Johannesburg – In 2012, the UN General Assembly officially recognised the vital importance of forests and trees for biodiversity, mitigating climate change and reducing pollution.
Established in 2013, the International Day of Forests was this year held on March 21. it aims to raise public awareness of the importance of all types of forests and of trees outside forests.
The theme for this year, Forests and Climate Change, highlights forest-based solutions to climate change and sustainable development. Research into climate change has found that:
* The clearance, overuse and degradation of forests contribute about a sixth of global carbon emissions.
* Forests react sensitively to a changing climate.
* Managed sustainably, forests produce wood fuels as a benign alternative to fossil fuels.
* Forests have the potential to absorb about a tenth of global carbon emissions projected for the first half of this century into their biomass, soils and products and store them, in principle in perpetuity.
Are forests vital to biodiversity and climate change?
“Forests are the world’s air-conditioning system, the lungs of the planet, and we are on the verge of switching it off,” says Britain’s Prince Charles.
Forests play a key role in our battle to adapt to and mitigate climate change. They contribute to the balance of oxygen, carbon dioxide and humidity in the air.
What can you do to help mitigate climate change? Now is the time to plant a tree.
How do you create a forest in your garden? Consider these indigenous trees which are ideally suited to small gardens:
* Tree wisteria (Bolusanthus speciosus). This deciduous tree grows to a height and spread of 7m x 4m. It has a slender, erect shape and attractive bark and bears masses of lilac-blue flowers in spring.
* Pompon tree (Dais cotinifolia). A fast-growing evergreen tree with a height and spread of 5m x 3m. It bears pretty pink flowers in summer and yellow foliage in autumn
* Karee ( Searsia lancea, previously known as Rhus lancea). It is a hardy evergreen tree with an interesting trunk and branch growth patterns. It has a height and spread of 7m x 5m with long, narrow, weeping leaves.
* White karee ( Searsia pendulina, previously Rhus pendulina). A waterwise evergreen tree with pretty, willow-like foliage. Its height and spread are 7m x 5m.It bears light-green leaves and sprays of tiny greenish-yellow flowers.
* Tierhout (Loxostylis alata). This evergreen tree thrives in warmer areas. It has a compact shape and grows to 5m x 4m. New spring foliage is red and is followed by attractive flowers and fruit during the summer.
* Lavender tree (Heteropyxis natalensis). A deciduous tree that grows to a height of up to 6m and width of 5m. Its foliage emits a sweet lavender scent when crushed. It has attractive bark that starts off smooth and white and, with age, becomes grey and flaky, revealing patches of orange-brown bark beneath. New spring growth is tinged red, and becomes glossy green in summer before turning autumn shades.
* Starry or white gardenia (Gardenia thunbergia). This evergreen tree grows to a height of 2.5m and width of 1.5m. It bears highly fragrant white flowers in midsummer. The foliage is shiny and crinkled.
* Forest bushwillow (Combretum kraussii). A deciduous tree with a height and spread of 7m x 4m. It bears beautiful autumn foliage and its dense canopy makes it a great shade tree.
* Wild pear (Dombeya rotundifolia). A deciduous tree that grows up to 6m in height. It bears clusters of white flowers in spring.
Tips for trees
* Plant trees on the northern side of your home to shade it from the hot summer sunshine. Deciduous trees are best because they lose their leaves in winter, allowing your home to receive sun for warmth.
* Evergreen trees are ideal for providing privacy from neighbours and a sound barrier on the street side of your home.
* When purchasing a tree, find out its eventual height and spread, to ensure it will not grow too big for your garden. Don’t plant trees right next to the walls of your house or boundary walls as their roots can cause structural problems.
* Avoid planting trees near swimming pools or ponds – their falling leaves will make extra work.
Kay Montgomery, Saturday Star