ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Climate Change on Saturday announced that it will plant 250 million saplings in spring season.

PM’s Adviser on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said Prime Minister Imran Khan would kick off the drive on in Kundian Forest area in Mianwali district on ‘Plant for Pakistan’ Day on Feb 23.

Talking to mediapersons in connection with the preparations and targets for the spring season tree plantation campaign, Malik Amin Aslam said afforestation activities had been prioritised by the present government.

“Forests have been recognised as the most effective, cheapest way to tackle fallouts of global warming-caused climate change on the country’s critical socio-economic sectors, particularly agriculture, water, energy and health,” he said.

He said the prime minister would launch the national spring tree plantation drive by planting a sapling in one of the country’s oldest Kundian forest area.

The drive will continue across the country till June 30 under the theme ‘Restoration of Degraded Forests’ under 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Programme (10 BTTP).

The adviser said a target of around 250 million tree saplings had been fixed for the spring 2020 season with the aim to re-invigorate the country’s ailing forestry sector.

These saplings would be planted across the country, most of them in new vacant areas as well as degraded forests, he added.

“Trees help protect soil from degradation and regulate water on farms, mitigate floods, regulate weather and enrich biodiversity. Besides, crops grown in agro-forestry systems are often more resilient to drought, excess rain and erratic weather patterns,” the prime minister’s adviser said.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2020