APSARA National Authority (ANA) on July 7 announced that it had distributed a total of 6,350 saplings between June 27 and July 5 to monks, local authorities and the public to plant at Buddhist pagodas, schools and other sites.

One thousand of these were given to Preah In Kosa pagoda to plant around Samdech Techo Hun Sen High School, in Sangvoeuy commune of southeastern Siem Reap province’s Chi Kraeng district.

Most were luxury-wood species such as Siamese rosewood or kranhoung (Dalbergia cochinchinensis), Burma padauk or thnong (Pterocarpus macrocarpus), and beng (Afzelia xylocarpa).

Another 2,500 saplings – including 500 kranhoung, 300 thnong and 200 beng – were provided to Prasat Reachea Samrong pagoda to plant in the Sorng Rukhavorn community forest in Kon Kriel commune of Oddar Meanchey province’s Samrong town.

Another 1,500 were distributed to Visuthimakk pagoda in Leang Dai commune of Siem Reap’s Angkor Thom district, and 500 more were given to a department under the ANA to plant near Ta Kav gate, or the western gate of Angkor Thom temple complex.

The remaining 850 saplings were divided among local associations, media companies, and ordinary citizens to plant at a variety of suitable locations.