TREES EARNED BY GOING PAPERLESS (Philip Hendricks)

Hessequa Municipality makes use of RatesClearance.com to process and issue rates clearance figures and certificates. RatesClearance.com introduced a Grow Your Tree initiative for municipalities.

Once signed up for the Grow Your Tree campaign the municipality receives a small electronic tree on the dashboard. When the tree is fully grown, A certificate is issued to the municipality showing the tree’s GPS coordinates.

Number of trees
Hessequa Municipality has earned up to 21 trees since April 2016. On 6 March 2017, 14 trees were planted on behalf of the municipality at Riverville Stadium. The municipality is responsible for the welfare and care of the trees.

Hessequa for the Environmentally Friendly Municipality.

“A project like this is an exciting and innovation approach to create jobs, green the environment and to improve our carbon footprint, “said Shagon Carelse, Head Environmental Services at Hessequa Municipality.

Hessequa Municipality has again shown its desire to become one of South Africa’s most environmentally friendly Municipalities.
Why plant a tree?

1. Carbon sequestration Trees act as natural filters of our air. Through the process of photosynthesis trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store the carbon in their trunk, branches, leaves, roots, soil and foliage, while releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere.

2. Trees Produce Oxygen A fundamental requirement for all animals is a supply of oxygen. Through the process of photosynthesis, trees and other vegetation supply us with this vital gas. One mature tree produces enough oxygen for 10 people to inhale in a year.

3. Water conservation The instance of flash flooding has been shown to be reduced by the presence of forests. Also in areas prone to drought the addition of trees to the landscape can aid in the conservation of precious water resources. Trees slow down water runoff after periods of heavy rainfalls and help to recharge underground water-holding aquifers.

4. Tree and temperature control Shade from trees reduces the need for air conditioning in hot locations. Likewise trees can also assist in cold climates; in winter, trees dissipate the strength of winter winds and can lower the winter heating bill. Studies have shown that parts of cities without cooling shade from trees can literally be “heat islands” with temperatures as much as 10 degrees Celsius higher than surrounding areas. 5. Trees clean the soil Trees can assist in the remediation of land that has been polluted by dangerous chemical pollutants. Trees can either store harmful pollutants or actually change the pollutant into less harmful forms. Trees can also be used to filter sewage and farm chemicals such as pesticides.

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