25 Mar 2026

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism, through the Department of Forestry and Range Resources will on Thursday commemorate International Day of Forests at Ntlhantlhe in Moshupa district.

The event, expected to be officially opened by the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi, will be marked by a community service day, featuring tree planting at Ntlhantlhe Primary School as the main activity, followed by educational and awareness sessions on the importance of forests.

Speaking in an interview with BOPA, Moshupa District Commissioner, Ms Kolobetso Sejakgomo said Ntlhantlhe was well-matched to host the forest day commemoration as it was naturally a rocky environment and had less tree population.

Furthermore, she said besides tree planting at the village primary school, the Department of Forestry and Range Resources officials would hand over about 50 trees. The District Commissioner said she was grateful for the educational awareness which would be given to the young generation at the school saying that it would be a good move to equip them for the future.

She further urged the community of Ntlhantlhe to embrace the opportunity and equip themselves with tree planting skills to enhance their lives. She said planting trees could be beneficial in homes and communities as they served as herbal remedies for health, ornamentals for decorating homes and public institutions, shades and provision of fruits which were also a necessity for good health, adding that trees could be economical in sustaining livelihoods.

Ms Sejakgomo said Sesung, amongst villages in the Moshupa district, had some economical veld products such as Motlopi coffee, emphasising that it was vital for communities to learn about forests in relation to bio-diversity, eco-systems as they regulated aspects of human lives, sustaining livelihoods among others.

This year’s theme: Forests and Economies, underscores the essential role played by forests in driving economic prosperity. Forests have long played a role that extends beyond providing direct employment in the forestry sector, contributing to trade in forest products for food and materials, while supporting agricultural systems. BOPA