Abstract
This thesis explores the history of tree planting in Johannesburg. Johannesburg has over 10 million planted trees, making it one of the largest human-created forests in the world. Johannesburg is for this reason a globally significant case study in tree planting. The Highveld grassland biome where Johannesburg is located was for millions of years a forestless grassland before the city’s emergence in the late 1880s. Johannesburg’s first trees were planted because gold mining required timber; the mining industry became the driving force for the first planting of trees. As the city expanded in the early 1900s, the municipal council was responsible for carrying out tree planting in the ‘Parks’ (the collective term for northern suburbs). This study proves how the white city council focused on greening the white suburbs but paid little attention to emerging black townships, such as Soweto. The study argues that white and African residents generally supported tree planting. Greening efforts in Soweto were only implemented during the 1970s while tree planting in suburban areas commenced during the 1920s. This history of segregation explains the continuing inequality of green space in the city today. The study also examines shifting trend in tree planting. During the early 20th century, exotic trees were largely planted in the suburban streets of Johannesburg. Exotic trees were preferred because they were fast growing, had cultural connotations and aesthetics valued by Europeans. After the 1960s, there was a shift to planting native trees. This shift was inspired by the rise of nationalism, decolonization and environmentalism. In conclusion, the study reflects on the future of Johannesburg’s trees in an era of climate change, invasive species and changing political and cultural values.
M.A. (Historical Studies)