YEAR OF FOREST 2011 AND THE ROLE OF MANGROVE FORESTS

The earth we live in is spherical in shape, having a diameter of about 12,800 kilometers with the
atmosphere covering the earth to some 1000 kilometers above its surface. However, not only the
physical aspects of the earth (water, the atmosphere and climates) but also such treasuries as
biodiversity and ecosystem around us (forests, flora and fauna) are now at an alarming rate of
deterioration.

By the term „biodiversity‟ we mean all the plants and creatures living upon planet earth, even the
microscopic organisms, and their characteristics and the ecosystem they all fit together into. The role
of biodiversity becomes essential in the long-term existence of the earth and the humans. It is
estimated that the earth holds 5 to 80 million plants and animal species including micro-organisms.
Only about 1.5 million species has been officially registered so far, so it would delude the exploration
of further species if we fail to conserve the existing ones, since thousands of them are facing the risk
of extinction these days.

Animals and plants mutually depend upon each other. There is no way animals would remain on
earth should the forests no longer exist. Animals rely greatly upon the forests from which we get
foods, herbs and our everyday artifacts. They also provide shelter for the various animals.

The herbivores feed on plants. And the carnivores, in turn, feed on the herbivores. The plants get
their own food by photosynthesizing the carbon dioxide from air with water, aided by the energy from
the sun.

Plants can only grow on the land on which the environment creates their preferred condition.
Vegetation may differ depending on the quality of the soil, climate, topography, course of water and
other local characteristics.

Our country Myanmar spans from the Himalaya to Malay Peninsula, 50 percent of the country being
covered by the forests. It has a population of about 56 millions and 70 percent of the country‟s
population is depending on these forests for their basic needs.

Due to the tropical moist climate, there are 5 major kinds of forests in Myanmar, namely;

1) Evergreen Forest
2) Deciduous forest
3) Dry Forest
4) Hill evergreen Forest and
5) Mangrove Forest

There are also such slogans in Myanmar that invigorate the conservation of the environment;
“The green land gives us spring and life
As forests make the climate right
Green forests are a beauty to earth
Makes one happy through clean scent of flowers”

The forests benefit the humans both in direct or in indirect ways. For example, they provide us shade,
retain the layers of soil from erosion, balance the climate and shape the landscape into beautiful
scenery. Moreover, their role is also significant in the historical and cultural milestones, establishment
of safari and ecotourism spots and hence, encouraging job opportunities and scientific researches,
monitoring climate changes and disaster prevention.

Environmental problems have been endangering the human species in the world these days. Ever
since the world is over-populated into 6000 millions, there are pollutions everywhere resulting from
the extraction of natural resources for industries and productions and the wastes and by-products
from them. The environmental degradation varies from air pollution, water and ocean pollution, land
pollution, deforestation, and the extinction of flora and fauna species, soil erosion and the formation
of wastelands to global warming, climate change and ozone depletion. This all resulted from people‟s
lack of knowledge on the role forests play in striking a balance on the environment. As long as we are
living on the earth, we should bear in mind about conserving and invigorating these forests for good.
We can also see several Myanmar slogans that indicate the preciousness of conserving the forests

“Forests make the climate;

Forests make gold;
Forests make the home for creatures;
As dry lands keep the paddies wither;
Forests are precious as life blood of ours.”

Since 1856, Myanmar has started conserving the forests in a systematic way. And wildlife
conservation activities have started in 1918. Wildlife conservation then has been carried out by
establishing wildlife sanctuaries and National Parks. There are now 17 wildlife sanctuaries established
now covering an area of 33 million acres.

Means of prevention for significant deforestation in the country is also fully recognized and
encouraged by the state authorities. According to the roadmap paved by the authorities, state
greening projects in dry zone areas are undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Forestry.

Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association has been striving for environmental protection
through mobile education programmes that suggests, „preserve mangrove forests to protect from
natural disasters and vitalize the food chain‟. Mangrove forests can protect us in several ways:
  From cyclones
 From flood tides
 From soil erosions and
 From landslides

Besides, mangrove forests help with the flow of water by sedimentation of silt in the mangrove
forests. There is a tragic poem I would like to recite about Cyclone Nargis, a significant consequence
from deforestation of mangrove forests.

Nargis

It was in May the second

When our tears fell over those helpless hands
Dust storm in the sky, tide on the earth
Tears all over that almost floods our lives
The trees fell on earth, the rain was fierce
All we‟re left was nothing but a mess
Bodies here and there of unfortunate animals
Trashed homes and schools, they‟re everywhere
O‟ Nargis the Cyclone
It‟s only a night‟s stay for you
But a huge woe you‟ve left for us all.

Lower regions of Myanmar have encountered the disaster named Cyclone Nargis in May 2 nd, 2008.
Countless lives have been destroyed from the cyclone and thousands and thousands of living people
became homeless. The villagers in the locale all have faced the disaster and they realize too well how
different it should have been with the mangrove forests around.

So with the slogan of „Decorate the world with green hands‟, I would like to suggest contributing to
the conservation of these important mangrove forests as I myself take great pride in participating in
these vital environmental conservation activities.

Aye Aye Thin

Grade 8
Naut-mee State High School

[Translated by Phyu Mon Theint]