Deputy Minister Bernice Swarts: Presidential One Billion Trees Programme

At Freedom Park, in Tshwane, Gauteng Province

Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, His Excellency Mr Silah Omar Abdu,

High Commissioner of India, Pretoria, His Excellency. Mr. Prabhat Kumar represented by his Deputy

CEO of Freedom Park Dr Hilton Fischer,

CEO of SANBI Mr Shonisani Munzhedzi,

Omama bethu, I personally refer to as “Environmental Stewards”

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I want to thank the Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Park for hosting this short session, just 24 days within his new portfolio. We appreciate your support for this important initiative.

During the celebration of Arbor Month Campaign on 8 September 2024, working together with other stakeholders we celebrated the beginning of the “Forest of Freedom" project here at Freedom Park. The "Forest of Freedom" project is a monumental initiative designed to rehabilitate a disturbed section of Freedom Park and transforming it into a lasting symbol of the nation’s heritage, resilience, and progress. As part of this initiative, we unveiled a small garden where 30 trees were planted to pay tribute to all the known and unknown hero and heroines of the struggle for freedom. The 30 trees were carefully selected from a list of important indigenous trees of South Africa to start creating a Forest of Remembrance.

Last year we planted 60 trees with delegates of the Global Land Degradation Neutrality Workshop who came from Argentine, Benin, Central African Republic, Georgia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Namibia, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, UNDP, UNEP, Conservation International, UNCCD Secretariat, FAO, IUCN. Their participation demonstrated that environmental restoration is not only a national responsibility, but also a global endeavour that requires cooperation and collective action.

Programme Director,

The Forest of Freedom project seeks to restore an area disrupted by recent pipeline construction, repurposing it into a vibrant and symbolic space that will stand as a testament to South Africa’s journey toward democracy and its commitment to environmental sustainability. The project will feature several key elements:

Paved Walkway: A thoughtfully designed pathway that allows visitors to explore and appreciate the Forest of Freedom, enhancing accessibility and the overall visitor experience.

Symbolic Tree: At the heart of the forest, a significant tree will be planted to symbolize our Freedom. This tree could be one historically used for refuge during the apartheid era, embodying the spirit of resilience and liberation.

Segmented Planting Areas: The forest will be divided into three distinct segments, a portion reserved for the Heads of State where all visiting heads of state can plant tree, symbolizing international solidarity and cooperation in curbing the climate change .The second part reserved for Embassies for them to contribute to the forest, reinforcing diplomatic relations and cultural exchange, and the last for Dignitaries where both local and international dignitaries will participate in tree planting, highlighting their support for the project and its values.

Programme Director,

On 11 May 2026, I officially launched the One Billion Trees Campaign under the theme: My Tree, My Oxygen. Plant Yours Today at the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) in Pretoria, Gauteng. This ambitious initiative forms part of the department’s broader National Greening Programme and is aimed at contributing meaningfully to climate resilience, sustainable human settlements, and environmental restoration. The ambition started last year with the planting of over 1.3 million trees in one day on 24 September 2025.

The initiative is aimed at addressing among other key issues, the growing challenge of climate change and the need for bold, collective action. The country has witnessed the devastation of climate-related disasters including floods, fires, droughts, and heatwaves. These events underscore our shared responsibility to act decisively and inclusively,”

The Ten Million Trees Campaign is a key milestone in achieving President Cyril Ramaphosa’s directive to plant billion trees. The initiative should be viewed as a clarion call to action for all South Africans. In this clarion call, we are calling on government departments, municipalities, civil society, the private sector, academic institutions, faith-based organisations, and the public at large to join forces and plant trees today as our country celebrates Heritage Day.

We have identified safe spaces across the country – these are areas with the necessary infrastructure to ensure planted trees survive and thrive. These areas include schools, churches, Early Childhood Development Centres, low-income housing, and other public institutions. Freedom Park is one of the sites that fit in this category. To ensure suitability and long-term impact of the Billion Trees Campaign, trees are being selected based on agro-ecological zones and climatic conditions, with input from researchers and specialists. A database of approved nurseries and sponsors is being maintained, and members of the public are encouraged to participate by donating trees through an online pledge system available on the Department’s website.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The event to activate the Billion Trees Campaign is currently taking place in the Western Cape province, at the Bongolethu sports ground, Oudtshoorn Local Municipality. The event is led by the President who will plant the symbolic tree that will initiate mass tree planting throughout the whole country. As part of the formal proceedings, two large trees will be planted by dignitaries to mark the occasion at the sports ground. Thereafter the campaign will be rolled out across all the provinces, with tree planting taking place in communities throughout the country.

Programme Director,

The reason we are planting trees with you today, is partly due to the fact that we have made a commitment to build the Forest of Remembrance. As we continue to build the Forest of Freedom, the DFFE and the Freedom Park will develop a nursery project to be located at the Freedom Park. The Nursery will produce medicinal plants for use by communities and serve as a demonstration plot for the traditional healers and other visitors of the Freedom Park. Part of the Nursery space will be used as a holding facility for the DFFE trees.

We have embarked on an important journey, and today marks the third year of our continued efforts build and expand this project. As you know, the whole country is planting trees today, as part of the planting we will plant 30 trees today here at the Freedom Park. These trees will not only contribute to environmental restoration. They will also become part of our history, our freedom and our commitment to future generations.

Programme Director,

In closing I would like to thank the hosts, Freedom Park, the elderly group, representatives of the embassies, DFFE and Freedom Park staff for the support and the significant contributions to the successful hosting of the One Million Trees Programme.

Thank You

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.