RBIDZ Supports Green

2015-09-02

Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone staff members, Nonhlanhla Zulu (Executive Manager: Corporate Services) and Nkululeko Dlamini (Intern: Business development and Marketing) visited Iniwe Primary and High School to donate 40 indigenous trees that RBIDZ donated to their schools in support of Arbor Week.

RBIDZâ€™s participation was with the intent to:

Promote a better understanding of trees, particularly indigenous trees.
Highlight the important role trees play in sustainable development and the livelihoods of people and their environment
Encourage communities to participate in various greening activities within their own surroundings

National Arbor Week serves to promote awareness for the need to plant and maintain indigenous trees throughout South Africa, especially for the many disadvantaged communities who often live in barren areas.

Every Arbor Week celebration normally highlights two specific trees, one common and one rare species. In South Africa, Arbor Day was first celebrated in 1983. The event captured the imagination of people who recognized the need for raising awareness of the value of trees in our society. As sources of building material, food, medicine, and simple scenic beauty, trees play a vital role in the health and well-being of our communities. Collective enthusiasm for the importance of this issue in South Africa inspired the national government, in 1999, to extend the celebration of Arbor Day to National Arbor Week.

From 1 to 7 September every year, schools, businesses and organizations are encouraged to participate in community "greening" events to improve the health and beauty of the local environment and propose a green future for South Africa.

Well done RBIDZ for supporting and being part of such an important environment!