As part of the key initiatives being undertaken during the National Year of Environment 2009 in Pakistan, the Ministry of Environment, Government of Pakistan, has declared on 18 August 2009 as the first National Tree Plantation Day, with the objective of stimulating a national drive for enhancing green cover in the country.
This was announced in a statement of the IUCN issued here on Sunday. It said that considering the depleting forest cover and resources in Pakistan, and its harmful impact on livelihoods and the environment, this initiative will seek to get involvement of the general public and also raise awareness on contribution of vegetation to climate change and the economy in general.
The statement pointed out that after the historical event of setting a world record of planting the highest numbers of trees in 24 hours on July 15 this year by a team of 300 people who planted 541,176 mangroves tress in the Indus Delta Ramsar site at Keti Bundar (District Thatta), IUCN is continuing to support the government in its efforts to address environment and development challenges.
Towards this endeavour, the IUCN in Pakistan has planned another massive mangrove plantation activity in Korangi creek, on National Tree Plantation Day, with the involvement of the local fishermen community, corporate sector and educational institutes.
The IUCN's global mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature, while ensuring that the use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. It is the world's oldest and largest global environmental network. Likewise, IUCN Pakistan has grown to become IUCN's largest country programme.
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