We're getting back to our roots - celebrating Arbour Week 2020
To encourage and support tree planting this Arbour Week, CapeNature is participating in a variety of tree planting events between 31 August and 4 September 2020. Arbour Day, which falls on 1 September, serves as a reminder to individuals and groups to plant trees and highlights how important they are to our survival.
CapeNature will support the planting of over 150 trees at 25 locations across the Western Cape during this week. Some of the beneficiaries include schools such as Leipoldville, Mzamomtsha and Parliament Primary. Anene Booysen Skills Centre and the Mamre Khoi group in Louwskloof are just two of the many community groups that will also benefit from the tree planting ceremonies.
Woodlands Primary School, located in Heideveld, opened its doors in July 1966 and in 2017 applied for a new school to be built. The new facility is now able to house 900 learners, but is in need of greening. To support their greening needs, CapeNature has donated eight fruit trees which will be planted on Arbour Day.
By planting trees and educating adults and children on the importance of trees, the hope is that we can minimise the negative impacts of deforestation and ensure a better understanding of this important resource. Trees are a very important part of our lives. They provide shade and shelter, timber for construction, oxygen, food, fuel for cooking and heating as well as having many other uses.
CapeNature’s CEO, Dr Razeena Omar warns: “Rampant consumerism worldwide has taken its toll on all natural resources and especially on trees as forests and woodlands are cleared for agriculture, human settlements, and other developments. Deforestation also contributes to climate change as trees capture greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, which slows global warming. When trees are felled, these gases are released into the atmosphere. It is everyone’s responsibility to plant a tree in order to offset adverse behaviour such as this.”
Following a ceremonial tree planting event held on 01 September, Woodlands Primary School Principle Anthony Meyer, added: “We the educators and learners of Woodlands Primary feel honoured to be part of the Arbor Day festivities in collaboration with CapeNature. It is a chance for our learners to learn the importance of trees in our daily lives and will form part of their Natural Science curriculum”.
To further support teachers and to assist schools with arranging meaningful tree planting events during arbour week, an easy to use presentation about trees and arbour day, together with an interview with a tree fun activity is being distributed to schools across the Western Cape. To access the learning material or presentation, teachers and parents can email CapeNature at learning@capenature.co.za.
Related News
Wildfires intensify as climate shifts, CapeNature warns in emergency podcast series
CapeNature has released a special series of its acclaimed Green Noise podcast, offering an urgent and deeply human perspective on South Africa’s recent wildfire season. The series has a particular focus on the devastating fires in the Cederberg Wilderness and changing weather patterns. The fire in the Cederberg Wilderness, which ignited on 22 December 2025 along Uitkyk Pass
Western Cape to benefit from CapeNature’s 2026 Greening Initiative
CapeNature is launching a fun and engaging greening competition for schools and communities across the Western Cape. The competition will start on 13 April 2026 to coincide with International Plant Appreciation Day and will run until 15 May 2026. The initiative aims to inspire learners and community members to actively participate in protecting the environment.
A follow up: The potential impacts of Red Swamp crayfish in Western Cape waters
Since first being found in the canal systems of lower Olifants River in 2022 by CapeNature officials, invasive Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) are being found further afield in the Western Cape at an alarming rate. This freshwater species is globally recognised as a seriously damaging invasive species.
Over 43 000 Cape Gannets on Lambert’s Bay Bird Island this breeding season
Bird Island is alive with the sounds and spectacle of seabirds, with an estimated over 43 000 Cape Gannets currently making the island their home this breeding season. The thriving colony reinforces Bird Island, Lambert’s Bay, as one of South Africa’s most important gannet breeding sites and highlights the impact of ongoing marine conservation work.
Water Week: Protecting Our Most Precious Resource
Water is fundamental to life and essential to our daily wellbeing. While this may seem widely understood, it remains important to continually remind ourselves of the value of this finite resource. Although approximately 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, only about 2.5% of it is freshwater available to sustain ecosystems and human needs.
New SASS accreditor supports river biomonitoring in the Western Cape
CapeNature continues to strengthen its role in freshwater conservation through the expertise of its staff, with freshwater ecologist Jeanne Gouws receiving her South African Scoring System (SASS) accreditation as an accreditor. Having successfully passed every three-yearly assessment since 2007, she is now the official Western Cape SASS accreditor.