France will plant 1 billion trees by 2030 to preserve biodiversity, President Emmanuel Macron said, EuroActive reported.

Fires destroyed 72,000 hectares of forest in France this summer, six times more than the average of the last ten years.

In his speech, Macron thanked the firefighters, foresters, and security personnel who took part in putting out the fires that destroyed thousands of hectares of forest this summer.

Macron also announced his new 2030 forest strategy, which aims to strengthen departmental and aerial resources. Among the measures announced, departmental fire and rescue services will receive an annual budget of 150 million euros. France will also increase its fleet of amphibious aircraft.