A
Brief History of Arbor Day
Arbor Day originated in 1872 in the United States
territory of Nebraska. Mr. J. Sterling Morton, a newcomer to the treeless
plains of Nebraska, was a keen proponent of the beauty and benefit
of trees. He persuaded the local agricultural board to set aside a
day for planting trees and through his position as editor of Nebraska's
first newspaper, encouraged participation in the event by publishing
articles on the value of trees for soil protection, fruit, shade and
building. Mr. Morton's home, known as Arbor Lodge, was a testament
to his love for trees and so inspired the name of the holiday; Arbor
Day. Within two decades Arbor Day was celebrated in every US State
and territory, and eventually spread around the world. The tradition
continues annually in the second week of August, in global acknowledgment
of Mr. Morton's slogan, "other holidays repose upon the past; Arbor
Day proposes for the future."
In South Africa, Arbor Day was first celebrated
in 1983. The event captured the imagination of people who recognized
the need for raising awareness of the value of trees in our society.
As sources of building material, food, medicine, and simple scenic
beauty, trees play a vital role in the health and well-being of
our communities. Collective enthusiasm for the importance of this
issue in South Africa inspired the national government, in 1999,
to extend the celebration of Arbor Day to National Arbor Week. From
1 to 7 September every year, schools, businesses and organizations
are encouraged to participate in community "greening" events to
improve the health and beauty of the local environment and propose
a green future for South Africa.
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Trees of the Year
2000- 2015
To help increase public awareness of
just a few of the 2,000 indigenous tree species in South Africa,
every Arbor Week celebration will highlight two specific trees;
one common and one rare species.
In the list below the more common tree is named first.
| Year |
Common Tree |
Rare ( Uncommon) Trees |
| 2000 |
Peltophorum
africanum African wattle, Huilboom |
Salix
mucronata Safsaf willow, Kaapse wilger |
| 2001 |
Loxostylis
alata Tarwood, Teerhout |
Ptaeroxylon
obliquum Sneezewood, Nieshout |
| 2002 |
Pittosporum
viridiflorum Cheesewood,
Kasuur |
Alberta
magna Natal flame bush,
Breekhout |
| 2003 |
Rhus
chirendensis
Red currant,
Bostaaibos |
Pterocarpus
angolensis
Wild teak,
Kiaat |
| 2004 |
Kirkia acuminata
and K. wilmsii
White seringa, Mountain seringa, Witsering, Bergsering
|
Combretum
bracteosum Hiccup nut,
Hikklimop |
| 2005 |
Schefflera umbellifera False cabbage
tree, Basterkiepersol |
Adansonia
digitata Baobab, Kremetart |
| 2006 |
Burchellia bubalina Wild pomegranate,
Wildegranaat |
Raphia australis Kosi palm, Kosipalm |
| 2007 |
Rhus pyroides Common wild currant,
Gewone Taaibos |
Pavetta schumanniana Poison Bride's
Bush
Gifbruidbos |
| 2008 |
Harpephyllum caffrum Wild plum, Wildepruim |
Diospyros whyteana Bladder -nut, Swartbas
Markhamia zanzibarica Bell bean
tree,
Klokkies-boontjieboom |
| 2009 |
Acacia galpinii Money thorn, Apiesdoring |
Halleria lucida Tree fuchsia, Notsung
Pterocarpus
rotundifolius Round-leaved Teak, Dopperkiaat |
| 2010 |
Acacia xanthophloea Fever tree, Koorsboom
|
Rothmania capensis Cape gardenia, Kaapse Katjiepiering
Rothmannia globosa Bell gardenia, Klokkies-Katjiepiering
Cladostemon kirkii Tonga-kerrie,
Tongakierie |
| 2011 |
Pappea capensis Jacket-plum, Doppruim |
Genus Pavetta Bride's Bushes, Bruidsbome
Nuxia congesta Common Wild Elder,
Gewone wildevlier |
| 2012 |
Syzygium cordatum Water berry, Waterbessie |
Protorhus longifolia Red Beech, Rooiboekenhout
Bruguiera gymnorrhiza Black Mangrove,
Swart-wortelboom |
| 2013 |
Virgilia oroboides Blossom tree, Keurboom |
Grewia occidentalis Cross-berry, Kruisbessie
Barringtonia racemosa Powder-puff Tree, Poeierkwas-boom |
| 2014 |
Genus Heteropyxis Lavender trees, Laventelbome |
Vepris lanceolata White ironwood, Witysterhout |
| 2015 |
Combretum krausii Forest bushwilow, Bosvaderlandswilg |
Heteromorpha arborescens Parsley tree, Wildepieterseliebos |
| 2016 |
Ficus thonningii Common wild fig, Gewone wildevy |
Maerua cafra Common bush-cherry, Gewone witbos
Maerua angolensis Bead-bean tree, Knoppiesboontjieboom |
| 2017 |
Ziziphus mucronata Hairy buffalo-thorn, Harige blinkblaar wag-n-bietjie |
Euclea pseudebenus Ebony tree, Ebbeboom |
| 2018 |
Genus Podocarpus Yellowwoods, Geelhoutbome
P. elongatus, P. falcatus, P. henkelii, P. latifolius |
Boscia albitrunca Shepherd's tree, Witgat |
| 2019 |
Sclerocarya birrea Marula Maroela |
Philenoptera violacea Apple-leaf, Appelblaar |
| 2020 |
Ekebergia capensis Cape ash, Essenhout |
Adansonia digitata Baobab,Kremetart |
(Information provided by the Department of Water
Affairs and Forestry. January 2008)
Trees of year 1975-1998
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