Audi South Africa’s Tree Planting Initiative in conjunction with Food & Trees for Africa, continues to gather momentum with a further 9 005 plantings planned for 2011.

A recent public outcry in Sandton prompted the importer to support an initiative to replace uprooted trees on Sandton Drive. These trees were unscrupulously removed to make way for automotive advertising – a move that enraged local business owners and residents.

In conjunction with Audi SA partners, Food & Trees for Africa, Audi South Africa replaced the uprooted plants with 15 large indigenous Karee trees at the corner of Sandton Drive and Marie Avenue, on 12 May 2011.

“It gives us great pleasure to replace these uprooted trees,“ said Ryan Searle, Head of the Audi brand in South Africa. “It is really unfortunate that the previous trees were removed without any concern for the environment or the inhabitants of this area.

“Our commitment to the greening of key areas around South Africa supports this initiative outright, and we trust the new trees will flourish and be enjoyed by all who pass here.“ Searle concluded.

Audi South Africa has adopted the United Nations General Assembly theme of 2011 as the “International Year of Forests“ to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. 

This year sees Audi SA enter the third of its four year greening project and we are doing it in true ‘Vorsprung’ style – planting 9 005 trees in the Western and Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal. These fruit and indigenous trees will result in around 225 hectares of urban forest, and will also be registered with the United Nations Billion Tree initiative.

Audi SA and Food & Trees for Africa  have identified communities close to the Terminal Concept Dealerships to be the recipients of these trees. These include Hatfield, Northcliff and Somerset. The community surrounding the Volkswagen Plant in Uitenhage will also benefit.

The first tree planting ceremony this year took place on the 25th March 2011 in the Delft community in the Western Cape where 500 were planted in celebration of Water Week 2011. 

At the event, the importance of saving and harvesting water in the community and the use of mulch around the trees to prevent evaporation was highlighted. We hope that in a few years, Delft will be a flourishing, green community.

In addition, all indigenous trees already established on any current and future Audi Terminal building sites will be removed, kept safely off site and returned once construction is completed.

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