The Sundays River Valley Municipality in the Eastern Cape clinched second place in the 2022 national arbor city awards in the local municipality category.
The National Arbor campaign is a platform to highlight the 10 million trees programme announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The municipality’s “clean and green” campaign planted trees in most schools in conjunction with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment.
Clean and green! Mission accomplished for the Sundays’ River Valley municipality. Now the goal is to attract as many tourists as possible and to revive this industry locally after it was battered by the pandemic.
“This is a big investment on tourism and the goal is to see people making their way this side. Kirkwood generally attracted tourists but with because of COVID, it all stopped. Now with the beautiful nature we are offering, we are getting back there. And this will make good returns in terms of our economy,” Sundays River Valley Mayor Simphiwe Rune.
Bhongolethu Primary School benefited from this initiative. The trees are still small but making a difference already. Learners are taught about the importance of nature.
“Our learners now know how to take care of trees. They know that the furniture they sit on is made of trees. They know that for their homes not to blow away with the wind they must have trees. It has really taught them a lot,” says Deputy Principal Ntombekhaya Msengi.
The locals are also pleased, participating in taking care of their environment.
“It’s great because when people think Eastern Cape, they will now think of the beautiful Kirkwood. We have much beauty to offer and this is a place worth visiting,” says a resident.
“Our kids now, know more about nature. They know they can get shield from the hot. They have a safe place to play. It’s wonderful,” another resident says.
The award ceremony will be held in Mpumalanga next month. The municipality plans to do further outreach programmes, encouraging residents to take care of nature.
