Public invited to join tree planting in honour of Thai Queen

BANGKOK, August 7 (TNA) - The Ministry of Interior has invited people across Thailand to join a voluntarily loyal project on planting 800 million trees from 2012-2016, starting from August 8, in honour of and as part of grand celebrations nationwide for Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 80th birthday on August 12. Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit told journalists Tuesday that the Thai government has launched the “800 million saplings for Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 80th birthday reforestation project”, in a bid to show gratitude to Her Majesty the Queen, whose role in reforestation and tree planting campaigns has been well-recognized by all. Jointly organised by the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and relevant agencies nationwide, the general public are welcome to join the five-year project, the end of which forests or green areas in Thailand should increase to at least four million rais. According to the deputy premier, the project will be simultaneously launched in all areas nationwide at 8pm on August 8, with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to preside over a ceremony to kick start the loyal initiative in Thailand's nortehrn resort Chiang Mai Province, her hometown. (TNA)