The City of Johannesburg’s green revolution is sweeping through the city at a rapid rate – the latest hot-spot being Pennyville, a mixed-use housing development near Soweto.

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo have donated more than 300 trees to the development. Also, the launch of the Pennyville green space project comes in the wake of a recent announcement by Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo that, according to a new draft bylaw, building plans will no longer be approved if no provision is made for the planting of trees within the development or project.

“We are happy to join the community of Pennyville to celebrate this tree-planting event,” said Johannesburg Social Housing Company CEO Rory Gallocher at the announcement of the draft bylaw. He further explained that the the tree-planting programme was part of a mayoral legacy initiative started by former Johannesburg Executive Mayor Amos Masondo in 2006.

He also stated that as a responsible city, Johannesburg had a duty to mitigate challenges such as climate change.

“We know that greening and environmental interventions constitute an important act as mitigating factors. Greening our townships is a priority. Townships have long been characterised by air pollution and dust. It is our commitment that new townships and previously disadvantaged areas will no longer be barren. Trees are important to the environment. They help to keep the air supply clean, reduce noise pollution, improve water quality, help prevent soil erosion, provide food and building materials, create shade and help beautify landscapes.”

He concluded proceedings by stating that communities should take care of the environment by planting trees and greening their neighbourhoods.