PESHAWAR, Feb 27: The forest department of NWFP planted 7.845 million saplings throughout the province during the monsoon tree plantation campaign 2004.

"A total of 2.861 million saplings have been planted against the target of 4.055 million in watershed area of the province. The plantation has 70.554 per cent success ratio", said NWFP secretary forest department, Ghazi Marjan Khan, here on Sunday.

Similarly, he said, in Abbottabad circle a total of 0.909 million saplings were planted against the target of 1.303 million and there was 79.762 per cent success ratio. As many as 3.272 million saplings were planted in FATA and southern circles of the province, he said and added that 0.462 million sapling were planted in Malakand circle.

Giving break down of achievements of different institutions, he said farmer group planted 0.114 million saplings, defence forces 0.827 million, educational institutions 0.1470 million, NGOs 1.274 million, VD Committees 1.016 million and 13.009 million saplings during the monsoon tree plantation campaign 2004.

Replying to a question about less achievement against the targeted figure, he said it was due to erratic monsoon and shortage of financial resources. Ghazi Marjan Khan, who is also the chief conservator of forests, said during the spring tree plantation campaign 2005, a total of 31.236 million saplings would be planted with the assistance of VDC's, farmers, defence forces, educational institutions, NGOs, and the Forestry Sector Project. -APP