1 million trees to be planted

Washington - Earth Day Network is enlisting groups in 15 countries to plant 1 million trees this year with Avatar movie director James Cameron and 20th Century Fox.

The Washington-based group announced its plans on Sunday. Cameron planted the first of 1 million trees in April in Brazil.

In the US, trees will be planted in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles to improve air quality and urban animal habitats.

Tree plantings in such places as Mexico, Canada and Spain will be focused on reforestation of depleted areas.

Other efforts tie in with both development and environmental improvements. In Haiti, the US-based Trees for the Future will work with farmers to plant about 500 000 fruit trees and other native species to provide economic benefits.

That makes Haiti one of the largest sites.