On Sunday, 22 February 2009, Peruvian president Alan Garcia Perez personally planted the 40 millionth tree in Lima, capital of Peru which concluded the Peruvian National Tree Campaign of Afforestation and Reforestation. The campaign is aimed at fighting climate change and encouraging environment preservation within the framework of UNEP's Billion Tree Campaign.

The head of state planted a native Tara tree (Caesalpinia spinosa) symbolizing the efforts of hundreds of rural communities throughout Peru preserving the environment, especially women; also public and private institutions.

On this day, several planting activities were done nationwide as a last effort in this National Campaign. At the Breña District Plaza took place a special Ceremony with President Alan Garcia, Minister of Agriculture Carlos Leyton, Vice Minister of Environment Vanessa Verau, Agrorural Programme Director Rodolfo Beltran and District Major Jose Gordillo.

In the rural community of San Mateo (highlands of Lima) 3,300 trees were planted that took the final result of the campaign to above 40 millions of trees.

During this environment campaign, several native and foreign species of trees were planted: pine, cypress, Peruvian peppertree and Queñua; all of them produced in the Ministry of Agriculture nurseries.

Rodolfo Beltran said that the 40 Million Tree National Campaign of Afforestation and Reforestation, began last 13rd December, was done simultaneously in 18 departments of Peru. “This labour was accomplished responsibly with the technical support of our staff of engineers and technicians who work along with the rural communities throughout the national territory,” he added.

The 40 Million Tree National Campaign of Afforestation and Reforestation will generate 133,000 temporary jobs and is the most important action of the Peruvian Government in the global fight to preserve the environment. Additional there will be medium range basic productive wood processing benefits

In addition, the forestry activities will achieve a capture of over 570 thousand metric tons of carbon dioxide, for which Peru would gain a significant income.

Global warming is causing serious damages in the snow-mountains of Peru. In the recent years many of them are disappearing which will reduce water sources for the people, animals and agriculture.

The next goal of the Ministry of Agriculture of Peru for 2010 is to plant 60 million trees and it is expected a massive participation of institutions and society.

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