MINSK, 10 April (BelTA) – More than 20 million trees were planted in Belarus during the Forest Week 2017 campaign, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Forestry Ministry.

“Some 82,500 people joined the voluntary campaign Forest Week this year. They planted almost 21 million trees to cover a total area of 6,700 hectares, including 1,100 hectares in the storm-damaged forests. Failed trees were replaced on an area of 1,800 hectares,” the ministry said.

The campaign participants spruced up 138 recreation areas. Over a thousand cubic meters of litter was collected in forests, along the roads and at recreation areas.

“Apart from new forests, the participants planted new tree alleys and parks in memory of the soldiers of the Great Patriotic War who fought for Belarus' liberation. They also took part in post-winter clean-ups at 27 memorials and 37 former partisans' forest camps. The volunteers carried out a huge amount of work. The forests are now in a much better state, they are cleaner and greener,” the press service added.

The traditional voluntary campaign Forest Week ran in Belarus from 1 to 8 April. It was initiated by the Belarusian Forestry Ministry. This year, the campaign was held for the tenth time and was aimed at restoring the forests damaged by the storms that hit Belarus in the summer of 2016.