Phnom Penh,  Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on Saturday planted tree saplings in the country's northwestern area to mark Arbor Day, or tree planting day, after a two-year Covid-induced hiatus.

The event was also attended by senior officials of the government, members of both houses of Parliament as well as foreign diplomats, relevant stakeholders and thousands of locals and students, reports Xinhua news agency.

Speaking at a ceremony, Sihamoni said forests are great natural resources for the life of human beings and animals, saying that forestation is a green investment in nature that provides numerous benefits for all beings on the planet.

He added that tree planting can take place at pagodas, public places, tourist destinations, and lands along village routes, national roads, and canals.

"We should pay attention to initiating new ideas, including the marriage couples planting trees at the wedding garden or forest garden established by the municipal or provincial administrations or forestry administrations for all towns, districts, communes and villages," he said.

Meanwhile, Sihamoni called on the Cambodian people to help prevent illegal logging, forest clearance and burning for land, poaching and snaring wild animals, and wildfires in order to protect forests and wildlife for children of this generation and future ones.

At the event, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon said some 13,940 tree seedlings were planted on a land of 10 hectares at a forest restoration site in Banan district of Battambang province.

Cambodia's forest cover stood at 73 per cent in the 1970s, but has been declining due to overlogging.