Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended the 2022 environmental greening activity at No (13) Yan Aung Myin forest reserve in Lewe Township of Dekkhina District in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
First, the Senior General said the 2022 monsoon tree plantation ceremony is held to ensure the sustainability of forest resources, conserve the ecosystem and mobilize the public to participate in forest conservation activities.
Every citizen should participate in natural environmental conservation in the nation according to the stipulations under Section 45 of the Constitution and Section 390 mentioned in the Chapter on Citizen, Fundamental Rights and Duties of the Citizen.
Conserving the forest and trees is also important for the proper ecosystem and sustainable development of the country and so it should be carried out as a national-level task.
Although the previous tree planting events were held only in June and July, they were conducted starting in May this year. The events should be held across the nation.
The forest, trees and forest ecosystem provide the forest products and manage the climate changes. Moreover, they also prevent from occurring soil erosion and other natural disasters and bring a lot of benefits such as environmental-related services and benefits.
The Senior General also added that proper tree planting techniques should be adapted in growing trees to achieve the full survival of trees.
Being a developing country, the people still use firewood and charcoal. 70 per cent of the population live in rural areas and they mainly rely on the forest for the firewood. It was already instructed to implement two acres of village firewood planation at least in regions and states. It was estimated to grow 23,973,051 plants in 28,715 acres of state-owned forest area in the 2021 monsoon and to grow about 20 million plants in 24,269 acres this year.
The government also implemented systematic forest rings on both sides of roads to green the environment and offer a pleasant travelling experience. In 2021, a total of 278,573 plants were grown in 663 road sections and it is estimated to grow more than 250,000 plants in 859 road sections in the 2022 monsoon period.
According to a 2000 report issued by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 51.54 per cent of the country was covered in the forest while 46.96 per cent in 2010, 42.92 per cent in 2015 and 42.19 per cent in 2020. The figures showed declining forest coverage in the country.
The Senior General then highlighted the consequences of deforestation.
The Senior General said tree plantation and forest implementation works are being conducted in a good drive and the timber production was suspended in the mini-budget term of the 2021-2022FY and the 2022-2023FY. It aims to accelerate natural forest conservation activities. Moreover, the logs and sawn timbers are banned from exporting and only the finished products are allowed.
Nay Pyi Taw Council Area is the capital city of the country and the officials make efforts to be Green City, Clean City and Smart City as well as a model for other regions/states.
All the doings are aimed not only for the country but also for the new generations to hand over a fine eternal heritage like pleasant, green, healthy, fun, developing and clean urban cities.
The Senior General called on the ethnic people and local/foreign organizations to work with the government while conserving the reserve resources of the country by reducing the exploration of natural resources, making efforts to reduce climate changes, ensuring the sustainability of state-owned forests, establishing village firewood-plantation and development of mangroves in coastal regions as a national task as well as to create greening Myanmar land area by holding tree-planting events across the nation.
Then, the Senior General grew the star-flower plant and the Vice-Senior General grew the ironwood tree at No 1 plot of Yan Aung Myin forest reserve block (13).
The SAC Members, Secretary and Joint-Secretary, Chief Justice of Union, UEC Chairman, Union Ministers, the chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council, Commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command, deputy ministers and officials and attendees also grew saplings at the designated places.
The Senior General also planted Yinma sapling and the Vice-Senior General planted Pan Mezali sapling at the No (2) plot of Yan Aung Myin forest reserve block (13).
Then, the attendees grew the saplings at the designated places.
A total of 2,739 saplings of 35 species were grown at the event.
In 2022, it is estimated to implement 2 acres of village firewood plantation in each village and grow 30.57 million saplings.
According to the statement of FAO in 2020, only 49.19 per cent of the land area was covered by forest and so the government promoted the state-owned forest plantation area to ensure the forest coverage and meet the wood demands. The 10-year MRRP from the 2016-2017FY to the 2025-2026FY was also drafted. Based on the programme, the teak, ironwood, gun-kino, pine trees and more than 42,000 acres of watershed and mangrove plantations were established and there were 22,000 acres in the 2018-2019FY. If the commercial plantation is well conserved, it can produce wood for local demand without affecting natural forests. — MNA
