Mauritania has begun planting some 384 000 trees to ward off the advancing ocean and desert sand dunes threatening the capital Nouakchott, the environment minister told journalists on Monday.

"Mauritania is focused on its objective to plant 384 000 saplings over 726 hectares (1800 acres) for reforestation in view of the struggle against the encroaching desert to reinforce the green belt in the capital," said the minister, Ba El Housseynou.

This year alone the reforestation programme will see the planting of 200,000 seedlings on 500 hectares.

The minister was speaking to mark National Tree week, which began 1 August.

The Mauritanian capital is a coastal city built in the sand, and is thus doubly threatened by the encroachment of the sea and dunes.