BATTAMBANG: The King of Cambodia, His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, is urging married couples to establish a tradition of planting trees in the parks organized by the Capital, Provincial and Forestry Administration.

On the morning of Saturday, 9 July, King Norodom Sihamoni gave a royal speech on the benefits of forests for humanity and the disadvantages that people face when they lose more trees.

He said, "The loss of all kinds of forests can lead to floods, [greater] winds, [risk of] lightning strikes and droughts, which have made water reserves needed for humans and animals to dry up, leading to a loss of income, loss of wildlife, and fish resources of all kinds, which can cause desertification and deterioration of soil quality."

The King also called on monks, local authorities, the private sector and citizens across the country to plant as many trees as possible, including palm trees, in pagodas, public places and resorts, roads, around canals, villages, and fields to provide shade for people and animals. He added that trees will also provide wood for construction, firewood, help to increase soil fertility and create better land for agriculture, block wind force, absorb carbon dioxide and reduce climate change.

He said, "We should especially pay attention together to creating a new idea for newlyweds to plant a tree as a souvenir in a wedding garden. A forest formed [in this way] by the Capital-Provincial Forestry Administration for everyone in towns, districts, municipalities, communes, sangkats, villages”.

The King of Cambodia said he would like to dedicate this plant day ceremony to be in the heart of the nation and become a tradition of unity, planting all kinds of trees together, preserving, protecting and developing precious forest-wildlife resources to last forever. He stressed that planting trees is a green investment in nature that provides many benefits for all of humans, animals and the planet as a whole.