By Xinhua,
Rio De Janeiro : Brazil has announced that it will plant one billion trees by 2013 in the Amazon rainforest region as part of a reforestation programme.
Governor of the Brazilian state of Para, Ana Julia Carepa, told Xinhua that the programme is being initiated to protect the rainforest.
The government will offer incentives to local people to plant trees, she said.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is expected to attend the inauguration of the programme.
“The government will not plant trees in person but will offer incentives to people to encourage tree plantation,” Carepa said.
She said the officials of Para and other states would gather in the city of Belem later Friday to discuss the plan.
“It is not that the national government tells us what to do with the Amazon. We, the Amazonians, are active actors and protagonists in putting the Amazon within the national development,” the Para governor said.