Page 24 - Landscape-Issue123

FEATURE

LOOKING BACK ON THE

GREENING SOWETO TREE

PLANTING PROJECT

TEXT AND PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY PROF. ELIZE VAN STADEN, PHD ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, UNISA.

The Greening Soweto legacy project was launched in 2006 by the then mayor, Amos

Masondo, with the goal of planting 200 000 trees by 2010, ensuring that the benefits
of the 2010 FIFA World Cup extended beyond the event. The aim of the project was
to transform dusty streets and barren landfill sites in Soweto and to balance the
distribution of the urban forest throughout the city, thereby eliminating the “green
divide,” a legacy of inequality separating the wealthy north from the poorer south-

western regions in the city.

Searsia lancea trees planted in Soweto

research study was conducted The findings of the study showed that the city, most of them in Soweto, western and
between 2017 and 2020 to assess city recorded the planting of 206 276 trees southern Johannesburg. Therefore, it can
A the trees planted during the by the end of 2010, indicating a successful be confirmed that the aim to eliminate the
project and to identify aspects that could completion of the project. However, using “green divide” was successful in as much as
improve the survival rate of similar tree Google Street View, only 59% (122 039 most of the trees were planted in previously
planting projects. The study involved field trees) of these trees were planted in disadvantaged townships and areas. Three
surveys across the seven regions of the locations with a verifiable address. quarters of the trees were planted as street
city, confirming the species, recording trees, mostly on the main arterials, as the
the number of living, absent or damaged Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) project aimed to correct the lack of street
trees and determining maintenance indicated that numerous trees were given tree planting in previously disadvantaged
requirements. A tree register, provided to residents, schools and businesses to plant areas. Trees were also planted in parks and
by the city, was used as the basis for the in their own gardens, but no records were other green open spaces across the city.
study. Unfortunately, this tree register kept of the names or addresses of these
was incomplete as it only contained entities. This could possibly account for the The field survey identified that 13
the number of trees planted, date and a trees on the register without a verifiable indigenous species were planted but
location. Tree species names were only address. The tree register also showed limited species diversity was observed.
provided for the trees planted in 2010. that the trees were planted across the The importance of species diversity is well

22 Landscape SA • Issue 123 2023