Public servants to plant trees

10,000 public functionaries will have to plant over 500,000 trees and bushes on 5 April, Info-Prim Neo reports quoting the statements made by Environment and Natural Resources Minister Violeta Ivanov at a news conference. On the National Greening Day titled “A Tree for Our Everlasting” they plan to expand forest areas with 552 ha, to plant protection forest screens on 131 ha, and to regenerate woods on 208 ha. Those over 10,000 functionaries to be deployed for plantation works will plant circa 597,000 trees and bushes. 83,000 of those are walnut trees to be planted along national motorways. The cost of the walnut trees is 800,000 lei to be paid from the National Environmental Fund (NEF). “In addition to the grants from the NEF, the local authorities will buy 336,700 seedlings with money from local budgets. According to the Moldsilva Silviculture Agency, they plan to plant 590,000 trees and bushes for the next two months all in all. Most of them are to be planted by the Chisinau authorities - 48,000, by the Soldanesti district authorities - 32,000, 28,000 in Briceni, 27,000 in Ialoveni. However there are districts having planned to plant but a few trees, as Cimislia – 1,250, Anenii-Noi – 5,800, Taraclia and Straseni – by 8,000. The mayors are responsible for the plantation drive this year, as the most efficient ones will be awarded, specified the Minister. The campaign of expanding the green areas with the slogan “A Tree for Our Everlasting” was started back in 1995, through a presidential decree and as a rule takes place on the first Saturday of April.