YANGON: Myanmar held national tree-planting ceremonies to green 13 drought-prone districts in the country's central dry zone, the state-run daily The Mirror reported recently.
The initiative aimed to combat climate change and desertification in the areas in Sagaing, Mandalay, and Magway regions, the report said.
Myanmar's State Administration Council Chairman Min Aung Hlaing attended one of the ceremonies at a protected public forest in Meiktila district of Mandalay region.
In his speech, Min Aung Hlaing said that this marked the first time a national-level tree-planting event had been held to green Myanmar's arid regions.
He said that the 13 targeted districts regularly experience extreme weather conditions.
Myanmar's forest cover has declined to approximately 42.19 percent.
The government has been aiming to restore it to 50 percent through continued tree-planting efforts. - Xinhua
