BY: NOSIHLE KGANTLAPANE
One of the first things we are taught in school from a young age, is that trees are the key to saving the planet, but have we considered the actual magnitude of the role that trees actually play in the ecosystem?
This declaration took precedence at a Webinar hosted by Access PRC, titled “WHY TREES MATTER” , featuring Dr Fabian Nde Fon, an associate Professor in the Discipline of Animal Science at the University OF Zululand.
The conversation took place in celebration of Arbor Month which was celebrated in September 2025, which aimed to highlight conversations around how the effects of climate change impact the health and wellbeing of all life on the planet, acting as a reminder that trees are the building blocks of life itself.
According to Dr Nde Fon, “trees are nature’s hidden gold – precious yet often overlooked- and form the bridge between the living and non-living worlds, sustaining life in ways we sometimes take for granted” and the main takeaway from this event is simple but profound; “protecting trees is protecting ourselves”.
Trees and climate change are interlinked, and one may consider them as a nature-given coolants, because they help to cool the earth… this symbiotic “parent/child relationship” as described by Dr Nde Fon are ‘inseparable’.
In South Africa, species such as the Acacia (Vachellia) karroo, Fever tree (Vachellia xanthophloea), and Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) play vital roles. These native trees thrive in semi-arid conditions, improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation, and support biodiversity. “When trees disappear, we see the opposite, heat stress, desertification, and disrupted rainfall. I can happily say that, trees are nature’s air conditioners; without them, our climate literally burns hotter,” , stated by Dr Nde Fon.
He further elaborated that “when we remove trees, the planet’s natural cooling system collapses because trees lower temperatures through shade, evapotranspiration, and carbon sequestration, absorbing greenhouse gases, reflecting less heat than bare soil, and release moisture that cools the surrounding air”. As researcher in Animal Sciences, he uses his expertise to “connect the dots between good climate and good pastures, which equate to healthy animals and secure food systems”. This is achieved through “protecting and restoring vegetation, especially agroforestry systems, which sustain ruminant animal nutrition, maintain ecosystem balance, and strengthen food security for both humans and livestock.”
This seminar hopes to challenge the youth to be more proactive in their efforts to sustaining the planet, one tree at a time, with a call to action.
Dr Nde Fon challenges every young person “to plant at least 100 trees over their lifetime and inspire just two friends to plant 50 each” as the ripple effect of such action “could transform South Africa’s landscape within a few generations… with each seed planted is a promise to the future a cleaner air, richer soil, cooler cities, and thriving biodiversity.”This is a simple act with the power to reshape our planet for the better.
