1.8 million trees to be planted in Charsadda

SHABQADAR:

Around 1.8 million trees is the plantation target for Charsadda as part of the Billion Tree Tsunami Project, stated Sub-divisional Officer for Forest Faizur Rehman.

He issued this statement after a tree was planted at a civil court in Shabqadar by additional sessions judge Asad Ali.

Rehman said plantation would take place over 1,800 hectares of land in the district. He added a farmer with a hectare of land would be provided trees free of cost and Rs10 for the plantation of each one.

If the plant survives to see the forest department’s survey in December 2016, an additional Rs15 will be awarded to the farmer for each one. In 2017, another Rs20 will be provided for each surviving plant as part of the Billion Tree Tsunami project.

The officer said such incentives could see the trees surviving for as long a period as possible. Rehman said authorities would also plant trees on barren lands and provide all help to interested property owners.

He appealed to locals to be part of the plantation programme. “We will be planting 5,000 trees a day in the district which will bear fruit later,” the officer said. He added the district administration is launching a media campaign for the project to raise awareness about the campaign.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th,  2016.