SAC Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing leads growing of Mesuaferrea plant at 2022 monsoon tree-growing ceremony in Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory Area
NAY PYI TAW June 26
Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing planted a Mesuaferrea sapling at the ceremony to hold the monsoon tree-growing ceremony for 2022 on both sides of Sabei Road to Maravijaya Buddha Image in Dekkhinathiri Township of Dekkhina District in Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory at 7.30 am this morning.
Also present at the ceremony were Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, wife of the Senior General, Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win and wife, SAC members and their wives, the council secretary and wife, the counciljoint secretary and wife, Union level officials, the chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command, deputy ministers, departmental staff,students from Forestry and Environmental University and basic education schools and officials.
Speaking on the occasion, the Senior General said the tree-growing ceremonies were held across the nation with public participation aimed at ensuring long term existence of forest resrouces, greening and beautifying of rural and urban areas, developing public areas and conserving forest ecosystems and biodiversity.
According to the records of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization, the globe was covered by 6.21 billion hectares of forest area in 17th and 18th centuries, declining to 3.87 billion hectares in 2000. Although Southeast Asian countries possessed 7 percent of the global forest area in 2020 but they lost some 9.4 million hectares of forest areas between 2010 to 2020.
In observing the deforestation process the developing countries including Myanmar are facing, undisciplined and extreme extraction of timbers, cultivation of slash and burn farms, extreme extraction of firewood and charcoal, outbreak of forest fire, urban development tasks, expansion of agricultural lands and industrial works caused change of forest lands, deterioration of natural forest eco-systems day by day.
Deforestation poses terrible threats such as climate change, silting of rivers, creeks and lakes, flooding to survival of human. On the other hand, humans are facing water pollution loss of fresh water sources, depletion of soil, and loss of biodiversity as bad consequences.
As the United Nations released the UN Decade Declaration (2021-2030) for eco-system restoration, it mentions enhancement of restoration for deterioration of eco-systems for fighting climate change, prevention of lossing millions of species, food sufficiency, water supply and firm livelihoods.
In Myanmar, the country iscovered by 52 percent of forest area in 2000 and 42.19 percent in 2020. Hence, relevant ministries, region and state governemtns, social organizationsand citizens were urged to further lessen forest coverage area, stopdeforestation, conserve natural forests, re-establish forests, ban change of utilizing forest land into other items, and effectively conserve permanent forest areas and outside areas under the forest policies.
Nowadays, the glove faces urban population density and expansion of industrial areas.
Hence, a special emphasisis being placed on conservation of green spaces on both sides of roads, parks and urban forests for prevention of environmental pollution.
Nurturing and conservation of urban forest area aims to ensure happiness and health ofthe people, increase public recration centres, control water circle of urban area, control underground water in order to get the proper drinking water.
Moreover, creation of pleasant envrionment for tourists and businesses, mitigating climate change and natural disasters, prevention of air pollution,and conservation of fertile soil and landscapes will benefit the life on land of the world.
Since the establishment and conservation of urban forest plantations in the Nay Pyi Taw Council area started in 2006-2007, it is known to all that fruitful results have emerged such as a green environment, less temperature in summer and temperate climate.
Today’s ceremonial venue is Sabai Road, a major route from Nay Pyi Taw to the Maravijaya Buddha Image which will be the highest stone sculptured Buddha image in the world.
The road is being upgraded to a four-lane one with perennial flower trees such as Gangaw, Seinban and star flower for its greening.
Like Nay Pyi Taw to become a green and clean city, farsighted efforts should be made to establish green and clean cities in other regions and states.
As the government speeds up green campaigns, such participation of students and younger generation will motivate themselves to know the importance of conserving trees and forests, the green, healthy and sustainable environment and ecosystem for the sake of posterity.
In the prioritizing environment conservation sector development, the government also calls for the sustainability of underground and above-ground natural resources and handover of such legacies to future generations, reduction in climate change and ensuring balanced eco-system, long-term existence of State-owned forest plantations, establishment of urban forest plantations and community-owned firewood plantations, sustainability of mangrove forests in the coastal areas and cooperation between the government and all the people including youths, departmental organizations and local and foreign organizations in establishing mangrove forests as a national task to conserve the rivers, creeks and dams in their long run in order for Myanmar to be able to stand as a green and pleasant country in the international community, the Senior General said.
Next, the Senior General and wife and the Vice-Senior General and wife planted Gangaw saplings in thier designated places.
Then, SAC members and wives, the secretary and wife, the joint secretary and wife, Union level dignitaries, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and wives, the Nay Pyi Taw Council chairman, the Nay Pyi Taw Command commander, deputy ministers, departmental officers and staff, students from the university and officials planted saplings on both sides of the road.
The Senior General went round and encouraged those in attendance planting saplings collectively.
At today’s ceremony, a total of 652 saplings of Gangaw, star flower and Seinban were planted in a mass campaign.