Myanmar people find joy in greening the earth

YANGON, June 21 (Xinhua) -- In the fight against desertification and drought, communities in Myanmar were turning to an age-old solution of planting trees.

The annual observance was a global call to action to restore land and protect vulnerable ecosystems from further degradation. In Myanmar, that call hits close to home.

The country's central Dry Zone, which includes parts of Mandalay, Magway and Sagaing regions, is one of the most climate-vulnerable areas in Southeast Asia. Scorching temperatures, prolonged dry spells, and deforestation have left the land fragile.

Local residents said that temperatures are increasing each year, which is fueled in part by the region's dwindling tree cover. But while the threats are real, so is the response. Across the Dry Zone, ordinary citizens were stepping up extraordinary efforts.

One of them is Ko Dingar, a 35-year-old resident of Magway region, who began planting trees in 2017 along roadsides in Magway, Yenangyaung, and Chauk townships. What started as a solo mission has since grown into a grassroots initiative with a team of 15 volunteers.

"I started because I saw how badly trees were needed," he said. "We mostly plant along the road trees like mango, tamarind, and monkey pod that thrive in dry conditions."

But planting is only the first step. "What matters is keeping them alive," he explained. "We now assign one person for every 5,000 trees. They water them, guard against forest fires, and make sure they grow."

Thanks to word of mouth and social media, Ko Dingar's network has expanded. "We now have donors from across Myanmar and even overseas," he said. "People who love trees want to help."

So far, he has planted around 100,000 trees, with roughly half surviving. "Some are already big enough to give shade," he said proudly.

"Planting trees brings lasting merit. It is a great meritorious deed," Ko Dingar said.

For the people who want to start planting trees, he said, "Start small. Plant one or two and focus on helping them survive. Then scale up. If you plant too many and they die, it's discouraging."

His group plants year-round. During the monsoon season, they focus on planting, while in the dry months, they work to prevent fires and clear weeds. "We started this year's planting in May," he added.

Ko Dingar is not alone. In Wundwin, Mandalay region, 34-year-old Ko Zaw One runs a tree-planting service and has been cultivating and selling trees for over a decade.

"I've loved planting since I was a child," he said. "Now I work in areas like Yangon and Mandalay. We focus on long-lived fruit trees like mango, jackfruit, durian, and guava."

He finds joy in the work but also a sense of urgency. "More trees are being cut down than planted," he said. "Without trees, the heat and dryness get worse. With trees, the climate improves."

He said that he also often donates trees to schools. "What matters most to me is that they survive."

In Yangon, U Maung Maung Aye, 64, now runs a nursery with his wife, selling fruit and ornamental trees. A retired forestry official joined the business two years ago after decades of public service.

"I worked in forestry since 1985. Every year, I helped plant more than 600,000 trees," he said. He sees trees essential infrastructure. "They produce oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, regulate the climate, and help bring rain. They also prevent soil erosion and protect the land."

The Myanmar government has also stepped up its efforts during the monsoon planting season. Tree-planting events were being held nationwide, and the government has distributed more than 20 million saplings for planting.■