Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia — Since the launch of its ambitious \"Billion Trees\" campaign in October 2021, Mongolia has planted an impressive 84 million trees across the nation, according to an announcement by the presidential press office on Wednesday.
President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh unveiled the nationwide tree-planting initiative at the United Nations General Assembly in 2021, setting a bold target to plant at least one billion trees by 2030. The campaign aims to combat desertification and restore degraded land, addressing one of the country's most pressing environmental challenges.
In the two years since the campaign's inception, Mongolia has seen a five to six-fold increase in the number and size of trees planted annually, as well as in the cultivation of saplings and development of seed resources and tree nurseries, compared to pre-campaign levels.
\"Desertification, exacerbated by climate change, has significantly contributed to the increasing frequency of yellow dust storms in recent years,\" the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change reported. This phenomenon not only affects Mongolia but also has regional implications, impacting air quality and public health in neighboring countries.
Despite covering an expansive area of over 1.5 million square kilometers, less than 10 percent of Mongolia is currently forested. The ministry notes that nearly 77 percent of the country's territory is affected by desertification and land degradation, underscoring the urgency of the reforestation efforts.
The \"Billion Trees\" campaign represents a pivotal step toward environmental restoration and sustainable development in Mongolia. By mobilizing national resources and international support, the initiative seeks to reverse the adverse effects of deforestation and climate change, promoting a greener future for the nation and its people.
Cover photo: An aerial view of the Eg River in Hantay Bag in the Bulgan province of Mongolia, July 1, 2024. /CFP
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Mongolia plants 84 million trees since 2021 to combat desertification
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