The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General
Individual Documents
Description:
"Trend in Landcover and driving factors of change
From 2000 to 2020, the area of evergreen broad-leaved forests and deciduous broad-leaved forests in Myanmar decreased, while the area of the rest of the land types increased, with the area of shrubland increasing the most.
Specifically, in 2020 areas in Myanmar were dominated by forests (56.64% of the area) and cropland (25.59% of the area). The combined area of the two land types accounts for more than 82% of the total national land area.
During 2000–2020, the area of forest in Myanmar has shrunk of −0.36%, and the area of other land types has expanded. Among them, deciduous broad-leaved forest and evergreen broad-leaved forest showed a decreasing trend. Cropland (+0.26%), wetlands and water bodies (+0.85%), and impervious surfaces (+0.91%) all showed a trend of area expansion with the most expanded area being shrubland (+1.00%) and the least expanded area is grassland (+1.19%).
In terms of the spatial distribution of land use dynamic degree, the main changes in the first ten years (2000–2010) occurred in the central region, while in the next ten years the changes were most concentrated in the western and southern regions, and then in the eastern region.
Studies (ref. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/3/2409) have shown that 60% of the changes is related to direct human activities, and approximately the remaining 40% is indirectly related to climate change. Among the factors that have a more pronounced impact are GDP, population, and urbanization rates.
Infrastructure development and logging for commercial purposes have had a significant impact on the country’s forest resources. Since the 1990s, the Myanmar government has promulgated laws and regulations such as “Standards and Indicators for Sustainable Forestry Management”, “Forest Law of the Union of Myanmar”, “Forestry Regulations of the Union of Myanmar”, “Regulations for the Implementation of National Forest Logging” and from April 1 in 2014, a total ban on the export of logs.
Laws and regulations can be effective to achieve sustainable development only in combination with improved conditions for livelihoods, farmers and establishing a sustainable forest industry chain. Untap the potential of the local value chains and combine them with a modern forest industry with scientific afforestation, nurturing, logging and high value-added forest products is still a challenge in Myanmar land management.."
Source/publisher:
MA-UK Myanmar via Reliefweb (New York)
Date of publication:
2024-01-03
Date of entry/update:
2024-01-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Climate Change - Burma/Myanmar: general, The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General, Land use in Burma
