The theme for Earth Day 2011, 22 April, was `A Billion Acts of Green`, recognising the power of millions of individual actions to green our environment, so we, and future generations, can live sustainably. Already over 45 million actions by individuals, corporations and governments have been recorded, making A Billion Acts of Green the largest environmental service campaign in the world. Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) called on South African companies and individuals to perform an act of green this Earth Day and  planted 2 600 trees for communities in the Phuthaditjhaba, Free State and for residents of Alexandra in Gauteng and Khutsong in the North West with the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF).

The NLDTF gave FTFA a generous donation to support the distribution of 45 000 Trees for Homes in 2011. In addition to improving the environments in which these 45 000 residents live, these trees will sequestrate a very conservative estimate of 16 854 tons of carbon dioxide, thus mitigating climate change as well. 5 000 trees are being given to grateful residents in all nine provinces of South Africa.

FTFA’s Trees for Homes programme, which has planted over 708 000 fruit and indigenous trees and trained and given stipends to 8 000 community educators, spreads awareness of the need to conserve, plant and maintain trees. This supports the United Nations’ aim for this International Year of Forests, which is to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. The 2011 NLDTF initiative will result in an estimated 1 125 hectares of urban forest planted.

"The NLDTF is supported by the people of South Africa through the National Lottery. We are glad that the people of South Africa can contribute to reforestation of our country. We hope that the communities take ownership of the project to ensure the survival of the urban forests,” said Prof Alfred Nevhutanda, Chairperson of the National Lotteries Board.

300 of these NLDTF acts of green took place in Extension 10 in Alexandra, located along the N3 north bound, in Gauteng. The land here was initially earmarked for commercial purposes. The area is characterised by double storey low-cost housing where each unit has two rooms with outside ablution facilities that the homeowner can rent out. The first NLDTF distributions of 2 200 trees in Alexandra took place in March, in celebration of World Water Week, “I encourage community members of the new extension 10 to look after their trees as they will beautify the residential area in the near future,” said councillor Mirriam Makhubela.

In celebration of Earth Day 2011, the final 300 fruit trees allocated for Alexandra were distributed on 21 April 2011 in Extension 10, completing the successful roll out of the 2 500 trees allocated to the residents of Alexandra.

The first NLDTF distribution of 800 trees in the North West took place on 18 February in Khutsong and another 800 trees were distributed in Wedela, “NLDTF is distributing 800 trees in Wedela today. I encourage you to look after these trees as these trees will bring luck to your life. If you haven’t won the lotto, look after your tree and your dreams will come true,” said Mookho Letshogohla, FTFA Community Forester. A further 1 600 homes in Khutsong will now receive trees for Earth Day, with the final distribution of another 1800 trees taking place in May 2011.

The last NLDTF acts of green for Earth Day 2011 were in Phutaditjhaba, in Qwa Qwa. 4 300 happy residents here have already received NLDTF trees. “We are very happy because we see hope for the future of our country. Trees are so important and we must share this with the kids,” said Mr Mokoena, the Fire Station Chief of Ward 30.

In celebration of Earth Day 2011, the final 700 trees allocated to the Free State were distributed on the 19 April 2011 in Ithutaneng, Ward 7 of Phuthadithjaba. “We are proud to make our area more beautiful with trees,” said councillor Ivy Motaung.