Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania on Sunday joined about 1500 of school children from Madaba governorate in observing the Arbor Day.



About 3000 forest trees were planted in a scenic area overlooking the Dead Sea marking the launching of national campaign for greening and tree planting covering various parts of the kingdom.



King Abdullah, who was accompanied by a number of cabinet ministers, and senior government officials, unveiled the monument at the site on a plot of land of 170 dunums which has been chosen for its unique geographic and tourist location that magnificently overlooks the Dead Sea area.



The national greening campaign is being carried out by the Agriculture Ministry in cooperation with public and private organizations with the aim of increasing green areas in the country.



Forest areas form 0.09 per cent of the total area of Jordan which is very low compared to world percentage, 15-25, Agriculture Minister Sharari Shakhanbeh said. There are about 258,000 dunums of natural forest areas and artificial afforestation covers 470,000, the minister said.