NAY PYI TAW, June 20
The Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army) held the first monsoon tree growing ceremony for 2019 near Yezin Dam in Zeyathiri Township, here, this morning, attended by Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing who grew a Mahogany sapling.
Also present at the ceremony together with the Senior General were his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe, the Union Minister for Home Affairs and wife, the Union Minister for Defence and wife, the Union Minister for Border Affairs and wife, the Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) and wife, the Commander-in-Chief (Navy) and wife, the Commander-in-Chief (Air) and wife, senior military offi cers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and wives, the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command and wife, senior officer trainees from the National Defence College, officers, other ranks and families from the offices and departments of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army).
In his address, the Senior General said that the Tatmadaw has been holding the tree growing ceremonies Party government era and Tatmadaw government era. During the period of multiparty democracy era from 2011 to 2018, the Tatmadaw has grown more than 1.9 million saplings of industrial crops, more than 1.5 million saplings of which are thriving. Over 2.7 million precious saplings were grown, more than 2.2 million saplings of which are flourishing. More than 2.1 million saplings of over 2.9 million saplings of industrial crops are thriving while over 2.9 million saplings of more than 3.9 million saplings of windbreak are growing. As more than eight million saplings of over 11 million saplings in total are flourishing, the Tatmadaw achieved success in growing of saplings, accounting for about 80 percent. The Senior General stressed the need to correctly choose terms and sizes of saplings in growing them and then systematically maintain them for flourishing after growing.
In Myanmar, the Senior General noted that use of firewood, extraction of timber for construction of buildings, illegal extraction of timber for self-interest and cultivation of crops through slash and burn system cause deforestation. Not only officials concerned but also individuals need to prevent deforestation. If supply of electricity is lesser, use of firewood will happen. Although efforts were made to use firewood substitute fuel in the past, the mission failed due to various reasons. Hence, the Senior General urged them to manage systematic use of firewood. Deforestation causes consequences of climate change. It needs to take a long time for thriving of a tree. Therefore, the Senior General called for growing of trees with goodwill in farsightedness. The Senior General stressed the need to grow trees for benefitting their assigned regions but it should not be commemorative. The Senior General urged them to explain benefits ofgrowing trees to Tatmadaw members and local people for planting the trees for serving the State interest.
The Senior General and wife grew a Mahogany tree.Then, the Vice-Senior General and wife, the Union Ministers and their wives, senior military offi cers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, offi cers, other ranks and families also grew saplings at the designated places. Next, the Senior General and party viewed round collective cultivation of saplings by offi cers, other ranks and families. At today’s ceremony organized by the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army), they all collectively planted 189 precious Mahogany saplings, 1,210 Acacia Mangium saplings, 1,040 gum-kino saplings and 2,281 teak saplings, totaling 4,720. In order to conserve environment and ecosystem of Yezin Dam and its surrounding areas, the Office of the Commander-in-Chief(Army) has grown 141,783 saplings of precious and perennial trees and shade and wind-break plants at the monsoon tree growing ceremonies from 2011 to 2019.
