AMERICAN shutters® is excited to be one of the first to celebrate Arbor Month by planting twenty trees with Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) today at Thabisile Primary School, Diepkloof.

This school was originally known as Vulamazibuko, a Zulu word meaning “extending the boundaries of education”, and plans to use the twenty trees donated by American Shutters to do just that. “These trees will focus our learners’ attention on the essential role that trees play in sustainable development and improving the livelihoods of the poorest,” says Junior Ramaphakel of Thabisile.

When it comes to preserving our future and ensuring vulnerable resources are protected and sustained, AMERICAN Shutters is taking an active role in the fight against climate change. “In order to counteract climate change we need to actively renew our sustainable resources” says Karina Palmer, Marketing Director of AMERICAN Shutters.

Arbor Month in September is tree planting time in South Africa and all over the country schools, communities, companies, politicians and individuals are joining the Trees for Africa Arbor Challenge to put down roots. AMERICAN Shutters has joined the communiTREE and mapped their trees at Thabisile on the regisTREE, and challenges others to get onto www.trees.co.za to do the same.

The team from AMERICAN Shutters planted with learners, teachers and parents, enjoyed getting their hands dirty and looking forward to the fruit these trees will bear in the next few years.

“These plantings offer endless opportunities for environmental and climate change education,” says Jeunesse Park, African Branch Manager for Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project and Founder of Food & Trees for Africa. “Through trees, everything from soil, plants, water and weather cycles, air, food security and biodiversity can be taught.”

These AMERICAN Shutters trees are some of the 10 000 trees that FTFA will be planting this Arbor Month with help from many partners.

For more information or to register trees plantings and pledges on the Trees for Africa Arbor Challenge, go to www.trees.co.za and contact (011) 6569802 or info@trees.co.za.