10-year Myanmar forest reestablishment plan to raise forest areas

 

AN emphasis must be placed to implement the plan for the national forest sector with the formation of forest reserves and protected public forests in a 30-per-cent area of the country and a 10-per-cent one for environmental conservation areas, said Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win at the monsoon tree-growing ceremony for 2023 along both sides of the entrance road to Maravijaya Buddha Image in block 14 of Yanaungmyin forest reserve in Lewe Township yesterday morning.

Speaking on the occasion, the Vice-Senior General underscored that forests must be systematically managed with economic, social and environmental conservation outlooks based on Myanmar’s forest policy for contributing to the sustainable development of the State with the long-term existence of valuable forest resources.

He unveiled that 51.54 per cent of the country’s area was covered with forest resources in 2000, 46.96 per cent in 2010, 42.92 per cent in 2015 and 42.19 per cent in 2020 according to the UN Food and Agricultural Organization. As such, he continued to say that an emphasis must be placed on the prevention of deforestation in natural forest resources.

As the 10-year Myanmar forest reestablishment plan is being implemented from the 2017-18 financial year to 2026-27 FY, a total of 24.619 million saplings including State-owned forest plantations are being set up this monsoon, he added.

Concerning reforestation, the Vice-Senior General stressed the need to systematically grow trees in the places of damaged plants hit by severe storm Mocha in Rakhine State on 14 June and speed up the cultivation of mangrove forests and other forests as natural greening walls along the coastal areas.

The Vice-Senior General pointed out that it is important to green the ASEAN highways, Yangon-Mandalay expressway and railways in Myanmar. As such, he continued to say that instructions have been given to cooperate with relevant ministries to draw a master plan for growing trees in necessary sites along 500 metres wide lands outside the road areas.

An emphasis must be laid on implementing the plan of the national forest sector with the formation of forest reserves and protected public forests in a 30- per-cent area of the country and a 10-per-cent one in environmental conservation areas, he added.

He noted that a plan was set to shape Nay Pyi Taw Council Area to be a green city and clean city by establishing green spaces, parks, urban forests and green landscapes.

The Vice-Senior General planted Gangaw (Mesua ferrea) trees at the designated place. At today’s ceremony, a total of 2,220 saplings were grown as a public movement.

These saplings were placed along the entrance to Maravijaya Buddha Image from 204/1 milepost of Yangon-Mandalay expressway in block 14 in Yanaungmyin forest reserve in Lewe Township.  

MNA/TTA

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