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Description:
"မြန်မာနိုင်ငံအနှံ့အပြားတွင် မှီတင်းနေထိုင်ကြသည့် လူ့အဖွဲ့အစည်းများသည်
၎င်းတို့၏ အသက်မွေးဝမ်းကြောင်း၊ အစားအစာ လုံခြုံမှု၊ ယဉ်ကျေးမှု နှင့်
အမျိုးသား လက္ခဏာများအတွက် သစ်တောများကို ဓလေ့ထုံးတမ်းဆိုင်ရာ
လုပ်ကိုင်ပိုင်ဆိုင်ခွင့် စနစ်များဖြင့် စီမံခန့်ခွဲကြသည်။ သို့သော် သစ်တော
ဥပဒေနှင့် သစ်တောနည်းဥပဒေများတွင် ဓလေ့ထုံးတမ်းဆိုင်ရာ လုပ်ကိုင်
ပိုင်ဆိုင်ခွင့်များကို လုံလောက်စွာ အသိအမှတ် ပြုထားခြင်းမရှိပါ။ မူဝါဒ၊
ဥပဒေနှင့် အလေ့အကျင့်များတွင် ဓလေ့ထုံးတမ်းဆိုင်ရာ လုပ်ကိုင်ပိုင်
ဆိုင်ခွင့်များကို အသိအမှတ်ပြုရန် အလွန်အရေးပါသည်။ ထို့သို့ပြုလုပ်ခြင်း
အားဖြင့် လူ့အဖွဲ့အစည်းများအနေဖြင့် စီးပွားရေးဖွံ့ဖြိုး တိုးတက်မှု၊ ရာသီဥတု
ပြောင်းလဲမှုများကို လျှော့ချရန် နှင့် သင့်တင့်စွာပြုမူနေထိုင်နိုင်ရန်၊ နှင့်
ဇီဝမျိုးကွဲများကို ထိန်းသိမ်းရန်အတွက် အသက်တမျှအရေးပါသည့်
သစ်တောများကို ကာကွယ်ခြင်းနှင့် ရေရှည်တည်တံ့ခိုင်မြဲစေရန်စီမံ
ခန့်ခွဲမှုများကို ဆက်လက်ပြုလုပ်နိုင်မည် ဖြစ်သည်။
၁၉၉၄ သစ်တောဥပဒေကို ၂၀၁၈တွင် ပြင်ဆင်ခဲ့ပြီး၊ ယခုအခါ သစ်တောနည်း
ဥပဒေသစ်နှင့် ပက်သက်၍ ဆွေးနွေးညှိနှိုင်းရေးဖြစ်စဉ်ကို ပြုလုပ်လျှက်
ရှိသည်။ နည်းဥပဒေများသည် ဥပဒေကို မည်သို့အကောင် အထည်ဖော်မည်ကို
ရှင်းလင်းဖော်ပြပေးသည်။ သစ်တောဦးစီးဌါနနှင့် ၎င်း၏ စီစဉ်သူအဖွဲ့တို့သည်
တိုင်းနှင့်ပြည်နယ် (၁၄) ခုတွင် ဆွေးနွေးညှိနှိုင်းမှုများကို ပြုလုပ်ခဲ့သည်။
အရပ်ဖက်အဖွဲ့အစည်း များမှလည်း ဒေသခံ လူ့အဖွဲ့အစည်းများနှင့် တွေ့ဆုံပြီး
ဥပဒေကို ပြန်လည် သုံးသပ်ခြင်းနှင့် နည်းဥပဒေများအတွက် အကြံပြုခြင်
းများပြု လုပ်ရန်အတွက် ဆွေးနွေးညှိနှိုင်းမှုများ ပြုလုပ်ခဲ့သည်။ ဤအကြံပြု
ချက်များပါဝင်သည့် အစီရင်ခံစာကို သစ်တောဥပဒေနှင့် နည်းဥပဒေကို
အသေးစိတ်စီစစ်ခြင်း၊ သစ်တောဦးစီးဌါနမှ ပြည်နယ်နှင့်တိုင်းများတွင်
ပြုလုပ်ခဲ့သည့် ဆွေးနွေးညှိနှိုင်းပွဲများ၏ ဆွေးနွေးချက်မှတ်တမ်းများ၊
အရပ်ဖက်အဖွဲ့အစည်းများနှင့် ကယား၊ချင်း၊ရှမ်း၊ကရင်၊ ကချင်ပြည်နယ်နှင့်
တနင်္သာရီတိုင်းများရှိ လူ့အဖွဲ့အစည်းများမှ တင်ပြလာသည့် အကြံပြုချက်များ
နှင့် CHRO၊ RECOFTC ၊ SHANAH ၊ KMSS-Loikaw နှင့် OneMap
အပါအဝင် ပညာရှင်များနှင့် တွေ့ဆုံမေးမြန်းမှုများအပေါ်တွင် အခြေခံပြု
စုထားသည်။
ဤအစီရင်ခံစာတွင် ဓလေ့ထုံးတမ်းဆိုင်ရာ လုပ်ကိုင်ပိုင်ဆိုင်ခွင့်များကို
ပိုမိုကောင်းမွန်စွာ အသိအမှတ်ပြုနိုင်ရန်နှင့် ဆွေးနွေးညှိနှိုင်းမှုဖြစ်စဉ်
တလျှောက်တွင် တောင်းဆိုခဲ့သည့်ပြုပြင်ပြောင်းလဲရေးများကို ပြုလုပ်နိုင်ရန်
အတွက် လိုအပ်သည့် သစ်တောဥပဒေနှင့် သစ်တောနည်း ဥပဒေများဆိုင်ရာ
အဓိကအကြံပြုချက်များကို အနှစ်ချုပ်တင်ပြထားသည်။..."
Source/publisher:
Mekong Region Land Governance
Date of publication:
2019-12-00
Date of entry/update:
2021-10-10
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General, Forest policy in Burma/Myanmar, Burma/Myanmar's forest legislation, The forests of Burma/Myanmar - general
Language:
Format :
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2.82 MB
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Description:
"Four wild elephants made their way out of the mud pit in Myanmar where they had been trapped on Friday, urged on by the villagers who dug them an escape route.
