The President of Tanzania, Benjamin Mkapa, has ordered that five trees be planted in his country for every one that is cut down.

President Mkapa told the youth wing of the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi that he wants defence groups to be deployed to protect the environment.

He said people who caused environmental degradation were digging a grave for the entire society and must be prosecuted.

He said the rate at which trees were being felled was alarming and warned that many areas of the country would be turned into a desert if the trend wasn't reversed.

Environmentalists say at least 400-thousand hectared of forest are felled in Tanzania every year.