Arbor Day celebrations took place in Hopetown and Strydenburg under the theme “10 million tree planting campaign”, heeding the presidential call to combat climate change and green local communities.

Representatives of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), in partnership with the Thembelihle Local Municipality; the Hopetown Running Club; the Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform; as well as other local stakeholders from the two towns, gathered on Friday 25 September for the event.

In Hopetown, residents participated in a community fun run, while Strydenburg hosted an engaging Arbor Day Friendly Match. Both activities combined recreation with environmental action, ensuring the presidential mandate was meaningfully delivered.

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More than 100 trees, donated by the DFFE to Thembelihle, were planted across various sites. These trees will contribute to climate change mitigation, adaptation and the creation of greener, healthier spaces for local communities.

The municipality and its partners expressed gratitude to all participants, highlighting that Arbor Day was not only about planting trees, but also about fostering unity, environmental stewardship and sustainable living.