The villagers in the western Rakhine State usually avoid elephants when they come across them in the forest, but feared the animals would have died if they had stayed trapped in the hole.
Video verified by Reuters showed the four animals struggling one by one to gain a foothold on the slope where the villagers spent some five hours digging rough steps for them.
Eventually they all make it out - the last one appearing to turn briefly towards where villagers are cheering before heading off with its companions.
"We rescued them because we know that elephants are at risk of vanishing worldwide and they are part of our state's heritage," Zaw Phyo Than, 40, told Reuters by phone.
"The four animals were so cute and that's why everyone from around our village came to save their lives."
It was unclear how they fell into the pit.
Surveys have estimated that only a few hundred elephants remain in Rakhine State, down from thousands just decades ago..."
Source/publisher:
"Reuters" (UK)
Date of publication:
2021-06-05
Date of entry/update:
2021-06-05
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Biodiversity - Burma/Myanmar-related, Studies of the regional environment, The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General, Fauna of Burma's forests, National parks and protected areas
Language:
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Description:
"To prosper, people who depend on forests must
use, manage and benefit from those forests.
They must also be secure in the knowledge that
they will be able to carry on doing so for the
foreseeable future.
The majority of forestlands in the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region are
owned by central governments. However, many
local communities and Indigenous Peoples live in
and around these lands. They use, manage and
rely on them but have no formal rights to do so.
Prindex, the Global Property Rights Index,
collects robust data on perceptions of land
and property rights. A 2018 Prindex survey in
Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and Viet Nam
found that up to 62.3 million of people aged 18
and older felt insecure about their tenure rights.1
Even communities with some formal recognition
of their right to use, manage and benefit from
forestlands can feel insecure as those lands come
under increasing pressure.
Tenure arrangements throughout the world are
complex and often contentious. Government
officials, civil society, donors and rural
communities recognize the need to increase
tenure security in ASEAN. However, they have a
limited understanding of how to do it.
This report provides an entry point for state and
non-state actors who face tenure issues as part
of their work on social forestry. Social forestry is
also known as community forestry, participatory
forestry and village forestry. For consistency, this
report uses the term social forestry.
The main objectives of the report are to:
■ Provide an introduction and framework to
customary and statutory tenure arrangements
in ASEAN to help non-specialists understand
and navigate their way around tenure issues
■ Identify the opportunities and challenges for
customary and statutory arrangements that
can help ensure people have secure tenure
■ Identify synergies and potential ways forward,
recognizing the future pathways of social
forestry through the programs of ASEAN
Member States
This report includes the following key conclusions
and recommendations: Understanding the importance of
tenure and addressing challenges: Secure tenure underlies numerous
environmental and development goals. Tenure
insecurity has been identified as one of the most
significant barriers to achieving successful social
forestry.2 Crucially, tenure insecurity is impeding
progress on tackling the climate crisis. Therefore,
strong and clear rights for local people that
results in tenure security need to be prioritized
throughout the region. This report provides
an understanding of tenure arrangements
and addresses common challenges faced
by stakeholders in understanding tenure
arrangements. It is a first step to unraveling the
complexity and diversity of tenure arrangements
across ASEAN. Further work is needed to fully
break down barriers to discourse and make
progress on improving tenure security to
facilitate social forestry.
For example, the diversity and technical nature
of terminology in tenure arrangements is a
significant challenge. To tackle tenure issues
effectively, there must be both a common
language to discuss them and a better
understanding of forest tenure itself. ASEAN
has an opportunity to help Member States
work towards this through further research and
partnership.....Preparing for a dynamic future: ASEAN faces unprecedented challenges from
climate, biodiversity and land degradation crises.
This means that social forestry needs to play a
central role in the region over the next 10 years.
Achieving secure tenure is a foundation for this.3
Conflict over tenure throughout Southeast Asia is
escalating. Rapid economic growth in the region
has reduced poverty but has also increased
inequality and left marginalized communities
even more vulnerable. This growth has also
put more pressure on governments to expand
development, which strains tenure arrangements
and changes traditional community dynamics.
Flexible, adaptable and multifunctional solutions
to tenure issues are needed to cope with the
challenges that lie ahead. They are also needed
for meeting the changing needs and desires of
communities in forestlands..."
