by Fone Ying Kyu
YANGON, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's Yangon regional government on Sunday honored conservationists for their work in wild elephant conservation which resulted in no killing of wild elephants during 2018, according to the regional government.
The certificates of honor were presented by Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo MIn Thein to the awarded conservationists.
According to statistics, during the eight-year period from 2010 to 2018, a total of 227 elephants died across the country, of which 124 were killed by poachers.
In August 2018, Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi selected an elephant conservationist named U Kyaw Myint Tun for a particular month's gratitude honor to the people for actively participating in wild elephant protection and conservation works.
Joining hands with the authorities in protecting and conserving wild elephants from being killed and exposing the poachers, U Kyaw Myint Tun was also presented as Hero of Elephant Conservation by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Friends of Wildlife (FOW) and was honored with some awards.
Due to Myint Tun's active cooperation with the government, two poachers were caught in 2016 with arms used to poach wild elephants and four flintlock guns and materials used to kill elephants were seized in 2017.
Meanwhile, aiming to raise people's awareness on the protection and conservation of wildlife as well as on eradicating illegal wildlife trade, Myanmar's first elephant museum, funded by WWF, was opened in Yangon in March this year to mark the World Wildlife Day.
Educational materials and messages are showcased in both Myanmar and English language for the public to know the importance of elephants, threats they are facing and how to take measures to protect the country's wild and domesticated elephants.
In the same year, a voluntary group, Green Life, was also selected by Aung San Suu Kyi for her another monthly gratitude honor to the public for their outstanding environmental conservation undertakings and social development promotion.
Green Life, a community-based organization in Depeyin Kwe village in northwestern Sagaing region made up of 280 youths, used to conduct environment cleaning campaigns twice a month covering the whole village.
According to the "Gratitude Letter to the People" of the Office of the State Counselor, the voluntary group has made sure that gunny sacks are available in every house and large plastic trash bins are situated at every street corner.
Because of their endeavors in educating the community on waste management, the entire village was then actively involved in their own waste disposal system and were supporting it with donation, the letter said, adding that the Green Life members are spreading their services and awareness raising campaigns to seven neighboring villages.
The letter called on every community across the country to follow the outstanding example set out by the voluntary group, saying that despite being based in a small village, their tenacity, knowledge, enthusiasm and kindness allowed them to reach new heights.
Green Life was formed in 2011 to preserve the natural environment and promote social development and since then they have been conducting proper waste disposal and transportation of waste products.
Green Life has adopted a motto "Beat Plastic Pollution" with each of its members knowledgeable about the consequences of plastic pollution, actively raising awareness, educating the public on the pollution and having everyone included in society in their environment cleaning campaigns.
