YANGON: Myanmar's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation has designated a new protected public forest area in the western region of Sagaing, the state-run daily The Mirror reported on Friday (Sept 13).
The ministry designated 14,534 acres of land in the region's Katha township as the protected public forest, effective from Sept 6, the report said.
The move aimed to conserve water resources such as rivers, creeks, lakes, ponds and watershed areas. It also helped stabilise the ecosystem, meet the basic needs of local communities by providing wood, firewood and bamboo, conserve biodiversity and support agricultural activities, the report said.
In the 2023-24 fiscal year, the country has designated 10 protected public forest areas. - Xinhua
