N 103  Green Taunggyi @ Nar Poung

 Nar Poung village is about 8 miles from Taunggyi, on the Taunggyi – Kakku Road.It was the place we looked for to plant trees after Sin Taung. At first we checked at Loi Kaung monastery compound, but found it was already packed with trees,and the monk directed us to look at Nar Poung. So we came to be at this place which is farther away from Taunggyi , but were excited and happy to find a vast compound where hundreds of trees can be planted. We also got permission from the Abbot to plant trees in the compound.

It was June 30^th when we went to plant there. For this day’s planting our Green Taunggyi group was joined by a walking group of 30, who are friends of USTM. After eating breakfast of fried rice and fritters at our gathering place we left for Nar Poung, amid mists and light rain, taking with us tree saplings, tools, stakes, sacks of fertilizers, and some refreshing drinks.

The compound is a perfect place for tree planting. Only some places are weedy while most of the place is covered only with grass. But I heard that there are termites, so I prayed that all of our trees will not be destroyed by these pests.

As holes had already been dug by workers the group happily planted the tree saplings and after about an hour or so nearly 400 trees were planted and marked by bamboo sticks which made the field more attractive.

So our third day of tree planting at Nar Poung ended without mishap or inconvenience which left everyone satisfied and happy with renew spirits to plant more the coming week.

N 102      Green Taunggyi

During summer this year, before the rain came, Taunggyi was very hot, hotter than any other years , people said. Facebook posts and other medias pointed out the disadvantages of trees disappearing and urging people to grow more trees. I could not resist the urgings and so decided to form an environmental group to plant trees, do some educative movements, such as erecting billboards and hold some public meetings to discuss environmental issues.

 So with confidence that I will be able to do so with the help of my two daughters, who are also interested in environmental issues, I decided to form a group which is the first thing to be done. I called a meeting with the people I had in mind , who will be acting as ECs and asked them to participate in the group, and nobody disagreed about their positions. I took the part of patron only along with two others with Sayagyi U Sein Aung as chairman.

For some members I recruited office and plant workers from our Mya Nanda Tun construction. My aim is if young people who participate in tree planting become interested in environmental issues it will be good for them and also the environment.For other members I asked some from my surroundings and they joined willingly. Some joined by their own wishes after I posted on FB.

I named our group Green Taunggyi which need no explanation other than to make Taunggyi green with more trees and thus leading to a better climate and environment. As for funds I don’t expect to cost much, and so will be taken care by me and my family.

So three meetings were held to explain why Green Taunggyi was formed and how to plant trees. And also to form groups which will enable them to have more interests in their group and be more responsible for their parts.

Meanwhile members of the EC prepared (bought ) the needed equipment such as earth drilling machine,bush cutter, hoes, shovels and spades. Bamboo sticks to mark the plants had to be ordered. Some members went to Taung Lay Lone to buy manure and  burnt paddy husk to use as fertilizers. I have to add that preparing fertilizer is somewhat tiresome. The dried manure have to be pounded and then mix with burnt paddy husk and put in sacks to distribute to the planters. This job is done only by staunch members who are willing to give time and energy for tree planting.

Then we have to look for places for the planting. We had received 1ooo trees from the forest department and that is the number our group was determined to plant this year. One acquaintance  took us to his village, Sin Taung, to a monastery which is bare except for a few trees. We inspected the place and all were pleased to have found such a nice place for the trees. We estimated that it will be enough not only for this year planting but also for years to come.

So on 19^th June , the day when the whole country was planting in commemoration of State Councilor’s birthday , we all went there to start planting trees. Some digging had already been done by some members and I heard discouraging news that the soil is hard and full of stones. My daughter took a backhoe from her father’s batching plant and dug some days which resulted in the entire southern side of the monastery full of big sandy holes. Some as deep as 4 feet and still no soil or earth can be found. Some have some earth in them , but to  put in a plant  they have to be filled again with earth which is very tiring.

After 2 days ( 19^th and 23^rd ) we haven’t planted many trees. I had calculated to plant 250 trees each day , but it was far from the expectation. I was discouraged and want to look for other places.I was also afraid that members who are planting found this place too tiring and depressed.But my daughters don’t want to give up yet. Some said  that  trees can be planted by filling up the pits with earth and that Swedaw trees thrive well in such places.As Swedaw is not in our collection we went to Taung Lay Lone plantation to buy them.

Well for the time being I can only  expect for the day when young people succeeded to fill this rocky high ground with greeneries.

Meanwhile some of us had located a place where we can plant trees by hundreds. It is at Nar Paung village , in its monastery compound.And had hired a worker to dig as many holes as he can. It should be volunteer work , but there are not many in our group who can do this work.So money has to be used for the digging.

Tomorrow , the 30^th of June some of us are going to plant there. Only some of us will be going because some members from a walking group volunteered to join us. So I will narrate about Nar Paung tree planting only in my next blog….