On Saturday, events were held in Mongolia to mark the International Day of Forests, aimed at raising awareness about the importance of forests and trees, as reported by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
On this day, a national conference on "Mongolian Forest Policy, Science, and Technology" took place in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia.
The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Batbaatar Bat, emphasized during the opening ceremony that forests are not only natural resources but also play a strategically important role in ecosystems, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change, protect water resources, and preserve biodiversity. He noted that implementing science-based policies for the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of forests is a priority task.
Mongolia covers an area of 1.56 million square kilometers, yet less than 10% of this territory is forested.
Official data indicates that nearly 77% of the country's territory is susceptible to desertification and land degradation.
In response to this issue, a nationwide tree-planting initiative was launched in Mongolia in October 2021, aimed at planting at least one billion trees by 2030 to combat desertification.
Since the start of the campaign, approximately 128 million trees have already been planted across the country, according to the ministry.
In addition, Mongolia will host the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification this year, aimed at accelerating global action against desertification, land degradation, and drought.
The International Day of Forests, celebrated annually on March 21, aims to draw attention to the vital role of forests in sustaining ecosystems and human well-being. The theme for 2026 will be "Forests and the Economy," highlighting the significance of forests in providing livelihoods and creating economic opportunities in various sectors.
