Unilever SA to plant one million trees

Photograph by Kelvin Trautman

The initiative kicked off in Joburg where Unilever hosted a forest-themed event at which guests engaged with some of the South African artists supporting the initiative, including the likes of Mi Casa, AKA, Roger Goode, DJ Ready D, Minnie Dlamini, Proverb, Nomuzi Mabena, Khabonina Qubeka, and Amanda du Pont. At the event, as at the breakfast launch in Cape Town on Wednedsay, 9 September, guests were encouraged to participate via the social media campaign, #TweetForATree. The general public are also invited to get involved.

#TweetForATree to make a difference for a #brightFutureSA. Together we can make a difference! If not me then who? https://t.co/KKDVGOozYl

- Tanya (@TanzCorr) September 9, 2015

We love the #TweetForATree initiative by @UnileverSA, Lets tweet an entire forest into existence! #brightFutureSA https://t.co/VjdGbH7W5F

- Women in Finance (@WIFNetwork) September 9, 2015

For every pledge or tweet received, Unilever will plant one tree on behalf of that person. Pledges can be made at www.brightfuture.unilever.co.za and tweets should be addressed to @UnileverSA, using the hashtags #TweetForATree and #brightFutureSA.

Network of 'tree-preneurs'

Unilever South Africa's partner in this project is the Wildlands Conservation Trust (@WildlandsSA), who will make use of one of their most innovative projects to grow and plant the pledged trees. Working at a community level, through a CEBA (community ecosystems-based adaptation) model, Wildlands has created a network of 'tree-preneurs' across four provinces, which gives unskilled individuals in poverty-stricken areas the chance to improve their way of life by growing and bartering indigenous trees in return for livelihood support, including food, building materials, bicycles, solar panels and rain water harvesting tanks. Unilever South Africa will provide product hampers to Wildlands which will be bartered with tree-preneurs for trees.

"Trees for Life is a simple yet incredibly effective sustainable development model. Inspired and catalysed through the Wildlands partnership with Unilever SA, it has grown into an initiative which is transforming the lives of thousands. The tree-preneur good news stories are endless, and are a credit to their determination to escape from poverty and shape a brighter future for themselves, their families and the communities that they live in. Wildlands is privileged to be the custodian of this incredible model, which continues to evolve and spread throughout South Africa," says Dr Andrew Venter, CEO of Wildlands.

"The well-being of the planet and its people are inextricably linked, and by addressing environmental and social issues simultaneously, we will ensure that development gains are irreversible and ecosystems are protected for generations to come," says Unilever South Africa CEO, Peter Cowan.

For more info, go to www.brightfuture.unilever.co.za.