meetÊtheÊlocalÊstars! - minimag

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Meet the local stars!

South Africa is a beautiful country – home totalented people but also to some tremendoustrees. In fact, more than 1 700 different typesof trees come from South Africa. Thesespecies are called indigenous trees. A quickglance might have you think all these treesare mostly the same: green leaves, branches,woody stems and underground roots ...But step a little closer and take a good look, because each species of tree is unique inmany ways – from the way that leaves arearranged on the stems to the edge andshape thereof and the colour and textureof the bark.

Spekboom (Porticularia afra)

This shrub-like tree comes from the Eastern Cape. Its small,circular, slightly succulent leaves make a juicy and rathersour treat for animals (or hungry hikers). Scientists have foundthat Spekboom is really good at taking harmful carbon in the

form of CO2 – which acts as ablanket trapping heat from thesun – from the air and storing itas harmless carbon in leaves,stems and roots. Spekboomcan do this at a very high rate,using modest amounts ofwater. This is really helpful toprevent the Earth from furtherwarming due to high CO2

levels while savingwater at the sametime!

Hairy buffalo thorn (Ziziphus mucronata)

This tree is found in many parts of South Africa. Animalsenjoy eating the glossy, dark green leaves with a hairy underside. The tree is widely used in traditional medicineand religious practices. The San people made poison

arrows by mixing itssap with a specific typeof poisonous beetle larvae. The tree is calledthe Blinkblaar-wag-'n-bietjie in Afrikaans andis the common

Tree of the Year2017.

Trees use water by taking it up fromtheir roots under the ground and sothe most efficient way to water atree is to water the roots directly. Inorder to do this insert a pipe, like apiece of old hose-pipe or PVC pipe,into the hole when planting a tree

Sources:Field guide to trees of Southern Africa by van Wyk and van Wykdaff.gov.za

Ebony tree (Euclea pseudebenus)

This tough, small tree is found in semi-deserts anddeserts and needs very little water to grow. The centre

of its wood ispitch black –from therethe name.Farmers canfeed the ratherunappetisingfruits to chickens toharden theeggshells.The Ebony treeis the rareTree of theYear 2017.

Our tremendous trees!Real Yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius)

This beautiful, tall, evergreen tree is found in South Africancoastal and mountain forests and is also the National tree.

The “Tsitsikamma Big Tree” isSouth Africa's most visited tree.This giant Outeniqua yellowwoodtree is more than 36 metres talland the trunk has a circumferenceof 9 meters – that means at least

six people will have to holdhands to go around it!Every year more than8 000 people visitthis giant andenjoy the beautiful Tsitsikamma forest.

Bluegum (Eucalyptus species)and Pine trees (Pinus species)are not indigenous to South Africa butthese two guests play a very important rolein the forestry industry to provide wood fortimber and paper production. They growfast and tall and have been carefully selected for their excellent wood formingabilities. A multitude of products aremade from their wood: timber used in construction, furniture, paper, card-board, packaging and even additivesin textiles and pharmaceuticals!

Arbour Week 2017 –     

       Forest and Water

Water saving tip when planting trees:

There are many unseen differences too, like the amountof nutrients and chemical composition of the different tree

parts and a huge variety of delicious fruits or berries for people and animals to feast on. The bark and leaves ofsome species can be used to make medicine. Branchesand stems provide food and shelter for insects, birds andother creatures and wood has multiple uses. Each treehas unique and useful characteristics and plays a very important role in the environment. One of the challenges in South Africa is water scarcity

with 2016-2017 seeing some of the worst droughts indecades in the country. Amazingly many of our indigenous trees step right up to the challenge atbeing water-wise. This Arbour Week we want to celebrate some of the wonderful trees found inour veld, forests and neighbourhoods.

The climate change warriorLovely and useful

Hiding a dark secret inside Proud ly South African!

with the one end of the pipe stickingout above the ground and the othernear the roots. Watering into the topend of the pipe will save a lot ofwater. Remember to choose an indigenous tree that generallyneeds less water.

A special guest performance!

Forestry is an important part ofthe economy with more than140 000 people employed in thissector. South Africa's naturalforests would never be able tosustain the demand for forestryproducts, plus indigenous forestsshould be protected as naturalhabitats for indigenous animalsand not cut down for wood production and that is why Eucalyptus and Pine trees arewelcome guest stars.

In the 1800's the state of Nebraska in theUSA was bare and treeless and so in 1872some forward thinking champions initiateda day to encourage people to plant trees. South Africans saw the same need to greenthe country and started an Arbour Day in 1983which was extended by the government in1999 to a whole week from 1-7 September.Every year two tree species are named thecommon and rare Tree of the Year to help create an awareness of the wealth and wonder of South Africa's indigenous trees. The theme for Arbour Week 2017 is Forest

and Water. People are encouraged to protectindigenous forests, prevent veld and forest fires,plant trees in their communities at any newbuildings like complexes or clinics, especiallyindigenous trees that save water and to usewater saving techniques when planting trees.