ULAN BATOR, May 15 (Xinhua) -- People across Mongolia on Saturday observed the National Tree Planting Day, the country's largest tree-planting and nature care event.
During the launching ceremony of a week-long campaign across the country to plant trees, Mongolia's Minister of Environment and Tourism Nyamjav Urtnasan urged the public to plant trees to improve the environment and combat desertification, and gave 25,000 seedlings of 14 species of trees to selected households in the capital Ulan Bator.
Only 7.9 percent of Mongolia's total land area is now covered by forests. Around 77 percent of the country's total territory has been struck by desertification, according to the ministry.
Mongolia has marked the day on the second Saturday of May and October every year since 2020. Enditem
