28 September 2024
Families of Office of the Commander- in-Chief (Army, Navy and Air) and those from military command headquarters have been organizing monsoon treegrowing ceremonies since 2011 aimed at conserving natural environment, contributing to climatic conditions, creating shades and supporting the State economy on one hand.
Today, families of Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army, Navy and Air) held the third monsoon tree-growing ceremony 2024 near Yezin Dam in Zeyathiri Township of Nay Pyi Taw, attended by Chairman of the State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing who planted a teak sapling.
Also present at the ceremony were Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, wife of the Senior General, Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win and his wife Daw Than Than Nwe, Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Maung Maung Aye and his wife, senior military officers from the Office of the Commanderin-Chief and their wives, unionlevel dignitaries and their wives, senior officer trainees from the National Defence College,officers and other ranks from the offices and departments of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army) and families.
Speaking on the occasion, the Senior General said that forests beautify the environment, creacreating advantages to humans and living beings. Hence, families of Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army, Navy and Air) and those from military command headquarters hold the monsoon tree-growing ceremonies yearly.
Growing of trees and conservation of forests must be conducted continuously as a national vision.
Currently, everybody knows that the whole world often experiences impacts of natural disasters such as droughts, flooding and strong winds. Although nobody can evade natural disasters, they can make preparations for minimizing loss and damage in the incidents, such as growing trees and systematically conserving forests.
The Senior General recounted that he has given guidance to conduct necessary rehabilitation measures in Rakhine State and Bagan ancient cultural zone where faced flooding in the aftermath of cyclonic storm Mocha in 2023. Ancient religious monuments in Bagan ancient cultural zone are invaluable cultural heritages and these cannot be substituted with others. Hence, guidance was given to dredge ancient lakes to ensure better drainage system and proper flow of water in the zone and improve water drainage system. As such, recent heavy rains caused lesser loss and damage in the zone thanks to systematic preparations.
As gold panning, mining and extreme cutting of trees upstream of rivers and creeks in the country causes silting along the waterway and then it occurs sandbanks and raise bed level.
Due to weakness in conservation of the waterways, silting in the rivers and creeks causes flooding and overflow of water. Recent heavy rains happened
speedy flow of water from hilly regions along its route, causing loss and damage. It was the worst loss and damage among natural disasters in heavy rains of Myanmar. Growing trees and systematic conservation of forests can mitigate speedy flow of water and bar floating of logs in the waterway.
If a forest is established, it needs to spend more than 10 years of period. New generations can enjoy fruits of growing trees at present. Perennial trees cannot benefit all immediately but can bring good results to new generations. Hence, in accord with the motto: “each tree must thrive”, individuals need to grow trees for thriving and officials need to manage further growth of plants.
The Senior Generaland his wife, the Vice-Senior General and his wife planted a sapling together with the Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) and his wife,senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, union-level dignitaries and their wives, senior officer trainees from the National Defence College, officers, other ranks and families at the designated places.
The Senior General, his wife and party viewed round the activities of officers, other ranks and families in growing saplings.
A total of 201,225 saplings of precious trees, perennial trees and windbreaks were grown around Yezin Dam from 2011 to this third tree-growing ceremony 2024
At today’s ceremony, they planted 900 teak saplings, 600 Mahogany saplings, 300 ironwood saplings and 600 gum-kino saplings, totalling 2,400. Families of Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army, Navy and Air) held tree-growing ceremonies 41 times from 2011 to the third ceremony in 2024 in growing 201,225 saplings of precious trees, perennial trees and windbreaks for conservation of natural environment and ecosystem around Yezin Dam.
The entire Tatmadaw plants 221,573 saplings today
Likewise, all military commands grew precious trees, industrial trees, perennial plants and windbreaks at monsoon tree-growing ceremonies. In this regard, Nay Pyi Taw Command planted 9,265 saplings, Northern Command 9,854 saplings, Eastern Command 11,709 saplings, Eastern Central Command 22,630 saplings, 25,685 saplings in Triangle Region Command, South-East Command 10,830 saplings, Coastal Region Command 24,615 saplings, Yangon Command 22,969 saplings, South-West Command 10,916 saplings, Western Command 9,515 saplings, North-West Command 12,887 saplings, Central Command 30,959 saplings and Southern Command 17,335 saplings with participation of relevant military command commanders and officials.
Today, Tatmadaw including families of Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army, Navy and Air), those from military command headquarters and regiments and units planted 221,573 saplings.
