Nicosia launches large scale tree planting campaign

The aim is to plant at least 50,000 in the next few years

Latsia Municipality and "300,000 Trees in Nicosia” initiative are preparing the first large scale tree planting campaign in the Cypriot capital.     

The initiative "Come with your Hoe" will be held on November 30 at Apalos Hill in Latsia. At this location organisers will plant around 7,000 trees. The target is to plant at least 50,000 in the next few years.  

The news was announced by the Forestry Department which is accepting applications for free seedlings as part of the “Planting for Climate” campaign during which it will give NGOs and other volunteer groups 70,000 seedlings. The Forestry Department will be accepting applications for seedlings up to 6th November 2019. 

The 70,000 seedlings will be given by the Forestry Department free of charge over the period of November 2019 to February 2020 with the number to rise every year according to the needs of the various initiatives.

Greener Cyprus 

The campaign aims to tap into growing public awareness about the need for concerted action to combat climate change. The goal of the new citizens’ groups such as “300,000 Trees for Nicosia” and “100,000 Trees for Limassol” is to arouse interest in tree planting.     

According to the statmenmt of the Cypriot Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis in front of the representatives of citizens’ groups, local and public authorities and volunteers, the programme is a recognition of the civic society’s mobilization to make Cyprus greener.      

Charalambos Alexandrou, Director of Forestry Department underlined that revamping production at the forestry’s nurseries is a priority. Accent will be given to protecting biodiversity and promoting indigenous species, such as endemic and rare  varieties.  

Information about the planting and care of trees as well as about the type of plants will be given to the participants for free as part of the programme.