SHENZHEN residents are being urged to plant three to five trees each year by the local greenery committee as the annual national Tree-Planting Day falls on today (Mar 12).

To mark the event, staff from the municipal urban administration bureau and Shenzhen Press Group will plant trees in Dashahe Park today.

It will be the first in a series of tree-planting activities the two organizations will launch throughout the city over the coming month. About 10,000 people are expected to take part in various activities.

The 31.2-hectare Dashahe Park, located in Nanshan District, used to be a soil-dumping area. The city government has decided to make it a park for residents in nearby neighborhoods. The park is expected to open to the public in October.

Shenzheners are being invited to plant trees on Tiegang Reservoir, Yangtai Mountain, and Fenghuang Mountain in Bao'an District, Sanzhoutian in Yantian District, Tiantou Mountain, Paiya Mountain, Qinglinjing Park and Tongguling in Longgang District, and Longwei Mountain in Luohu District, according to the city's greenery committee.

Young trees are available free of charge from the greenery committee, but people have to prepare fertilizer and tools themselves.

People who cannot plant trees can pay 20 yuan (US$2.56) annually to the greenery committee, which will then arrange for tree-planting activities on their behalf.

For more information, please call the greenery committee: 8202-3126.

Editor: Wing