Watch: Arbor Week clean-up gives Rondebosch East pupils an environmental lesson

The Rondebosch East Botanical Society (REBS) brought environmental awareness to local youth as part of its Arbor Week clean-up at Rondebosch East Common on Monday, September 7.

Learning about the environment

National Arbor Week is observed in South Africa during the first week of September. To mark the occasion, the newly formed REBS invited environmental experts and members of the Rondebosch East Primary School Career Club to the common to learn more about caring for the environment.

REBS was established to act as a custodian of the area, protect its green spaces and map listed species found in the community.

Its mission is to encourage community involvement, foster environmental responsibility, and educate young people about local biodiversity and the natural surroundings in which they live.

According to a statement shared by REBS, the Arbor Week event was a success.

“The learners participated in a clean-up, picked up litter, and gained valuable insights from our guest speakers, including PhD candidates,” the statement said.

Sharing environmental knowledge

Marine biologist Dr Koebraa Peters described the initiative as an important opportunity to create greater environmental awareness in the community.

“It was evident that many of the things discussed were not known in the community and it was of course creating awareness of the green spaces in the community, because we tend to take it for granted,” she said.

Although marine biology focuses on the relationship between living organisms and the ocean, Dr Peters also highlighted the ocean’s importance to life on land.

“Most people may not be aware that the ocean provides more than 50% of the oxygen we breathe in, and the ocean is like the engine that drives the climate,” she said.

Environmentalist in Climate Finance Lumbelani Netshithuthuni, who is currently completing his doctorate at the University of Cape Town, said environmental awareness was essential in encouraging people to make better choices.

“We live in a society where people do not pay much attention to the environment, so if people were better informed, they would make better choices in terms of taking care of the environment,” he said.

Inspiring future careers

Rondebosch East Primary School teacher Melanie Steyn welcomed the opportunity for members of the school’s Career Club to participate.

“There are so many career opportunities that are untapped, it is a valuable experience for the children, and the speakers also encouraged them through the real-life experience that they have,” she said.

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