MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - MORE than nine million trees were planted in Mexico as part of a day-long campaign against deforestation, the environment minister said on Monday.
The day of tree-planting took place on Saturday and aimed to compensate for the 780,000 acres of forest that are lost annually to illegal exploitation, Environment Minister Juan Elvira said.
Mexicans were able to 'plant 9,345,000 trees of various types,' said Mr Elvira, adding that 507,000 citizens had participated across the country.
Mexico is the fifth leading country in the world in terms of deforestation.
The government launched an ambitious reforestation project in 2007, when 250 million trees were planted, with a goal of 280 million for 2008.
The environmental group Greenpeace has criticized the government, saying it has done little to prevent illegal logging and that deforestation was likely to continue. -- AFP
