One million trees planted in one day: South Africa’s bet to combat desertification (and honor Wangari Maathai)

South Africa will plant one million trees on 24 September. A beautiful announcement that comes from the deputy duty of the environment Bernice Swartswhich officially launched the campaign “One Million Trees“.

The goal is to plant one million trees in one daythe next September 24thin conjunction with the celebration ofHeritage Day (in South Africa and is national party, The day of inheritance, in honor of ethnic and cultural diversity) and the month of the tree.

According to the deputy administration, this ambitious initiative is part of the National Greening Programpromoted by the South African government to face the consequences of the climatic crisis.

Our country has experienced the devastating effects of climate change on its skin: fires, heat waves, floods, droughts – said Swarts, underlining the urgency of concrete and inclusive actions for the ecological transition.

Trees against poverty and inequalities

The plan has not only an environmental value. In fact, it is part of the strategic priorities of the MTDP National Plan (Medium Term Development Plan), both for the creation of New employment opportunities in the territories, both for the integration of Fruit trees in food safety programs and rural development.

The project provides for the planting of 10 million trees by 2026of which 60% will consist of fruit trees and the remainder from native species.

Step number 1: one million trees in one day

Swarts said he wants to concentrate the first great goal symbolic of the campaign right on September 24, 2025, challenging the country to join for planting 1 million trees in 24 hours. He explained that he had received a surprisingly positive response from institutions, companies, schools, churches and non -governmental organizations.

The organizational machine has already started: a National Vivai databasedivided by region, and one Tree Bank where the donated plants will be stored before distribution. The trees will be planted in safe spaces As schools, kindergartens, hospitals, churches, police stations, children’s centers and popular housing units.

The idea is to extend the commitment to the private sector, asking the citizens of “plant and donate”A tree, adhering to the countryside through a Online platform with QR Codecurrently in the test phase.

A greenest South Africa

Swarts also resumed the words of the president Cyril Ramaphosawhich during a visit to Johannesburg praised the example of Addis Abeba, the Ethiopian city where they were planted 10 billion trees. Ramaphosa urged the South Africans a “Plant billions of trees” To counteract the environmental impoverishment of cities, in particular in the towels as soweto, often without vegetation and green areas.

The goal is also that of make settlements more liveable, healthy and resistantcontrasting the erosion of the soil, desertification and the increase in urban temperatures.

Trees like hope, the sign of Wangari Maathai, the lady of the trees

And how can we not conclude the intervention without evoking the figure of Wangari MaathaiKenyan Nobel Prize winner and a pioneer of the reforestation movement in Africa?

When we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and hope. Finally, he launched an appeal to the sponsors, citizens, students and communities of faith: “My tree, my oxygen. Plant your today”.

Just at the trees the life of Wangari Maathai was strongly connected. Died in 2011, he was known as the “lady of the trees”, a commitment that in 2004 had also earned her nobel Peace (first African, first Kenyan and first environmentalist to receive the coveted recognition).

Founder of the Green Belt Movement, a non -profit movement of women from rural areas, Maathai taught to plant trees of indigenous origin, to combat deforestation, desertification and poverty of the population, due to the increase in extensive crops intended for trade.

An immense teaching, his, who today – here in South Africa – begins to see his fruits.