Source/publisher:
ASEAN Working Group on Social Forestry, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, This project is funded by the European Union and Voices for Mekong forests
Date of publication:
2021-03-00
Date of entry/update:
2021-05-25
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Forests and forest peoples - international standards, The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General, Community forestry, Forests and forest peoples - programmes for rights and preservation, Climate Change - Migration Global, Climate Change - Migration Burma/Myanmar
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Description:
"Protected Areas are important tools for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Myanmar possesses 39 protected areas and 21 of these areas are declared as ecotourism sites. The study area, Lawkananda Wildlife Sanctuary is a designated
ecotourism site and is strategically located on the bank of Ayeyarwady River and in Bagan Area. The main objective of the study is to identify and evaluate the economic benefits of study area in term of non-consumptive values. Willingness-to-pay for park’s entrance fee
is analyzed by Contingent Valuation Method. Return-to-Zero Regression method is used to explore the influence characteristics on willingness-to-pay. The Spatial Statistics tools are applied to predict the existence-value of study park. The main findings are (i) the park has consumer surplus for entrance fee, (ii) the most influenced characteristics of visits on willingness-to-pay is Research Purpose, and (iii) the park is situated as the key dominant habitat hot spot. The researcher believes that this contribution will value to various stakeholders.....ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Firstly, I am most gratitude to Professor Dr. Khin Naing Oo, Rector of Yangon
University of Economics, and Professor Dr. Tun Aung, Pro-Rector of Yangon University of Economics for their kindly permission to conduct this study and to submit this paper. I am really thankful to Professor Dr. Thida Kyu, Director of Development Studies
Programme, Yangon University of Economics for her keen interest and support to carry out my study. I express my heartfelt thanks to Professor Dr. Ni Lar Myint Htoo, Professor from
Department of Economics, Yangon University of Economics, for her guidance throughout the study. This study could not be undertaken without support and encouragements of my supervisor, Dr. Kalya Kyaing (Consultant – National Specialist on Economics, Asia
Development Bank). Thus, I would like to convey my deepest gratitude to her. Then I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Daw Win Min Than (Retired Lecturer) and Dr. Naw Htee Mue Loe Htoo (Lecturer from Department of Economics, Yangon University of Economics) for their enthusiastic teaching and knowledge sharing
on Environmental and Natural Resource Economics.
I would like to express my special thanks to all professors, associated professors and lecturers for imparting of a great variety of knowledge and concepts of development during the study period of two years under EMDevS Programme. Finally, I would like to
express my thanks to all library staffs from Yangon University of Economics. I also offer my thanks to U Shwe Htay Aung (Warden of Lawkananda Wildlife Sanctuary) and Daw Kay Khine Oo (Assistant Lecturer, Yezin Agriculture University), who helped me to obtain required data and satellite images. I would like to appreciate to
Professor Dr. Win Tint (Retired Pro-Rector of Taungoo University), Professor Dr. Win Maung (Chairman, Myanmar’s Environment Institute) and Professor Dr. Htun Ko (Head of Department of Geography, University of Yangon) who shared their knowledge and
advised me for this study..."
Source/publisher:
Yangon University of Economics
Date of publication:
2017-08-00
Date of entry/update:
2021-05-07
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Economy: general, analytical, statistical (various sources), Economic Development, Sustainable development, Burma's economic relations with ASEAN, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, International Trade, Illegal Economy - general, National parks and protected areas, The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General, Fauna of Burma's forests, Forest policy in Burma/Myanmar
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Description:
"Political and economic reconfigurations can have large and unpredictable effects on a country's deforestation dynamics. Four major transitions—war to peace, authoritarianism to democracy, centralized to decentralized political authority, and economic deregulation may have profound environmental consequences. For example, Indonesia's transition from “centralist authoritarianism to decentralized patronage politics” (Sindre 2014) is associated with increased deforestation (Stibig et al. 2014), and the Soviet Union's dissolution amplified environmental problems in Central Asia (Freedman & Neuzil 2015). The appropriation of forest resources to establish and maintain political patronage networks following democratization in Kenya and the establishment of peace in Cambodia led to accelerated deforestation (Le Billon 2000; Klopp 2012). Myanmar is undergoing all 4 transition types, and other countries are likely to undergo equivalent transitions in the future (e.g., Colombia, Cuba).
