Ministry of Local Development Hisham Amna revealed on Thursday 13/6/2024 that it has allocated EGP 98 million to supply 3 million trees countrywide during the 2023/2024 fiscal year.
The step is part of the second phase of the presidential initiative to cultivate 100 million trees nationwide, according to a statement released by the local development ministry on Thursday.
The plan includes planting both timber and fruit-bearing varieties along main and secondary roads, government institutions, various villages and cities, and canal banks, according to the statement.
The move will help double the green area nationwide and adapt to the climatic conditions of each governorate, especially with the onset of summer and the rising temperatures, the ministry noted.
The presidential initiative 100 Millon Trees – launched by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in 2022 – is one of a series of steps taken by the country to address climate change.
The multi-year scheme, which runs from 2022 to 2029, targets the establishm
ent of tree forests and parks across approximately 9,900 sites nationwide, covering a total area of 6,600 feddans and utilizing treated wastewater.
Up to 2.5 million trees have already been supplied and planted since the start of the second phase of the initiative across 25 governorates, the local development ministry pointed out.
Dakhleya governorate topped the list with a total of 473,800 trees, followed by Sharqiya with 309,000 trees, Gharbiya with 232,000 trees, and Menoufiya with 175,000 trees.
New Valley governorate received 165,000 trees, North Sinai 110,000 trees, and Beni Suef 108,000 trees.
The governorates of Luxor, Beheira, and Kafr El-Sheikh each received 103,000 trees.
South Sinai received 82,400 trees, Aswan 81,000 trees, and Giza 72,100 trees.
Efforts are under to plant the rest of the targeted trees, including the provision of around 500,000 trees to Cairo.
Under the initiative’s first phase, the government planted 7.6 million trees countrywide during the fiscal year 2022/2023, for EGP
200 million.
The Egyptian government has faced criticism over the past few years due to the decline of trees and green areas nationwide.
Source: State Information Service Egypt