ULAN BATOR, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Residents in Mongolia's capital have so far planted over 13,000 trees in recent days as part of a nationwide campaign aimed at combating desertification and reducing land degradation, Ulan Bator City's Environment Department said on Friday.
"Since the launch of the 'Billion Trees' national tree-planting campaign earlier this month, residents of the capital city have planted at least 13,399 trees in or near the city," the department said in a statement.
The campaign was officially launched on Oct. 4. Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh had told the United Nations General Assembly that the country aims to combat climate change and desertification through the campaign.
Since then, people across Mongolia have been actively joining the campaign.
Around 77 percent of the country's total territory has been affected by desertification and land degradation, according to the country's Ministry of Environment and Tourism.
The Asian country has a total land area of 1,564,116 square km and only 7.9 percent is now covered by forests.
It is estimated that by 2030, the national campaign will increase the country's forest coverage to at least 9 percent and reduce carbon emissions by around 600,000 tons. Enditem
