Lithuania commits to increasing its forest coverage. The government has adopted The National forestry development programme for 2012-2020 (National Forest Programme). One of its objectives is to afforest poor and abandoned agricultural lands, as well as provide financial incentives for afforestation of private and state-owned lands. Current support for afforestation measures is provided from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and the Lithuanian state budget. Lithuania commits to afforest 30,000 hectares, increasing forest coverage up to 34.2% of the country.
The commitment falls under focus area 2 of the Batumi Initiative to enhance ecosystems and ecosystem services as part of ecological infrastructure.
Implementing partner includes Ministry of Agriculture.
The commitment is relevant to SDG target 15.2.