ULAN BATOR—Mongolia commenced its National Autumn Tree Planting Days on Saturday, an extensive country-wide initiative aimed at bolstering forestation efforts and addressing environmental challenges such as desertification.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh participated in the tree-planting activities at the Green Wall park in the Songinokhairkhan district of the capital, Ulan Bator. The event is part of the broader "Billion Trees" campaign initiated by the government in 2021, which targets planting at least one billion trees by 2030.

The president emphasized that the national movement has revitalized the forestry sector in Mongolia, significantly enhancing tree-planting efforts across the nation. This autumn's tree planting days are scheduled to continue through October 26, marking a critical phase in the campaign.

Environmental data from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change highlights the urgency of these efforts: approximately 77 percent of Mongolia's territory suffers from desertification and land degradation, despite the country's vast land area of over 1.5 million square kilometers.

Mongolia has been observing National Tree Planting Days biannually since 2010, in both May and October, to elevate public awareness on the importance of trees, improve air quality, and actively combat climate change.