By Ifham Nizam

The government has launched a programme to increase the country’s forest cover to 30 percent by 2025, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera says. At present, forest cover in the country was 29 percent, he says.

The Minister, yesterday, said 16,000 hectares would have to be reforested to achieve the ambitious target.

The Environment Ministry would release nine million rupees for the planting of saplings in seven districts for the next two months of the year under the Husma Dena Thuru National Tree Planting Programme. It had been launched by the Ministry of Environment to increase the number of trees throughout the country, he said. Accordingly, more than 1.5 million saplings have been planted so far this year. More than one million saplings have also been planted countywide under the Nekathata Pelayak programme during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

Besides, more than 500,000 saplings were planted on Valentine’s Day 2021. The World Environment Day and World Scout Day saw the planting of more trees. Saplings were also planted in the high watersheds of the hills with the assistance of the private sector. 187,000 Kumbuk and Mee saplings have been planted on both sides of the Mahaweli river banks.

More than 10,000 saplings were planted at 10 places to mark the Army Day this year. At present, 120 herbal tree gardens have been established under the Herbal Plants Programme. Meanwhile, the Minister has instructed them to take steps to plant more saplings when the Maha rainy season arrives in the country again.

Accordingly, nine million rupees was allocated for planting in seven districts. Under this, Moneragala will receive Rs. 01 m, Kegalle Rs. 1.2 million, Trincomalee Rs. 1.5m, Hambantota Rs. 1.5m, Badulla Rs. 01mn, Colombo Rs. 1.2m and Gampaha Rs. 1.5 mn. An amount of Rs. 09 million was also allocated for the Husma Dena Thuru tree planting programme.