa when it is dry. Do not be careless with flammable visualise this as a column of air 1.4 km deep over Smog can be filtered by trees, ash, pollen and but this is the first of its kind in Africa. the programme of events, posters and leaflets material. Report fires to your fire brigade or police an area of forest the size of two soccer fields. Historically, South Africa did not have a culture dust maybe trapped by a tree’s foliage. please contact the department. station as soon as possible. Never drive or walk of tree planting and it was in the 1970s that a real Nomination forms with guidelines for the into an area that is on fire. If you are a landowner, Do keep in mind that trees do not all grow equally (For further information please need to promote tree planting was recognised. The Soil is conserved by trees; falling leaves and nomination process are available from the DAFF. fast, and all forests are not equally productive as contact the Arbor Month Co-ordinators concept of National Arbor Day ensued from the it is recommended that you become a member needles decompose providing rich nutrients for Every nomination cycle starts on 1 August each carbon sinks. Trees in urban environments and 1973 Green Heritage Campaign. of the local Fire Protection Association. Ask your the soil. The roots of trees prevent soil erosion and Mr Michael Modise at (012 309 5787) year, and ends on 31 July the following year. commercial forestry plantations are generally local forestry office for details. tree canopies reduce flooding and rainfall run- or Ms Nosipho Ndzimbomvu at (012 309 5883) quite fast growing and are therefore active Following requests from various organisations off. Seventy five trees and groups of trees have been carbon sinks. Under favourable conditions some and institutions, the former Department of Forestry How about planting a tree? A tree’s various parts absorb sound waves, declared by the department as Champion Trees, plantations can achieve average annual growth obtained approval in 1982 to celebrate National Many places in South Africa are barren and deflect the waves in different directions, and based on criteria such as size, age and historical rates of 20m3 per hectare. Arbor Day from 1983. In 1996, the Minister of Water lifeless because they do not have trees, gardens thereby reduce the sound’s intensity. Properly value. More trees have been shortlisted, and will placed evergreen trees act as a windbreak Events, posters and leaflets can be found on the Affairs and Forestry, emphasising the importance of or plants. In the past, trees were not planted in be declared during 2018. tree planting in South Africa extended Arbor Day township areas while suburbs have usually had and an insulator. In the winter, this can translate Forests and the Economy into lower home heating. Deciduous trees will if DAFF Internet: www.daff.gov.za from one day to week. trees growing for many years. We have to plant strategically placed provide shade to a home’s These trees are all protected under the National Alternatively, you can contact: Mr Mike Modise trees in every town, city and school in South According to Forestry South Africa, forestry roof and outside walls, can help reduce air Forests Act of 1998. They include the Tsitsikamma It has since been celebrated in South Africa from and downstream processing industries provide Tel: 012 309 5787 • Fax: 012 309 8939 • Africa. We need to plant a tree with every new conditioning costs in the summer. Big Tree along the Garden Route, the Post Office 158,000 jobs, predominantly in rural areas where 1-7 September annually. In 2018 the Minister home. Milkwood tree of Mossel Bay, the Sagole Baobab E-mail: [email protected] there are high levels of unemployment. Given of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has also Property values are enhanced by the beauty and tree in Limpopo and Camphor trees planted at this, no less than 692,000 people are dependent taken a resolution to extend arbor week to arbor We need to ensure that every clinic has trees. You charm of the landscape offered by trees. They Vergelegen Estate in the Western Cape three on the industry for their livelihoods. month which will mean that the campaign will be can help by planting trees at home or working break up the monotony of masonry, cement, centuries ago. By shading and cooling the air, forests and trees celebrated from 1 -30 September annually. with your school, church, or local government metal and glass along city streets and sidewalks. in urban areas can reduce extreme temperatures Areas with trees often attract more people (e.g. The contribution to the economy is estimated to plant trees. Integrating fruit trees in your food The oldest planted tree in South Africa is a Saffron and mitigate the effects of climate change. tourists, customers). Recreational places benefit at R45.5 billion, R29 billion of which is exported. Arbor Month is a national campaign initiated garden can address household food security. pear, brought from the Netherlands and planted Indeed, trees properly placed around buildings from the presence of trees. This translates to 9.0% of Manufacturing GDP to celebrate South Africa’s trees and to raise Remember we are a water-scarce country, so in the Dutch East India Company’s gardens in can reduce air conditioning needs by 30 percent. awareness about their importance. The theme and 10.1% of Agricultural GDP, including pulp In cold climates, by shielding homes from the use methods that conserve water to irrigate your Trees are a valuable resource providing both Cape Town more than three centuries ago. and paper. It is through commercial plantations for Arbor Month 2018 is “Forests and Sustainable trees. environmental and economic benefits. By wind, they can help save energy used for heating Cities”. This year the department would like to ask planting even a single tree, or million trees the Historic trees include a Poplar tree, which that timber is produced for construction, by 20-50%. you to: National Arbor Month serves to promote country can make a difference. Each tree will served as a landmark for refugees during the mining, poles, charcoal, furniture, pulp, paper Urban and peri-urban forests can increase awareness for the need to plant and maintain help to contribute to cleaner air, lower energy apartheid regime who found a safe haven in and cellulose production and other timber Protect our indigenous forests; help prevent veld the resilience and quality of watersheds and indigenous trees throughout South Africa, costs, greater protection of our soil and water the Johannesburg house of Ruth Fischer, the beneficiation enterprises. and forest fires; plant a tree to green our country, water reservoirs by preventing erosion, limiting especially for the many disadvantaged supplies, reduced noise levels, contribute to daughter of Bram Fischer, who was a founding mitigate against climate change; plant indigenous food security and a more ambient environment evapotranspiration and filtering pollutants. And communities who often live in barren and water member of the South African Communist Party. trees that save water; use water conserving in which to live. planting fruit-bearing street trees can increase the stressed areas. It further intends to: THEME: Forests and Sustainable methods when