Families of Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army, Navy and Air) hold fourth monsoon tree-growing ceremony 2023

Families of Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army, Navy and Air) hold fourth monsoon tree-growing ceremony 2023

NAY PYI TAW September 7

    Aimed at conserving natural environment, contributing the climatic conditions, giving shade and supporting State economy on one hand, families of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army, Navy and Air) and relevant military commands have been holding the monsoon tree growing ceremonies on a manageable scale since 2011.

This year’s fourth ceremony of the families of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army, Navy and Air) took place near Yezin Dam in Zeyathiri Township of Nay Pyi Taw today, attended by Chairman of the State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing who grew a teak tree.

Also present at the ceremony were his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, SAC Vice Chairman Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win and wife, Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Maung Maung Aye and wife, the Commander-in-Chief (Navy) and wife, the Commander-in-Chief (Air) and wife, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, Union level officials and their wives, the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command, senior office trainees from the National Defence College, officers and other ranks of the offices and departments of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army)and families.

Only when forests are systematically grown, will they help harmonize conservation of natural environment and ecosystem

    In his speech, the Senior General first expressed his pleasure for active and happy participation of all in tree-growing ceremony. Now, everybody knows the globe is warming due to deforestation. Consequently, human faces natural disasters such as drought, flooding, storms, landslides and earthquakes.

Moreover, other wildlife species face depletion gradually.

These are bad consequences between living beings and ecosystem.

Forests much affect environment, ecosystem of living beings and social system. Forests were used in economic development tasks in successive eras but it is necessary to regrow trees. Extraction of necessary volume of trees and reforestation can help socioeconomic development of the people and conservation of environment and ecosystem in harmony. Extreme extraction of timber caused climate change. So, the temperature of Nay Pyi Taw increased to 28.5°C at present, up from 26.97°C in 2006. As such, the Tatmadaw undertook the public movements in growing trees across the nation.

As the globe faces warming, underground water becomes dried and rivers silted as well as creeks and drains dried. So, it can be seen that all living beings face difficulty for survival.

As such, it is necessary to systematically manage sustainability of forest resources, greening the environment, reduction of climate change and prevention of natural disasters.

The Senior General said it needs to take pride in growing trees as a noble measure for the humans.

With regard to the geographical conditions of Myanmar, it is an environment endowed with bless of god for a human.

Myanmar is located with high mountain ranges in the west, north and east, and these mountain ranges are covered thick forests. Moreover, Chindwin, Ayeyawady and Siting rivers between western and eastern mountain ranges are stretching in parallel with Pontaung Ponnya and middle mountain range called Minwun mountain range in addition to Shan plateau. These mountain ranges are covered with forests, and these forests must be efficiently utilized, beneficial for the State.

Needs to conserve forests and green environments as national duty

    Colonialists aggressively invaded Myanmar endowed with valuable forests and extremely extracted timbers. Moreover, timbers were extracted in successive eras to earn incomes for the State. So, forest coverage area declined to 42 percent. Natural resources can be renewed and some cannot be renewed. Forests can be renewed naturally, and human can help reforestation. If people do not correctly reestablish forests, the country will face impacts of the nature. Especially, it is necessary to conserve forests close to the rural areas and those residing in urban areas need to green their environs as a national duty.

In its agricultural engagements, the Tatmadaw is growing seasonal and perennial crops as well as windbreaks. It contributes to food security and shades. As the saying goes “a good tree can house a ten thousand birds”, growing trees and crops will facilitate food security and benefits for our own environment. So, we should do it with farsightedness. This is why all are urged to participate in the efforts to create a green environment and green one’s own environment.

The Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army) has held annual tree-planting ceremonies since 2011. Until the third ceremony this year, 190,473 saplings have been planted. Of them, only 109,885 trees survived accounting for just 55 percent. Responsible officials need to take supervisory measures to ensure all the trees survive and thrive in full percent as such collective tree planting ceremonies take time and manpower. At today’s fourth ceremony, 3,528 saplings of teak, manjansha and  pad auk.Efforts are necessary for their survival.

It is a human duty to remedy global warming. The habit of planting and conserving trees is very humane so special emphasis on this task is required. From the start of growing to the time of thriving, special care is necessary without fail in terms of seasonality and life expectancy of trees. Growing trees is supportive for both the present and future.

SAC Chairman Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services and wife lead teak  growing

     The Senior General and wife lead planning teak saplings.

Next, the senior officers and wives, officers, other ranks and their families planted saplings in their designated places.

Then, the Senior General, wife and party encouraged those participating in the ceremony.

194,001 saplings of teak, perennials and windbreaks planted in the area of Yezin Dam from 2011 to 2023

    Today, 1,764 teak saplings, 882 manjansha saplings and 882 pad auk saplings totaling 3,528 were planted. In the area of the dam, families of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army, Navy and Air) held 39 ceremonies from 2011 to 2023 in which 194,001 saplings were planted.

The whole Tatmadaw grows 175,674 saplings today

    Similar ceremonies were held in the various military commands across the country with 7,380 saplings in Nay Pyi Taw Command, 15,255 in Northern Command, 20,135 in North-East Command, 9,525 in Eastern Command, 13,618 in Central East Command, 14,613 in Triangle Region Command, 5,445 in South-East Command, 13,529 in Coastal Region Command, 9,083 in Yangon Command, 13,230 in South-West Command, 10,964 in Western Command, 9,112 in North-West Command, 20,207 in Central Command and 10,050 in Southern Command, totaling 175,674.