The national-level public movement tree-growing ceremony 2025 in Minbu Township, Minbu District, Magway Region, to green 13 dry zones took place at the place between mileposts 4/7 and 5/0 on MinbuPadan-An road in Minbu Township this morning, attended by Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who grew a neem sapling.
Speaking on the occasion, the Senior General said a total of 1,000 saplings from seven species will be planted today collectively as part of the public movement.
He added that, through tree planting and forest conservation, shade and shelter can be created, and the environment can become greener and more pleasant. In this region, more tree planting and environmental conservation activities should be carried out.
The Senior General urged each village to establish a two-acre firewood plantation. There are 963 villages in Minbu District, and if each village plants two acres, nearly 2,000 acres could be established. If replanting is done annually, many more trees and forests will grow, greatly contributing to a greener environment.
Similarly, he noted that, if each household plants just one tree, with around 170,000 households in Minbu District, then annual planting would significantly increase forest cover.
In 2005, the Senior General recounted that forest cover in the country stood at 49 per cent, but it has now declined to only 42.19 per cent, a decrease of about 7 per cent. Efforts are being made to restore forest cover to around 50 per cent. According to reports, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation planted a total of 16.27 million trees during the past period. At present, plans are also in place to expand tree planting in the 13 tropical districts under a five-year programme from 2025-2026 to 2029-2030.
He underscored that if these planting efforts are carried out successfully, they will bring significant benefits to environmental greening and will also help mitigate the impacts of climate change.
He stated that for roadside greening, shade trees will be planted along road areas, and small forest plantations of five acres, 10 acres, and similar sizes will be established.
The Senior General and his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla planted a neem sapling at the designated place.
Commission Secretary Joint Executive Chief General Ye Win Oo, Union ministers U Min Naung, U Khin Maung Yi and Dr Charlie Than, Magway Region Chief Minister U Tint Lwin, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the commander of Central Command, departmental officials from township, district and region levels, town elders, deputy ministers, teachers, students and officials grew saplings at the same time.
The Senior General viewed round active participation of attendees in growing saplings at the ceremony.
At the ceremony, a total of 1,000 saplings of six species, such as neem, Indian elm, gum-kino, Indian mahogany, Mezali, Flamboyant and Htonpauk, were grown as the public activity.
MNA/TTA
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