ULAN BATOR, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh on Saturday called on citizens and organizations to plant more trees to "create a healthy and comfortable working and living environment."
"Every household, organization and business entity should plant more trees in their yards and surroundings," Khurelsukh said after planting trees in the National Park on the occasion of the country's National Tree Planting Day, which is observed on the second Saturday of May and October every year.
In the future, Mongolia aims to plant not only trees, but also fruits, berries, medicinal plants and fodder in a bid to meet its domestic needs and export them, he added.
Last year, Mongolia launched a nationwide tree-planting campaign as Khurelsukh told the United Nations General Assembly that the campaign aims to plant at least a billion trees by 2030 to combat desertification.
Almost 77 percent of Mongolian territory has been struck by desertification, according to the country's Ministry of Environment and Tourism. ■
