Myanmar is listed among the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of global climate change. During the summer of 2024, a heatwave caused daytime temperatures to rise significantly. In Chauk, located in central Myanmar, the daytime temperature on 28 April of that year reached 48.2 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest city in the world at that time.
The subsequent negative effects caused by the heat must not be forgotten. After the summer has passed and the rainy season brings relief and coolness, preparations must begin during the rainy and cold seasons to overcome the extreme heat experienced in summer in the future. So, trees must be planted carefully and nurtured so that they survive. Only then can they provide shade, help cool the hotter regions, and bring relief to heat-prone areas.
For the greening and reforestation of 13 heat-prone districts in central Myanmar, the Forest Department and the Arid Zone Greening Department planted a total of 3,551.20 acres during the 2024 rainy season. This included one-village, multi-purpose, and village-cluster plantations, with over 2 million saplings planted across 809 villages. Reports also indicate that shade and windbreak plants were planted along roadsides.
Among ASEAN member countries, Myanmar ranks as the second-largest country in terms of forest area. According to the survey, forest coverage in Myanmar accounts for 42.19 per cent of the country’s total land area. When planting trees, it should be done systematically and according to proper planning. The plan should include shade trees, perennial trees, and industrial crops to provide shade, boost the economy, and improve the climate.
For the continuous development of the nation, ensuring food security for the people, promoting socioeconomic growth, and maintaining a clean environment with a healthy ecosystem, trees and forests play a critically important role. To overcome the effects of heat, trees are more beneficial than buildings. Proper planting and nurturing of trees can improve climate conditions and help enhance the living standards of local communities.
This period marks the hot and dry summer season, which is not for planting new trees but rather for caring for and nurturing the trees that have already been planted to ensure their survival and growth. Therefore, it is urged and encouraged as a national duty to continue the care and maintenance of planted trees and plants to ensure their survival and growth, to expand the country’s forest coverage, to make the land green, lush, and beautiful, to restore balanced and favourable weather conditions, and to prevent and protect against natural disasters.
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