Tour in Nay Pyi Taw: SAC Chairman makes inspection tour

Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing presided over the 2024 third monsoon tree-planting ceremony, held at YanAungMyin Forest Reserve in Lewe Township, Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Prime Minister emphasized the annual monsoon tree-planting events, which are held across various regions and states with public participation. He underscored the essential role of forests in sustaining life on Earth, noting their vital contributions to food security, climate stability, natural disaster prevention and the conservation of water and soil.

According to 2020 statistics by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), forests cover around one-third of the world’s surface, amounting to 10.3 billion hectares. However, since 1990, global forest cover has decreased, with over 528.79 million acres forest coverage of ASEAN region losing approximately one-sixth of its forest area in 30 years from 1990 to 2020.

The Prime Minister emphasized the State Administration Council’s efforts to green Myanmar's central tropical zones, strengthen climate resilience, mitigate heat and promote agro-forestry, meeting rural communities' daily basic needs, including firewood, poles and planks. He reviewed the critical role of forest protection and ecosystem conservation for long-term development, food security, climate change mitigation, and disaster prevention, urging all to consider it a national duty.

Following the speech, the Prime Minister planted GantGaw saplings at designated site. At the same time, Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice Senior General Soe Win, along with the Council Secretary, Joint Secretary, Council members, Union-level officials, Union Ministers, invited dignitaries, departmental personnel, staff and officials from ministries, teachers and students from basic education schools and universities and colleges in Nay Pyi Taw also participated in tree planting activities. 15 various species of timber and about 3,000 trees were planted during the ceremony. Since the State Administration Council took charge in 2021, more than 22 million trees have been planted nationwide.