Mongolia has made significant strides in combating desertification and climate change by planting a total of 84 million trees since the launch of its national tree-planting campaign in 2021, the country's presidential press office announced on Wednesday.
The initiative, known as \"Billion Trees,\" was introduced by President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh during the United Nations General Assembly in October 2021. The ambitious goal of the campaign is to plant at least one billion trees by 2030.
Since its inception, the campaign has dramatically increased the number and size of trees, saplings, seed resources, and tree nurseries across Mongolia. The press office reported a five to sixfold increase in these areas compared to the period before the campaign began.
Desertification, a growing concern exacerbated by climate change, has led to more frequent yellow dust storms in Mongolia in recent years, according to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. With Mongolia covering over 1.5 million square kilometers and less than 10 percent forested, nearly 77 percent of the country's territory has been affected by desertification and land degradation.
An aerial view of the Eg River in Hantay Bag, Bulgan province, captured on July 1, 2024, showcases the ongoing efforts to restore Mongolia's landscapes through extensive tree planting.
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Mongolia plants 84 million trees since 2021 to combat desertification
cgtn.com
