Turkmenistan to plant 3M trees in desert

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ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has signed legislation to plant 3 million trees, with irrigation systems, in the Karakum Desert this year.

The National Forest Program is intended to turn the desert, which covers about 70 percent of the country, into a "flowering garden," RIA Novosti reported.

Half of the 3 million trees will be planted in a 62 mile stretch between the towns of Anau and Baharly in the country's south, while the other half is to be planted in by local authorities across Turkmenistan's five regions, a report on Turkmenistan.gov.tm said.

The trees will be a mix of unspecified deciduous, coniferous and fruit trees, as well as grapevine, all of which are to be provided with sufficient irrigation, the report said.