Celebrating those who protect Namibia’s indigenous flora

IN NAMIBIA, ARBOUR Day is celebrated annually on the second Friday of October – falling on 9 October this year – as the month is the most favourable time of the year to plant trees.

The Botanical Society of Namibia (Botsoc) often receives frantic calls from the public trying to prevent the senseless destruction of trees in their neighbourhood.

Usually, as soon as one hears the first screech of a chainsaw attacking a tree, so much damage has already been done that it is hardly possible to save that tree. Based on that experience, in 2007 Botsoc decided upon a counter-measure: to publicly recognise individuals, companies and organisations that have made an effort to save and protect Namibia’s indigenous trees, to plant indigenous trees and to create awareness about Namibia’s indigenous flora.