Sale of Htanaung bark threatens shade tree depletion
Selling of
white-barked acacia (Vachellia leucophloea), Htanaung bark in Myanmar, may
cause depletion of these shade trees, an environmental activist warned.
White-barked acacia is used in making liquor, polishing gold and
silver ornaments and dying fabrics. A viss of white-barked acacia is priced at
K300.
Rather than being planted by humans, the majority of acacia
leucophloea grow naturally, and a tree whose bark is removed can’t die
immediately, although it will get injured and dry up in a few years. If the
rain level is low, the tree is more likely to die.
“There are people removing barks for sale, and there is no one
to object to them. Trees will die, and no more Htanaung trees will remain
later. It is like killing the trees. They won’t die immediately, but they will
be injured. Htanaung trees will be depleted, and no more will be left in Anya
(upcountry),” he said.
Htanaung can give shade to travellers as well as residents in
summer, and the tree is very beneficial to the climate and the environment.
“The
summer will be hotter if there are no more Htanaung trees. In particular, there
is no place to rest if no Htanaung tree is left. The weather will be worse if
the number of trees shrinks. It is best if people don’t remove the bark because
they can’t be rich by selling them,” he said. — Thit Taw/ZS
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