His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, this morning called on his compatriots to take part in protecting the forests and in planting more trees.
“[…], I would like to appeal to the venerable monks, local authorities, the private sector as well as our fellow countrymen all over the country to kindly plant all kinds of trees as many as possible, including the palm trees, and the planting can take place at the pagodas, public places and tourist destinations, spaces along the village routes and national roads, along the canals, within the villages and along the rice field dividers to provide shade for people and animals,” the monarch said while presiding over the celebration of National Arbor Day held at the Sambuor Meas Forest Promotion and Rehabilitation Station in Sambuor Meas village, Snoeng commune, Banan district, Battambang province.
These trees can be used as wood for construction, firewood, charcoal and they will improve the fertility of agricultural land, contain the storms, absorb carbon dioxide and prevent climate change, he underlined.
Forests and its ecosystems contribute significantly to all aspects of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, by ensuring food security and safety nets; improving livelihoods; providing employment and reducing poverty; promoting nutrition and health; maintaining production sustainability, economic growth, equality, inclusion and partnership, water resources, fisheries protection, energy security, biodiversity conservation and terrestrial ecosystems; supporting urban sustainability, and promoting the prevention of and adaptation to the climate change, he added.
His Majesty the King continued that the losses of all kinds of forests can lead to floods, storms, winds, lightning and droughts, which deplete water reserves for the needs of human beings and animals, leading to loss of income and losses of all kinds of wildlife and fish resources, and may lead to desertification and soil degradation.
“Together, we should pay attention to initiating new ideas, including the marriage couples planting trees at the Wedding Garden or Forest Garden established by the municipal or provincial administrations or forestry administrations for all districts, towns, communes/Sangkat and villages,” he stressed.
His Majesty the King also called on all fellow countrymen to help prevent and stop logging, clearing, burning forest land; illegal hunting and snaring of wildlife, and participate in protecting forests, especially preventing forest fires in areas where they live to preserve forest resources for their children of this generation and future ones.
In particular, he said, it is necessary to pay attention to agricultural diversification within each community based on the potentials of their land, without relying on non-timber forest products, and with the advice from technical experts.
On the occasion, some 13,948 young trees of rare and luxurious species were planted on an area of more than 10 hectares.
Source: Agency Kampuchea Press