In a civic event meant to symbolize Mexico’s attempt to undo some of the environmental damage it has done through excessive pollution, Mexicans went out this past Saturday and planted over eight million trees all over the country.

During an event celebrating the plantings, President Felipe Calderon stated, “We are repairing just a little of the enormous damage that we are doing “to the environment.” Though Greenpeace has been quoted as calling the day nothing more than a publicity stunt, the Mexican government is trying to use the event as an awareness-raising campaign for its citizens.

Calderon regularly speaks out against global warming, and the leftwing Mexico City mayor has launched a number of green initiatives to curb rampant pollution in the city, where government fuel subsidies and a lack of public transport mean the roads are permanently choked with cars.

Mexican Environment Minister Juan Rafael Elvira said the point of the tree planting was to raise environmental consciousness in Mexico, which ecologists also criticize for allowing the oil industry to contaminate many rural states. [planetark.com]

Even if the 8.3 million trees planted don’t actually undo all the pollution the country has created, the symbolism is certainly better than inaction. To learn more about planting trees for the environment, you can takepart here and visit the Arbor Day Foundation.