VIENTIANE, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government has set a target to plant trees across 50,000 hectares nationwide in 2026 as part of efforts to restore degraded forests and strengthen environmental protection.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday ahead of the upcoming Laos' National Arbor Day, Lao Minister of Agriculture and Environment Linkham Douangsavanh, said the government is intensifying reforestation and forest restoration programs to promote environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience.
To mark National Arbor Day 2026, around 4.5 million seedlings and saplings are expected to be planted across approximately 7,300 hectares nationwide, according to the ministry's report on Tuesday.
Observed annually on June 1, Laos' National Arbor Day aims to raise public awareness, particularly among young people, about the importance of forests and the sustainable management of natural resources.
To support this year's planting target, authorities plan to collect 121,000 kilograms of seeds and produce more than 25 million saplings for distribution across provinces and districts.
Linkham emphasized the importance of forests to Laos' socio-economic development, highlighting their role in protecting watersheds, preserving biodiversity, reducing soil erosion, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
Quoting former Lao President Kaysone Phomvihane, he described forests as the nation's "green gold" and reaffirmed the government's commitment to sustainable forest management.
Linkham called on all Lao people to value and protect the country's forest resources by supporting tree planting and forest restoration efforts. He also urged government agencies, the private sector, communities, and families to take part in tree-planting activities based on local conditions.
The Lao government has consistently prioritized forestry. The Forestry Strategy to 2035 and Vision to 2050 set clear targets, including increasing forest cover to 70 percent of the country. ■