Nay Pyi Taw July 11
Sagaing Region, Magway Re-gion and Mandalay Region in the central arid zone of Myanmar are the regions bearing the bulk of the burden of climate change, droughts and high temperatures in the country. Hence, climate change and dryness must be addressed through nature-based methods, establishment of tree plantations, forest conservation, cultivation of windbreakers in rows, application of sustainable planting systems, and systematic mana-gement of water resources.
The Ministry of Natural Re-sources and Environmental Conservation simultaneously launched mass monsoon tree-planting ceremonies for 2025 at the designated places in 29 townships of 13 arid districts in Sagaing, Mandalay and Magway regions this morning. Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing took part in the ceremony held at Leintaw-protective forest area, Meiktila District, Mandalay Region, and planted a tamar sapling.
Also present at the ceremony together with the Senior General were SAC Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo, SAC member General Nyo Saw, union ministers, U Min Naung, U Hla Moe, U Khin Maung Yi, Dr Nyunt Pe, Mandalay Region Chief Minister U Myo Aung, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, district and township level departmental officials, local elders from Meiktila District, the Central Command commander, deputy ministers, teachers, students and officials.
In his address delivered in connection with the ceremonies in the 13 districts, the Senior General said it is the first, national level activity to green the arid areas of upcountry. Tree-planting is a beneficial deed for greening and improving the environment. Especially, 13 districts including the areas along Meiktila are facing arid climate every year. In 2024, Bagan, Chauk, Yenanchaung and Minbu were recorded as areas with highest temperatures.
During the trip to the Chauk area, the Senior General experienced extremely hot weather. People face hardships every time the temperature rises high. One of the ways to effectively bring down the temperatures
is tree planting. The world is facing climate change and various kinds of natural disasters. Natural disasters are uncon-trollable, but can be alleviated through advanced preventive measures. The planted trees will
not immediately bring down the temperatures, but they will provide a cool shelter that will alleviate temperatures. Green and vibrant scenes give pleasure and cool the minds and hearts of the people. Since its assumption of the State responsibilities, the government has been holding tree-planting activities in the length and breadth of the country annually, and the Tatmadaw is doing the same. These activities are beneficial for the country.
Today, 34,950 trees will be grown in the 13 dry districts, at the venues where previous tree-planting ceremonies were held. But they fail to produce benefits as expected due to low existence rate and illegal logging for local demand. Tree-planting ceremonies need time, labour and financial expense. Hence, all must grow and protect the trees carefully for the survival of ever planted sapling. Responsible personnel should protect and conserve the saplings with goodwill for the thriv-ing of every tree.
Forest area is declining in Myanmar which now covers only about 42.19 percent at present. Efforts are being made through tree-planting movements to restore the 50 percent forest cover. Although the planted trees will not produce immediate results, they will benefit mankind in the coming seven or eight years. Thanks to the past conservation cam-paigns the country now has large acres of forests and trees. So, all tree-growers must do their job with the goodwill to benefit the posterity.
Forest conservation is a good deed. Areas on both sides of roads must be planted with trees for the pleasantness of the travelers. Hence, environ-mental greening activities must be conducted. Today’s ceremonies will hand down the good heritage of a better environment for the future generations. As the State is using financial power, manpower and time, the growers must work for the benefit of the country and gain merits. The current national level activity will be followed by region/state-wise, village/ ward-wise activities. If a house hold can grow and nurture a tree for its continued exist-ence it will be very beneficial for environmental greening campaigns. Today’s ceremony is an auspicious one that serves the benefit of the majority. May all growers enjoy the same.
Leads the ceremony and grows a tamar sapling
The Senior General led the planting of the tamar sapling at the designated location.
The Joint Secretary of the Council General Ye Win Oo, Council Member General Nyo Saw, Union Ministers, and senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief officials from the district and township levels in Meiktila District, township elders, the Comman-der of the Central Command, Deputy Ministers, teachers, students, and officials planted the saplings.
Then. the Senior General walked around and watched the participants happily planting saplings at the tree planting festival, which was held as a public activity for the 2025 rainy season.
