NORTHAM-According to Limpopo State of Environment Report, 2006, about 9.88% of land in the province is classified as degraded land. Of this percentage, forest and woodlands make up the greatest portion amounting to 5.27%. Socio economic activities such as overgrazing, fuel wood consumption, urbanization, mining, all contribute to environment degradation. The Limpopo Province is identified as the Province which is acutely affected by environment degradation especially in the rural areas where communities use woods for energy because they have no access to electricity. Environment degradation and poor land management practices are estimated to cost the country billions of rands per year as a consequence of deforestation, loss of soil and soil nutrients, pollution of rivers, poor water quality, flooding and premature siltation of dams, amongst other impacts. Although this loss can be expressed in monetary terms, it is the impact on rural livelihoods and especially on the rural poor where the impact is the greatest. An effort needs to be made to ameliorate the effects of environment degradation through re-vegetation project.
In response to perceived widespread environment degradation, the member of the Executive Council embarked on an initiative to green the Limpopo Province through Expanded Public Works Program. This being a national programme and strongly linked to the EPWP, the MEC took the initiative to expand the programme through provincial EPWP by mobilization of Private Sector organizations, Civil Society and organs of state to respond to the affects of environmental degradation, deforestation, desertification and global warming. The member of the Executive began mobilizing private Sector organizations, state Departments, Municipalities, Civil Society and Traditional Leaders on the initiative discussions which were held with Private Sector organization, Department of Agriculture, Municipal Mayors and Traditional authorities through formal and informal discussions were by majority of stakeholders consulted agreed to pledge their support for the programme, pledges would be made ranging from support materially and through active participation. The private sector was canvassed to pledge mainly materially in the form of donating trees, paying stipend along EPWP guidelines, Municipalities were canvassed to pledge project management logistics and mobilization after care of the programme. Traditional leaders would have to give consent on land, community facilitation and education. State Departments would give technical Assistance and do capacity building and communicate the projects.
The greening initiative that is sustainable, incorporating nurseries and carbon trading will significantly ameliorate the degradation status, alleviate poverty and increase job creation. This will increase allowable carbon sink and help to curb green house gases and reduce the rate of global warming. The greening will focus on individual homes, clinics, schools, municipal offices, multipurpose community centers libraries, community gardens and open spaces(parks and along the roads). Trees to be planted would be indigenous and fruits and to be planted through EPWP principles. It is estimated that over a million trees planted in the province each year until 2014. The project will be implemented in collaboration with District and local Municipality,LDA, LEDET, Health and Social Development, Education, Local Government, Office of the Premier, and the private sectors partners including mining houses, banks local businesses individual donors e.t.c. Partnerships will also be established with the traditional authorities to encourage them to plant indigenous medicinal plants. A steering committee was convened and draft provincial business plan which was endorsed at an internal meeting held on the 7th December 2009 and presented to various stakeholders and authorities.
The program was launched on the 18th by the Honorable Premier Mr Cassel Mathale in Sekhukhune Makhuduthamaga Municipality. The steering committees to drive the campaign have been constituted at district level and will be cascaded to municipalities for effective implementation. Thabazimbi Local Municipality launched their campaign on the 5th May 2010. Ten (10) trees were planted in Northam on streets and also at Comprehensive school. Cllr PA Mosito delivered the message for the day on that particular event.
