In a partnership with Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) this initiative will not only green the township, provide much needed shade and improve its aesthetics, but also temporarily employs ten community educators to monitor and evaluate the survival of the trees over the next year.
"These GPT trees promise improved nutrition, shade and a green legacy for future generations," said FTFA ecopreneur Lucky Xaba. "They are also an important intervention against climate change."
"It is a privilege to sponsor the trees for the local community and hope it makes a difference in the lives of the people of Botshabelo," says Lise Reed, HR manager at GPT.
GPT staff themselves helped to distribute and plant the trees in residents' gardens with assistance from FTFA's Trees for Homes programme, which delivers indigenous and fruit trees to residents of disadvantaged settlements, making houses homes.
Trees for Homes is registered for carbon offset under the international Verified Carbon Standard and it is expected that the GPT trees will sequester a conservative 205 tons of carbon dioxide, whilst creating 14 hectares of urban forest.
