12 million saplings to be planted in spring

Islamabad
The Ministry of Climate Change, while fixing a target of 12 million saplings during Spring Plantation Campaign 2015, has decided to celebrate National Spring Plantation Day on February 10 this year in memory of the martyrs of Army Public School, Peshawar.
The decision to this effect was taken in a high-level meeting held at the Ministry of Climate Change, Islamabad, which was chaired by Ministry of Climate Change Secretary Arif Ahmed Khan here on Friday.
The Monsoon Plantation Campaign and success percentage of last year plantation besides availability of planting stock for the Spring Plantation 2015 was discussed in detail.
Arif Ahmed Khan stressed on the need for undertaking afforestation campaigns with national zeal and commitment to overcome environmental degradation issues. He said that under the directives of Federal Minister for Climate Change Mushahid Ullah Khan, all segments of society would be sensitised to participate in plantation.
He appreciated the dedicated spirit and efforts of Provincial Forest Departments, AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan and Fata for their plantation programmes and promotion of social forestry.
He said Pakistan is vulnerable to adverse affects of climate change and it is imperative that we should focus on mitigation and adaptation strategies. He also mentioned importance of REDD+ and other new initiatives carried out by the Ministry of Climate Change to associate all stakeholders for environmental betterment activities.
AJK Chief Conservator of Forests Dr Shafiq ur Rahman informed that the government of AJK has decided to attribute February 10 as Plantation Day to commemorate martyrs of Peshawar incident. Sindh Conservator of Forests Hyder Raza supported the proposal.
CDA Member Environment Syed Mustafain Kazmi informed that the CDA will arrange a ceremony of plantation in the name of martyrs of Peshawar by involving students, government employees and the civil society at large.
The meeting unanimously decided to celebrate the National Spring 2015 Plantation Day on February 10 in memory of the martyrs of Peshawar.
IG Forests Mehmood Nasir Syed briefed the participants on the progress of the new initiatives on forests like REDD+ and the expected visit of FAO head of forestry to Pakistan. Documents on new funding opportunities under Forest Investment Programme (FIP) were circulated to all provinces seeking their inputs and concurrence whether the ministry may initiate such projects.
The chair informed that REDD+ progress could never be achieved without the unanimous consent of all provinces and federating units and no new imitative will be started without their consent.
A target of 12 million saplings was fixed while it was decided that Minister of Climate Change Mushahid Ullah Khan will request the president of Pakistan to inaugurate the traditional campaign by planting a sapling in memory of martyrs of Peshawar on February 10 at Aiwan-e-Sadr.