Today, 3,200 saplings of 6 tree species including tamar, gold mohur, rain tree, Madhuca longifolia, tectona hamiltoniana, and chitta gong wood were planted as part of the public activity for the 2025 rainy season held at the Laintaw reserved forest in Meiktila District.
A total of 34,950 trees were planted collectively in the 2025 rainy season community campaign in 13 districts and 29 townships of the dry region
Similarly, tree planting festivals were held in the remaining townships of 13 districts of the dry region as a community campaign in the 2025 rainy season, and precious trees, industrial raw material trees, perennial edible crops, and shade trees were planted collectively: 750 trees at Sagaing University of Education in Sagaing Township, Sagaing District, 600 trees at No.(2) Basic Education High School in Myinmu Township, 1,050 trees in Athit Road in Myothit Ward, Monywa Township, Monywa District, 3,000 trees at Shwebo University in Shwebo Township, Shwebo District, 600 trees at the University of Computer Science in Yinmabin Township, Yinmabin District,Sagaing Region, 2,700 trees along the Magway-Kanbya road in Magway District, 4,000 trees at the Special Greenery Zone at Milepost (357/5) of Magway-Yenangyoung Road in Yenan-gyoung Township, 4,000 trees at the Sinka reserved forest along the Gwaycho- Chauk Road in Chauk Township, 600 trees at Milepost (36/5) of Magway-Kan-pyar road in Myothit Township, 600 trees along the district road in Satt Thwar-Sinbaungwe’ in Taungdwingyi Township, 1,050 trees at Laypin Aima reserved forest in Minbu Township, Minbu District, 300 trees in the land owned by Kyaung Daw Ya Village in Pwintbyu Township, 300 trees at the Basic Education High School Branch (Min Lwin) in Ngaphe Township, 300 trees at the Taebokan reserved forest in Salin Township, 600 trees at No.(2) Basic Education High School in Pakokku Township, Pakokku District, 300 trees on the road to Shwe Hintha Pagoda in Seikpyu Township, 600 trees at Thayet-Minhla Milepost (44/3) in Minhla Township, Thayet District, 900 trees at No.61 block in Bokegyi floating forest area in Aunglan Township, 600 trees at Taw Pone reserved forest in Aunglan-Taungdwingyi Milepost (255/2) inSinbaungwe’ Township, 600 trees at Si Village at the Milepost (151/2 and 151/3) on the Pathein-Monywa Road, Kanma Township, Magway Region, 1,200 trees at Kyaukse Township Government Technical High School, Kyaukse District, 600 trees at Singaing Township Technical, Vocational and TeachersTraining College (Baelin), 600 trees at No.(3) Basic Education High School in Myingyan Township, Myingyan District, 3,000 trees in NyaungU Township, NyaungU District, 600 trees at Milepost (4/0) of Kyaukpadaung-NyaungU Road in Kyaukpadaung Township, Kyaukpadaung Town-ship, 600 trees at Milepost (18/0) of Meiktila-Taunggyi Road, Thazi Township, Meiktila District, 1,200 trees near Milepost (314/0) of the old Yangon-Mandalay Road in Pyawbwe Town-ship, Yamethin District, 500 trees near Milepost (280/0) of the old Yangon-Mandalay Road in Yamethin Township, by the relevant Region Chief Ministers and departmental officials jointly. Today, a total of 34,950 trees were planted collectively in the 2025 rainy season community campaign in 13 districts and 29 townships of the dry region, including the tree planting festival held at the Laintaw reserved forest, which was attended by the Senior General in Meiktila District.
Meiktila University of Economics
After the tree planting ceremony, the Chairman of the State Administration Council, the Pri-me Minister, accompanied by members, arrived at the Meiktila University of Economics. The Rector of the University explain-ed the situation of the collapse of the university fence and walls and the damage to the main lecture hall and the university library during the Mandalay earthquake.
Following the explanations, the Senior General stated that the government will allow re-pairs to the damage caused by the Mandalay earthquake. The Senior General emphasized the need to ensure the university entrance road is fully restored and well-maintained, with atten-tion to cleanliness, aesthetics, and visual appeal and also instructed the cleaning of tree branches and encouraged the university to continue con-ducting research beneficial to the region. The Senior General also inspected the university and gave additional instructions as necessary.
