Zambian president launches tree planting initiative

LUSAKA, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Monday launched an initiative to encourage tree planting as the southern African nation endeavors to promote a tree-based economy as part of its diversification agenda.

The "Zambia: Plant A Million Trees" initiative was launched in Chinsali district in Muchinga province and streamed live on the Zambian leader's Facebook page.

"This initiative marks the beginning of growing money from trees," Lungu said during the launch.

While acknowledging that Zambia was among countries in sub-Saharan Africa endowed with abundant forests, the Zambian leader expressed concern that continued uncontrolled harvesting was threatening the future of the country's forests.

The initiative, he said, was meant to promote a tree-based economy as part of the government's agenda to diversify the economy away from copper dependence and to mitigate the negative effect of climate change.

The Zambian leader has since urged all stakeholders to get involved and pledged the government's commitment to ensure the initiative's success.

Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Jean Kapata said under the initiative, the government plans to plant 100 million trees by 2021.

She said the initiative was part of other initiatives embarked on by the ministry in order to preserve the country's forests.

On Saturday, the Zambian leader also launched a campaign to promote cleanliness and healthy living.

The "Keep Zambia Clean, Green and Healthy" campaign, which was first launched in 2007 by late President Levy Mwanawasa and revived in 2015, was meant to rid the country's communities, towns and districts of dirt.

Under the campaign, Zambians will be required to get together the last weekend of every month to clean communities, plant trees, flowers and take care of the landscapes in order to promote good health. Enditem