Mongolia Celebrates Its First Planting Day

Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj planted trees in the yard of a kindergarten in the capital city of Ulan Bator on Saturday, marking the country's first Planting Day.

According to a decree issued on April 16, 2010 by the president, Mongolians are to plant trees on every second Saturday of May and October.

It was estimated 35,000 trees would be planted throughout the country on Saturday.

"The most important work after planting trees is that we must take care of the trees as we take care of our infants," the president said in his speech.

Mongolia is a country with a fragile ecological environment and a low forest coverage rate. Almost 72 percent of its total land has turned into desert, and about 90 percent of its grassland, which once fed its cattle, has badly deteriorated.