As part of its island-wide reforestation project, Puerto Rico will plant millions of trees over the next three years.

Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA) on Wednesday unveiled The Plataforma Verde (Green Platform) initiative.

Daniel Galan, secretary of DRNA said that an investment of over $10 million would be required for the project.

He said that this year, 300,000 trees would be planted.

A separate project sponsored by Puerto Rico's Inter-American University will supplement the initiative that will plant one million trees across the Caribbean island.

The secretary further noted," Sixty percent of Puerto Rico's territory (US commonwealth) has a good degree of forest coverage and the new measure is an effort to improve the current situation.”

DNRA said that trees reduce wind velocity, regulate temperature, mitigate heat build-up with the shade they provide and filter rainwater, which in turn reduces soil erosion. (With Input from Agencies)