Laos is setting its tree-planting sites high for celebrating Arbour Day and International Children’s Day on 1 June, with a plan to sow saplings on 27,000 hectares in 2018. - Vientiane Times/ANN
VIENTIANE, June 1 (Vientiane Times/ANN): Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh on Tuesday led senior officials to plant trees in support of the nation’s goal to plant at least 20,000kg of seeds and over 34 million saplings this year.
The tree planting by the prime minister was part of events to mark National Arbour Day, which falls on June 1 and is the start of the planting season. It also served to mark the 79th International Children’s Day.
The saplings and seeds prepared will be planted on 37,200 hectares across the country. The planting activity is part of efforts to achieve the government’s goal to increase forest cover to 70 percent of the country’s total land area.
The PM and his entourage planted the saplings at the National Convention Centre.
Speaking at a tree planting ceremony on Saturday, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr Phet Phomphiphack, said trees would be planted on 7,400 hectares of the total 37,200 hectares for the purpose of environmental conservation.
An additional 24,800 hectares will be planted to restore forests on land that was cleared for infrastructure development and to establish commercial tree plantations, and trees will also be planted on 5,000 hectares of privately owned land.
The ministry plans to plant nearly 1.5 million saplings on 1,213 hectares on National Arbour Day itself.
At the same time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Vientiane Agriculture and Forestry Department will hold an official celebration of National Arbour Day and International Environment Day in Danxang village, Xaythany district, Vientiane.
Tree planting is increasingly important to ensure that 70 percent of the nation’s land is forested, covering an area of 16.5 million hectares, which will help mitigate the effects of climate change as well as protect biodiversity.
The ministry is calling on members of the public to participate in forest restoration and conservation, saying that entities and organisations of all kinds, as well as people from all walks of life, should prepare trees for planting.
People with land to spare are encouraged to plant one or two saplings to help the cause.
It’s best to plant trees that will flourish in the rainy season, while more trees can be planted in places where water is readily available throughout the year, the ministry advises. The Vientiane Times/ANN
