YANGON, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Conservationists working in the scenic hill town of Pyin Oo Lwin in central Myanmar were taken to the skies by hot air balloons in a recent reforestation operation, drawing public participation.
Conservationists from the Pyin Oo Lwin-based environmental group Green Challenge Association released their hot air balloons for this year's second aerial seeding operation in early August, attracting some 150 people to participate.
The innovative reforestation campaign not only revitalizes the landscape, but also reignites passion for tree planting in the enthusiasts and local conservationists alike, the participants said.
U Aung Myo Paing, head of the Green Challenge Association, told Xinhua on Sunday that participants dropped seed balls from hot air balloons or used catapults during the tree planting operation. "With the help of hot air balloons, we can plant a large quantity of trees efficiently within a short period of time," he said.
"Without hot air balloons, only about 30 people joined us to plant trees each time. Some 200 people now join our tree planting efforts when the balloons are involved," he said.
The Green Challenge Association initiated this innovative tree planting campaign in 2020, but suspended the operation in 2021 and 2022 due to flying limitations, U Aung Myo Paing said.
This year, the campaign has seen a triumphant revival with the successful release of hot air balloons for aerial seeding in July and August. The environmental group, which has dispersed over 150,000 seeds this year, is planning one more seed dispersal using hot air balloons in September, he said.
Inspired by the renowned Tazaungdaing Balloon Festival in the country, the conservationists said they have drawn on cultural festivities as a source of inspiration for modern conservation practices.
"Planting trees with balloons might seem unconventional, but it's a practical solution for areas that are difficult to access due to rugged terrain or lack of infrastructure," U Aung Myo Paing said, adding that at least a tenth of the seeds that they disperse would become fully grown trees to combat deforestation.
This approach has garnered attention from local media and the public, he said, adding that media coverage will contribute to raising environmental awareness among the public.
The impact of this approach has extended beyond Pyin Oo Lwin in the Mandalay region, attracting tree enthusiasts from other regions like Magway. People from various townships have come to study seed ball making and seed dispersal via hot air balloons, he said.
Nanda Aung, an 18-year-old from Bago region's Pyay town, recently joined the Green Challenge Association after reading a news story about the hot air balloon aerial seeding. He told Xinhua how he got interested in the hot air balloon tree planting campaign.
"I read the news online and called the Green Challenge to accept me as a member of them," he said. "I will actively participate in the tree planting campaigns. Trees are needed for people as the weather is getting hotter and hotter," he said, highlighting the connection between climate, health, and planting trees.
Deforestation remains a critical issue in Myanmar, driven by factors such as firewood consumption, expanding agriculture, urban development, and illegal logging, media reports said.
Despite the efforts to promote forests conservation, Myanmar's forest coverage has declined from over 57 percent in 1990 to about 42 percent in 2020, official figures showed. In response, the government launched a 10-year reforestation project spanning from fiscal year 2017-18 to 2027-28.
Local conservationists and environmental groups like Green Challenge Association in the Southeast Asian country have been planting trees in various ways to reverse deforestation.
While applauding the hot air balloon tree planting initiative, they also stress the need for greater involvement of the public, government, and international organizations to address the growing threat of rapid climate change. ■
