ASEAN to issue declaration on greening region by 2020

Hanoi Times - Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries will unveil a plan to plant 10 million hectares of trees in the region by 2020 to absorb greenhouse gases.

The plan will be announced as a special declaration at the summit meeting of the grouping in Singapore next week.

The declaration will also urge member countries to promote coral reef protection, the Associated Press reported.

ASEAN's web site says the leaders will sign a declaration o­n environmental sustainability to protect and manage the environment.

The Web site also says the leaders will declare their support for a successful outcome of negotiations at the annual UN climate conference to be held o­n the Indonesian island of Bali next month, according to the AP.