VIENTIANE, May 28 : Laos will plant over 3 million seedlings nationwide to celebrate the Arbor Day on Thursday (June 1).

Arbor Day is a secular day of observance in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees. Today, many countries observe such a holiday.

The country plans to plant about 3,484,000 seedlings in 3,480 hectares in 19 provinces across Laos. These will grow into trees with several types of wood, including rosewood, ironwood, teakwood, and other tropical varieties according to a report from KPL.

Department of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has set out in its 5-year plan (2021-2025) to plant trees across 200,000 hectares with about 40,000 hectares each year to increase 70% of the national forest coverage.

Bounpone Sengthong, Deputy Director General of the Department of Forestry, said that Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and his department have planned this reforestation drive for Arbor Day, which is a time of observance when members of the society and communities are encouraged to plant trees.

For the northern provinces this year, Phongsaly will grow trees across 65 hectares, Luang Namtha in 8 hectares, Oudomxay in 38 hectares, Bokeo across 35 hectares, Xayaboury in 40 hectares, Luang Prabang will plant trees across 655 hectares, Houaphanh in 300 hectares, and Xiang Khouang in 18 hectares.

The central provinces of Vientiane will plant trees in 1,956 hectares, Khammouane in 18 hectares, Savannakhet in 75 hectares, Xaysomboun across 30 hectares, while in the southern region Salavanh will have plant trees in 14 hectares, Champasack in 85 hectares, Sekong in 20 hectares and Attapeu in 14 hectares.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry will also plant about 3,200 trees over 4 hectares of land in Xaythany District, Vientiane Capital.

Bounpone urged local authorities and residents to manage, maintain and protect the new trees that will be planted and protect the rest of the forest with warning signs prohibiting illegal logging installed in areas across the country.

 - ANN