ULAN BATOR, May 12 (Xinhua) -- People across Mongolia on Saturday observed the National Tree Planting Day, which is the country's largest tree-planting and nature care event.
Mongolia began marking the day since 2010 on the Saturday of second week of May and October every year. The event is part of Mongolia's efforts to reforest the country, raise awareness among citizens especially young generations, and fight against climate change.
On this day, country leaders, civil servants, company employees, and even school pupils go outdoors to fulfill a citizen' obligation of planting trees.
On Saturday, Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga, along with other national leaders, planted trees near the fence of the First Maternity Hospital in the District Sukh Bator of capital Ulan Bator.
"Only planting trees is not enough and it needs to be cared to grow well," he said, calling on citizens to care for their planted trees.
It is estimated that around two million people and 68,900 organizations have planted 10.5 million trees and plants all over Mongolia in the past years. The survival rate of the planted trees is 75 percent.