11 February
The government is opening elephant protection camps to increase the earnings of the State through green business or sustainable business that is not harmful to the natural environment, said Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Ohn Win yesterday at the opening of the country’s 19th elephant conservation camp.
“One of the results is the flourishing of community-based elephant tourism that effectively harness the giant mammals, and generate jobs for mahouts and locals,” he added.
The Shwesettaw Mann Chaung Elephant Protection Camp lies in Minbu Township, Magway Division.
“Myanmar has been protecting elephants since the time of its monarchs. The country used elephants in religious ceremonies, auspicious occasions, national defence, battles, transport and timber extraction,” the Union Minister said.
Elephant-used timber extraction is internationally acknowledged as the least environmentally harmful means, he noted, adding, “The Ministry has significantly reduced timber production, when compared with the past, for the everlasting of forest resources and for maintaining the ecosystem.” The Union Minister thanked the region government for providing funds for the success of the camp.
The camp was formally opened after the speech made by Chief Minister of Magway Region U Aung Moe Nyo.
The Union Minister looked around the camp and coordinated arrangements for the healthcare of elephants, social needs of the staff, safety and convenience of visitors, systematic waste disposal system, and hosting of workshops and trainings on environmental conservation in the future.
The camp keeps 15 elephants and has 14 sleeping quarters for visitors who can ride or feed the giant mammals.
The Union Minister and team then inspected a joint-venture coal mine outside the Padaung-Pyawbwe forest reserve in Minbu Township, and No 25 saw mill of Myanma Timber Enterprise in Ngaphe Township,
During inspection of a 30-acre village fuel-wood plantation in Minbu Township, the Union Minister met with locals. He urged officials to make a feasibility study to build a dam as suggested by the locals, and to report the finds back to him.
The Union Minister and party visited forest plantations set up in the townships with various purposes during the trip in Magway Region.—MNA (Translated by TMT)
