MEDIA RELEASE 7 SEPTEMBER 2015 THE WORLD GATHERS FOR THE XIV WORLD FORESTRY CONGRESS Durban - The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Mr Senzeni Zokwana officially opened the XIV World Forestry Congress today. Also present to officiate the ceremony was Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, FAO Special Ambassador for Forests and the Environment HRH Prince Laurent of Belgium, African Union Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Minister of Water and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane, Deputy Minister Bheki Cele including the provincial leadership of agriculture. The congress, hosted for the first time on African soil, will run from 7-11 September 2015 under the theme ‘’Forests and People: Investing in a Sustainable Future.’’. The congress aims to focus on global issues affecting the forestry sector and provide a platform for sharing of knowledge and experience regarding the conservation, management and use of the world's forests. Speaking at the opening ceremony Minister Zokwana said, “Forests not only deliver timber and timber products, but also non-wood forest products which improve the social-economic standing in our communities - trees and forests also contribute towards food security.” The highlight of the day was the planting of the millionth tree under the department’s Million Trees Programme. The Million Trees Programme was launched during the 2007 Arbor Week campaign as part of the South African contribution to the United Nations Environment Programme “Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign”, where communities, industry, civil society organisations and governments are encouraged to plant at least one billion trees worldwide. Join the engagement by using the hashtag #Forests2015. For further information please contact Makenosi Maroo on 072 475 2956 or Bomikazi Molapo on 078 801 3711 .