Spring is finally here, and it arrives with hope and new beginnings! The city trees are blooming;their leaves tinged with green. As we prepare to observe Arbor Month this September, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) is encouraging residents of Joburg to start planning their tree-planting activities.
City Parks and Zoo, the entity at the forefront of greening the city,is calling on schools, businesses, and community groups to participate in a collective green initiative to plant indigenous and fruit trees from 1 September 2025 to the end of September 2025, during Arbor Month.
Trees are incredible purifiers of the atmosphere, especially in a city plagued with traffic congestion, illegal burning of chemical and poisonous substances. Indigenous trees reduce greenhouse gases, support biodiversity, and make a city like Joburg a green haven for its residents.
Planting more trees is the responsibility of all. Arbor Month reminds us that the simple act of planting a tree can have long-term benefits for years to come.
City Parks and Zoo’s regional activities will kick off as per the table below:-
| REGION | DATE | VENUE | ACTIVITY |
| A | 11 September 2025 | Winnie Mandela Drive Fourways | Planting 3000 trees Syzigium PaniculatumCeratonia siliquaHarpephyllum caffraSearsia pendulinaCombretum erythrophyllum |
| B | 15 & 16 September 2025 17 September 2025 17 September 2025 12 September 2025 01 September 2025 01 September 2025 | Zoo Lake 60 Jan Smuts Avenue Parkview Sturdee Park 1 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank Events Park Cnr Keyes Ave and Walters St in Rosebank Delta Park 77 Craighall Rd, Victory Park, Randburg Blairgowrie Swimming Pool 8 Park Lane, Blairgowrie, Randburg Surrounding Schools | Planting 45 ornamental trees at Zoo Lake in partnership with Jan Cilliers in celebration of their Centenary Planting 10 trees (Combretum erythrophylum) Planting 25 trees (Combretum erythrophylum) Replacement of 50 trees – Mandela Centenary Planting 3 trees in addition to the 19 trees planted in August 2025 (Combretum erythrophylum) Planting 40 trees (Combretum erythrophylum) in surrounding schools |
| C | 10 September 2025 | Harry Gwala Primary School 334 Albert Luthuli Street, Tshepisong, Roodepoort | Planting 20 trees (Celtis Africana) Distribution & planting of 1935 fruit trees to households |
| D | 01 September 2025 | Ubuntu kraal 11346 Senokoanyana Street Dube Inkovu Street Meadowlands Zone 6 | Planting 1150 trees Olea europaea spp Heteropyxis natalensis Hypephyllum caffrum Sideroxylon inerme Distribution of 150 fruit trees (Peach and Lemon trees) |
| E | 11 September 2025 11 September 2025 | Mushroom Farm Park Sandown, Sandton, 2031 Innesfree Park Harris St &, Katherine St, Barlow Park, Sandton | U20 Conference Leaders and delegates to plant 20 trees to symbolize unity and willingness to fight the global pandemic of climate change and land degradation Planting 100 trees (Celtis Africana) Harperhyllum Acacia Sieberiana |
| F | 5 September 2025 12 September 2025 13 September 2025 | East Street The Hill Rosettenville Road La Rochelle Rosettenville Klipriviersburg Nature Reserve 129 Peggy Vera Road, Kibler Park | G20 Conference Planting 40 trees (Celtis Africana) in partnership with Tourism Department G20 Conference Planting 40 trees (Celtis Africana) in partnership with Tourism Department Arbor Day exhibition held in collaboration with various stakeholders, featuring a symbolic tree-planting ceremony. |
| G | 23 September 2025 Main Event | Boundary Park Jungle Park Eldorado | Planting 1000 trees (ornamental trees) Distribution of 600 fruit trees |
| Joburg Zoo | 5 September 2025 | Joburg Zoo Jan Smuts Avenue Parkview | Trees donated by GDARD and to be planted in the Joburg Zoo Planting 600 trees (ornamental trees) Distribution of 200 fruit trees |
“Although Joburg is deemed the biggest human-made forest in the world, with an estimate of over 3.2 million trees, JCPZ is dealing with the ongoing illegal felling of these precious treeswith an already aging tree canopy.We’re calling on everyone to be part of a tree revolution,” said Mr. Thanduxolo Mendrew, Managing Director of Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo.
Requests relating to emergency fallen trees/branches should be logged with the City of Johannesburg’s call centre on (011) 375 5555 / 0860 56 2874 or alternatively e-mail joburgconnect@joburg.org.za. Tree emergencies include obstruction of streets, trees that have fallen onto properties or vehicles, or trees that have fallen onto the sidewalk, preventing the owner from entering or exiting their property.
DID YOU KNOW?
Zoo is wholly owned by the City of Johannesburg and is responsible for managing, maintaining, and preserving parks, open spaces, cemeteries, nature reserves, street trees, and the Johannesburg Zoo.
Through their work, JCPZ strives to enhance the quality of life and promote a healthy, active lifestyle for the well-being of all residents.
SUPPLIED.
