SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa has achieved a significant environmental milestone, planting over seven million trees under the Presidential One Billion Trees Programme since the beginning of the 2026/27 financial year. This achievement underscores a unified national commitment to climate action, environmental conservation, and the sustainable greening of communities across the country.
Since 1 April 2026, a total of 7,134,711 trees have been planted nationwide. Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Bernice Swarts, confirmed that this progress reflects a growing dedication by South Africans to preserve natural heritage and build climate resilience for future generations. The initiative brings the country closer to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s overarching vision of planting one billion trees across South Africa.
Trees serve a critical function in absorbing carbon emissions, improving air quality, mitigating soil erosion, providing shade, and creating healthier living environments. As the effects of climate change become increasingly visible globally, community-led tree planting remains one of the most practical and effective strategies for local climate action.
A major highlight of the current financial year was the nationwide Heritage Day tree-planting campaign held on 24 September 2026. President Ramaphosa officially activated the campaign by planting a tree at Bongolethu Stadium in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape. Following this launch, coordinated planting activities were executed across all nine provinces, driven by Premiers, Members of the Executive Council for environmental affairs, municipalities, traditional leaders, businesses, community organizations, and citizens.
Deputy Minister Swarts led the national Heritage Day activities at Freedom Park in Salvokop, Pretoria. The event was attended by ambassadors, high commissioners, and members of the diplomatic corps, emphasizing the vital role of international cooperation in addressing global environmental challenges and building a sustainable future.
The provincial breakdown of trees planted since 1 April 2026 demonstrates broad, nationwide support for the programme:
– Western Cape: 2,053,786
– KwaZulu-Natal: 1,052,494
– Gauteng: 1,012,051
– Mpumalanga: 519,512
– Limpopo: 518,023
– Northern Cape: 515,264
– North West: 400,619
– Eastern Cape: 736,692
– Free State: 326,294
This extensive distribution confirms that citizens in every region are actively responding to the call for environmental restoration. Furthermore, the Presidential One Billion Trees Programme directly advances South Africa’s commitments to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically targeting good health and well-being, sustainable cities and communities, climate action, and life on land. Through this initiative, the country is investing in healthier communities, stronger ecosystems, and a more sustainable future.
Despite this milestone, officials emphasize that the work remains ongoing. Deputy Minister Swarts encouraged all citizens to continue planting trees throughout the year and to register their contributions on the Department’s official One Billion Trees portal at https://10milliontrees.dffe.gov.za/10milliontrees/home. By uploading a photograph and GPS coordinates to the website, the public assists the department in tracking participation and monitoring the long-term growth and survival of the planted trees.
The success of this initiative is attributed to every individual, community, and organization that has planted, nurtured, or supported the nationwide greening effort, reinforcing a collective investment in a climate-resilient South Africa for generations to come.