planting trees and integrate fruit A group of international and local tree climbers availability of food within cities. trees into your food gardens. • Raise awareness of South Africa’s In addition to the planting of trees, emphasis is has visited and climbed the champion trees Cities made to highlight the need for the conservation urban and rural greening initiatives. around the country, contributing to more Sources: Unisylva: An international journal of How can you help to protect our indigenous forests? of forests and in particular indigenous trees that The theme for the 2018 Arbor Month Campaign • Promote better understanding of trees, accurate height measurements, and installing forest industries. Vol 69 2018/1 are threatened by extinction. is Forests and Sustainable Cities. Investing in Our forests are under threat from people who are particularly indigenous trees and fruit nesting boxes for the rare Cape Parrot in some trees. green spaces can help transform cities into more FAO. 2018: Forests and Sustainable Cities. careless with our heritage. Never cut down a tree To this end, the Arbor Week campaign will of the large champion trees that occur in natural sustainable, resilient, healthy, equitable and Inspiring stories from around the world. in a natural forest and do not remove an animal or • Highlight the important role trees promote planting of three indigenous species forests. pleasant places to live. living plant without permission. Explain to others the play in sustainable development and that have been identified and named as trees the livelihoods of people and their All the trees were also visited by a professional importance of protecting our natural places. of the year. These trees are selected from If planned and managed well, cities can be great Partnerships in Arbor Month environment. commonly found trees and the rare tree species. photographer, to create a proper photographic places to live, but many urban developments • Encourage communities to participate For 2018 the following two tree species have record of the trees, which will also be used for and Greening cause environmental havoc - ultimately been selected as trees of the year: the publication of a book on the champion trees leading to problems such as high temperatures, Furthermore, the aim is to encourage people within a year. Tree planting, including the development of parks Podocarpus elongatus: Breede River flooding, and air pollution. The cost for citizens is to plant trees at various places so that they are and recreational facilities can be expensive when Yellowwood (Common name: English) deteriorating well-being. The costs for the planet not lost to us and future generations. Trees and Climate Change include increased greenhouse gas emissions, done on a large scale. For this reason, it is necessary This tree has been selected from the list of the degradation of soils and waterways. for good partnerships between government, the Indigenous trees are a heritage to our society. common species. It is now well known that global climate is corporate sector, non-government organisations They serve various purposes in our lives and Other yellowwood species: P. latifolius, P. changing and that it is likely to continue More than half the world’s population now lives in and communities to work together in greening in the lives of other living organisms. They falcatus, and P. henkelii. changing for many years to come. Climate cities, and by 2050 almost 70% of the world will our country. provide important habits for survival of bird, change brings about unusual weather, droughts, be urbanized. Although cities occupy only three Boscia albitrunca: Shepherd’s Tree (Common animal and insects. Our indigenous trees form floods, melting of the permanent ice of the north percent of the Earth’s surface, they consume 78% The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and name: English) and south poles as well as rising ocean levels. All an important part of the tourist attraction areas This tree has been selected from the list of of energy and emit 60% of carbon dioxide. Fisheries has established a good working of South Africa. rare/uncommon species. this is the result of air pollution caused by human relationship and partnership with Total South activities. Woodlands, forests and trees in a city and on its fringes perform a wide range of vital functions - Africa in greening our country and promoting The following are some of the benefits derived Forests and tree cover combat land degradation such as storing carbon, removing air pollutants, Arbor Month. The partnership has been in place from trees: by stabilising soils, reducing water and wind One of the main pollutants responsible for this assisting in food, energy and water security, for over ten years and has resulted in numerous erosion and maintaining the nutrient cycle in phenomenon is the greenhouse gas Carbon restoring degraded soils and preventing drought projects being initiated. Trees benefit our lives, we may consider a soils. Sustainable use of goods and services from Dioxide (CO2). Greenhouse gasses have the and floods. In a medium size city, for instance, number of products that we derive from trees forest ecosystems can contribute to poverty ability to trap the sun’s heat in the atmosphere These include small community parks, orchards, such as building materials, paper, fibre, oils, urban trees can reduce the loss of soil by around reduction and making the rural poor less and so prevent the earth from cooling down. school greening projects, assisting with water gums, syrups, pharmaceutical products, fruit 10,000 tons per year. vulnerable to the effects of land degradation. tanks where there are problems with water. Total and nuts. We also recognize the visual benefits we reap from trees as leaves change colour This is referred to as the greenhouse effect, South Africa supports the Million Trees Programme from season to season, and small trees grow Food insecurity and environmental degradation which is important for maintaining life on earth, By shading and cooling the air, forests and trees and the Arbor City Awards Competition. Through into larger trees. are intricately linked. In the face of the growing but which is also very dangerous when it is in urban areas can reduce extreme temperatures their support, many of the greening interventions world population and the increasing pressure enhanced beyond the delicate balance that is and mitigate the effects of climate change. have been realised. Trees provide more than just products and on food supplies, people are forced to use required for life on earth as we know it. Carbon Indeed, trees properly placed around buildings ornamental beauty; they offer an almost practices which result in short-term increases Dioxide is emitted when most materials burn and can reduce air conditioning needs by 30%. In This shows that working together we can take endless list of environmental and economic in yield but are devastating for the land in the when living creatures breathe. cold climates, by shielding homes from the wind, greening forward in this country. This function benefits, some of which are crucial to our well- medium or long term. they can help save energy used for heating by should not be seen as the government’s role being. 20-50%. alone.