Deputy Minister Swarts launches One Employee One Tree Initiative as part of the Presidential Ten Million Trees Programme

27 March 2025

The Deputy Minister  Ms. Bernice Swarts, will officially launch the One Employee One Tree Initiative as part of the Presidential Ten Million Trees Programme.

Themed, My Tree, My Oxygen. Plant Yours Today, the launch will take place on Friday, 28 March 2025, at Environment House, Pretoria.

The One Employee One Tree Initiative is a key component of the Revamped National Greening Programme, which aims to plant ten million trees over five years, in line with the clarion call by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa.

This Initiative is designed to highlight the commitment of government employees to this cause. To mark the launch, Deputy Minister Swarts, together with employees of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), will plant trees at Environment House. The campaign will then be extended to all employees at the three spheres of government, nationwide.

The Deputy Minister seeks to use this Initiative as a springboard to Relaunch the Revamped National Greening Programme through the ambitious campaign to plant one million trees in one day during Arbor Month. The One Million Trees campaign aims to mobilize all sectors of society—including public entities at all levels, community-based organisations, NGOs, business, interfaith formations and local communities—to plant one million trees on 24 September 2025.

Deputy Minister Swarts will also use G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) to drive the planting of trees by international dignitaries who will be visiting the country for the meetings and the G20 Summit.

Media are invited to attend and cover the event as follows:

One Employee, One Tree Initiative 
Date: Friday, 26 March 2025 
Time: 12:00pm 
Venue: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Environment House, 473 Steve Biko and Soutpansberg Streets, Pretoria

To RSVP please contact:

Micheal Mokoena
Mobile: +27 82 906 5795 
E-mail: mmokoena@dffe.gov.za

or

Banele Mabena
Mobile: +27 66 420 0144
E-mail: smabena@dffe.gov.za

For media enquiries please contact:

Thobile Zulu-Molobi
Mobile: +27 82 513 7154 
E-mail: tmolobi@dffe.gov.za

or

Peter Mbelengwa: 
Mobile: +27 82 611 8197
E-mail: pmbelengwa@dffe.gov.za