Indonesia launched all people to plant trees

Indonesia, on November 28, launched a nationwide planting campaign to ease criticism of the island's deforestation, and set a new world record.

The plan is part of a campaign launched at UN climate change talks last year. The goal set by the Indonesian government is to plant about 79 million seedlings during the day.

According to a World Bank report, Indonesia is the world's third largest greenhouse gas emissions country - due to deforestation, burning trees to clear the land.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono participated in planting more than 1,000 seedlings in Bogor, West Java. He claimed that these trees were gifts to the world, and stressed that the tree planting campaign proved Indonesia attaches great importance to environmental protection.

Muslim women participate in planting trees in Jonggol, West Java.
(Photo: AP)

"We used to ignore this job before and now we have to act together," Indonesia's Antara news agency quoted the leader.

According to Greenpeace, Indonesia is the country with the fastest rate of deforestation in the world during 2000-2005. President Yudhoyono stressed that his country needs financial support from developed countries to protect the remaining forests. He also claimed that illegal loggers and those who had given them money were " common enemies " and had to be brought before the law.

Indonesia is considered the fastest deforestation country in the world.(Photo Reuters)

Thanh Hao