MORE than 120,000 shade trees will be planted along the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway to promote a greener and more pleasant environment, according to the Expressway Maintenance and Supervision Committee.
As part of a project aimed at enhancing the landscape along the expressway, the planting of shade trees will commence in the coming rainy season and is expected to take between two and three years to complete.
“We have set a target of planting more than 120,000 trees along the entire Yangon-Mandalay route. The rainy season is the appropriate time for tree planting. As soon as the rains begin, we plan to plant a large number of trees. The main species will include rain, madhuca longifolia and neem trees. Star-flower trees will be planted on the traffic islands. Along the roadside, we will plant rain, cassia siamea, neem, madhuca longifolia, star-flower and tamarind trees, as well as manjansha. Our primary focus is to plant rain and manjansha trees on the Yangon-Nay Pyi Taw section, and cassia siamea, neem and tamarind trees on the Nay Pyi Taw-Mandalay section. At present, we are carrying out maintenance of the existing trees,” said an official from the Expressway Maintenance and Supervision Committee.
Previously, tree planting and maintenance activities were carried out through a tender system. However, seedlings are now being supplied by the Forest Department, and the expressway authority is undertaking the work directly. At present, efforts are focused on maintaining and caring for trees that have already been planted. — ASH/MKKS
