OUDTSHOORN NEWS -  The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) marked Arbor Month in Oudtshoorn on 30 September by handing over and planting 35 indigenous trees at the Africa Skills Cango Academy. 

Twenty karee trees and 15 spekboom plants were selected for their ability to withstand the hot and dry conditions of the Klein Karoo.

Its wood has traditionally been used for tools and fuel, while the tree’s presence around homesteads has often been associated with resilience, shelter and protection. 

Dr Nina Viljoen, head of environmental management at GRDM, said Arbor Month was an opportunity to highlight the importance of planting and protecting trees, particularly in areas facing extreme heat, drought and pressure on water resources. “A tree is an investment in the future; and in Oudtshoorn, in the heart of the Klein Karoo, that investment has particular importance,” Viljoen said. 

She said climate change was adding to the pressures communities face, as periods of high temperatures and drought become an increasing challenge. 

The karee tree (Searsia lancea), indigenous to southern Africa, is valued for both its ecological and cultural significance. 

Known for its resilience and ability to withstand drought, the karee thrives in semi-arid environments, where it helps stabilise soil and provides much-needed shade in harsh conditions.

 Its dense canopy offers shelter to birds and small animals, while its berries provide an important food source for wildlife. 

The spekboom is also locally indigenous and requires relatively little water once established. The plant is further recognised for its ability to absorb and store carbon. 

“This is why the choice of indigenous, water-wise vegetation is so important,” Viljoen said. “Environmental responsibility did not always require complicated solutions. Sometimes it begins with selecting the right tree, planting it in the right place, looking after it properly and allowing nature to do what it does best.”

Vanessa Engelbrecht, executive head of academy operations at Africa Skills Cango Academy, said: “There is something deeply fitting about planting trees at the beginning of our academy’s journey. Like the academy itself, trees need care, commitment and collaboration to grow and flourish. In time, these trees will provide shade and shelter for future generations, just as the opportunities created here have the potential to shape lives for years to come. Today, we are planting more than trees; we are joining hands and planting the seeds of a brighter future.” 

The municipality thanked the Africa Skills Cango Academy for participating in the Arbor Month initiative. “What we are really planting is something much greater: shade for the future, resilience for our environment, and a reminder that what we nurture today can benefit generations to come,” Viljoen said. 

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