KABUL - An ambitious effort to plant one million trees is underway in Afghanistan which for the first year is counting its trees as part of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Billion Tree Campaign.

The Billion Tree Campaign – which since 2007 planted more than two billion trees in 170 countries – kicked off in Afghanistan around Nowruz or Afghan New Year on 21 March and has been taking root around the country.

Earlier this month, more than 360 students at Khushkak Primary School in Bamyan planted saplings, while in Herat the provincial Department of Agriculture and local residents planted thousands of trees as part of “Green Month” in February.

Led by the Ministry of Agriculture, the tree planting campaigns aim to improve the environment and prevent natural disasters.

At the current rate, all Afghanistan forests will disappear within the next 30 years, according to UNEP which is working with Afghan officials, local communities and international partners to strengthen sustainable environment management and biodiversity in the country.

The Billion Tree Campaign strongly encourages the planting of indigenous trees and trees that are appropriate to the local environment. In Afghanistan, those are almond, apple, apricot and walnut, among others.

The UN General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests.

By UNAMA Kabul