Activists try to save Shan pines
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Conservationists in Shan State are campaigning to save a pine forest set to be cleared for the new parliament building, sources say.
The state parliament picked the forest to the south of the current building in Taunggyi. Residents and environmentalists launched a signature campaign and said they would send letters to the president, advisers, the Lower House, Upper House and state parliament and the Shan State government.
“We’re not opposing the new parliamentary building. They can build it anywhere, but why fell a forest? This is a Taunggyi landmark. The area has 80 big trees and over 100 smaller ones. This is the heart of Taunggyi,” said Cherry Kyaw, the chair of the Living Earth Green Network.
The campaign collected over 300 signatures within three hours.
Resident Nilar Khin said: “It takes a very long time to grow a tree. We don’t want any more trees to be cut down. The world is facing climate disorders because we have lost so many trees.”
