KEEPING THE GREEN IN GREENSIDE – protecting our trees

ISSUES WITH PAVEMENT/ STREET TREES

All trees on the pavements are the property of the City of Johannesburg and are the responsibility of JOBURG CITY PARKS AND ZOO (JCPZ).

Residents are not permitted to chop down or trim any trees on the pavements without the consent of JCPZ.

For any overgrown/ fallen trees, park grass cutting. 0117126600 or 0860JOBURG(562874) or email: jcp@jhbcityparks.com

All service requests relating to emergency fallen trees/branches must be directed to the City of Johannesburg call center on (011) 375 5555 / 0860 56 2874 or alternatively e-mail JoburgConnect@joburg.org.za

Tree emergencies include: Obstruction of streets, trees that have fallen onto properties or vehicles, trees that have fallen onto the sidewalk but block the owner’s driveway, prevent the owner exiting from the property.

From the City Parks website

The city that’s a rain forest

With more than 10-million trees, the City of Johannesburg looks like a rain forest on satellite pictures. There are more than 4-million in private gardens through the city’s suburbs and about 2,5-million trees in parks, cemeteries, nature reserves, conservation areas, roadsides and on the city’s pavements. These were estimated to be worth around R13-billion in 2004.

Some of Johannesburg’s trees date back to the early 1900s, when the then Parks and Estates Department started planting trees on the pavements in the old Johannesburg Region. Initially, street trees were only planted in “white” areas, with trees only being planted on Soweto´s sidewalks from the 1950s. But this has changed and tree-planting in formerly neglected areas is a priority. In 2006/7, City Parks planted 21 653 trees, compared to 3 578 the year before.

City Parks grow its own trees and supply surplus stock to communities for greening projects and planting in their gardens. The nursery produces up to 100 000 tree seedlings a year, which, after five years, will be large enough to plant on pavements and in parks.

Why we need trees

Trees don’t just make the city look pretty, they have a real environmental function. They control the greenhouse effect: when heat rises from the tar, trees act as a natural coolant.

Carbon dioxide emitted from cars is taken in by trees and converted into oxygen.

An acre of trees, on average, can store 2.6 tons of carbon (pollution) annually and generate enough oxygen daily for 18 people.

A mature leafy tree produces as much oxygen in a season as 10 people inhale in a year. In city areas without tree cover, streets and parking lots can raise air temperatures to 35 degrees Celsius. Such “heat islands” can cause cities to be five to nine degrees warmer than surrounding areas. Trees also reduce noise levels.

Tree Pruning

The tree pruning process is embarked on when:

The tree causes an obstruction to pedestrians, traffic, streetlights, roads, traffic signs, overhead power lines and satellite receptions

The tree branches are hanging over the wall of a property.

The roots cause a safety hazard to pedestrian and residents

The roots cause damage to buildings and road

Residents are prohibited from pruning or the illegal removal of a tree planted on municipal land without prior authority from JCPZ. Property owners are responsible for pruning trees on their private properties. Protected tree species in terms of the Forest Act 1984, may not be pruned or removed without permission from the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

Removal of Council Owned Trees

JCPZ does not permit the cutting down of trees. The only circumstances under which JCPZ will cut down a tree is when the tree is severely dying back, diseased beyond recovery or dead. Trees can only be removed should they pose a danger to the public or private property.

Benefits of Planting Indigenous Trees

JCPZ has planted a wide selection of indigenous trees in parks, street verges and residential areas throughout the CoJ. The benefits of planting indigenous trees are the following:

Saves water

Attracts wildlife

Non-invasive

Requires less maintenance

Gives an aesthetic appeal

Provides readily available medicine

Indigenous trees contribute favourably to the environment and also keep an appreciation for our natural heritage alive for generations to come.

JCPZ is committed to upholding and maintaining Johannesburg’s ‘green crown’ by ensuring the city remains one of the greenest cities in the world. While indigenous trees will be the most common group of trees used, every attempt will be made to use exotic, fruit and nut trees to reflect and support the growing diverse nature of the City’s community.

Before planting an exotic tree, consider the benefits that indigenous trees can provide