Anticipating the likely environmental effects of political–economic transitions can inform proactive policy measures that minimize the risk of negative environmental outcomes. Abrupt transitions (e.g., coups d’états) preclude prior assessments. The gradual nature of Myanmar's transitions, however, provides opportunity for proactive debate and analysis (Webb et al. 2012, 2014; Lim et al. 2017). From 1962 to 2011, Myanmar had a highly centralized, authoritarian state and a command‐and‐control economy relatively isolated from global markets. From 2011 to 2015, there was some political and economic liberalization, followed by openly contested elections in 2015 and further reforms which led to the lifting of U.S. economic sanctions. An end to the civil war, which began in 1948, is a possibility following the 2015 Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement between the government and major combatants.
Myanmar's remaining forested area—over 29 million ha, approximately 44% of its total land area and the largest in mainland Southeast Asia (FAO 2015)—is in the globally important and highly threatened Indo‐Burma biodiversity hotspot (CEPF 2012; Hughes 2017). Successfully forecasting the effects of Myanmar's governmental and economic transitions on its forests is therefore key to development of new, integrated policy recommendations. Such recommendations will have greater legitimacy if derived from a transparent and formalized approach that yields expert consensus on priority issues. Horizon scanning harnesses the collective knowledge of experts to define emerging environmental and policy issues (Sutherland et al. 2011). However, it has not been applied in countries undergoing political and economic transitions.
We analyzed emerging threats to forests in Myanmar with a horizon‐scanning approach to identify the most important issues likely to affect forests in Myanmar over 10 years (2016–2026). We conducted a national‐level synthesis of top priorities for research, policy, and interventions to conserve Myanmar's globally important forests and biodiversity while the country undergoes transition. Our findings are globally relevant because they provide a case study for transitions in other nations. Finally, we sought to demonstrate a novel and expanded application of horizon scanning for the conservation and development community..."
Source/publisher:
Society for Conservation Biology (Washington, D.C.)
Date of publication:
2017-10-14
Date of entry/update:
2021-04-04
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Community forestry, The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General, Timber trade, Forest policy in Burma/Myanmar, Illegal Economy - general
Language:
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202.99 KB
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Title: Towards innovative, conflict-sensitive and human rights-based approaches to forest monitoring
Sub-title:
With the support of Finland, a national-scale forest inventory will be implemented in Myanmar, including in areas with security and conflict issues
Description:
"The Governments of Myanmar and Finland today launched a trailblazing project designed to allow for monitoring of forests in a manner that is sensitive to local conflicts and protects human rights.
The five-year project will be led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) thanks to a EUR 8 million endowment from the Government of Finland, a consistent partner in the promotion of environmental sustainability.
The project is innovative in taking a conflict sensitive and human rights-based approach to forest monitoring. This has global relevance as it will provide insights into how to bolster sustainable forests in other fragile countries affected by conflicts that are frequently exacerbated by disputes over tenure and access to natural resources.
"Actions to monitor and measure Myanmar's forests have great potential to deliver benefits for multiple purposes. In Myanmar there are many conflicts or mixed governance land areas, which pose particular challenges in working and engaging ethnic peoples and stakeholders in the measurement of forests," said Xiaojie Fan, FAO Representative to the country. "While performing the technical tasks of forest inventories, this new project will ensure that the socio-political and cultural context is explicitly addressed through appropriate conflict sensitive and Rights based approaches."
The virtual signing ceremony for the project was held in Myanmar's capital Nya Pyi Taw today and attended by the Director General of Myanmar's Forestry Department, Finland's Ambassador to Myanmar, and the FAO Representative to Myanmar.
"The project is innovative in developing an approach to National Forest Inventory (NFI) in areas with security and conflict issues; a much needed approach with global application. NFI involves the physical measurement of the trees and forest on the ground, which is essential for accurate information on forests, and the corner stone of National Forest Monitoring Systems", said Julian Fox, FAO's Team Leader of national forest monitoring. "Accurate forest monitoring is the foundation of natural resource management decision making as well as contributing to global efforts to preserve biodiversity and fight against climate change", he added..."
Source/publisher:
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (Rome) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2020-06-16
Date of entry/update:
2020-06-17
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
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Topic:
Agriculture, Forest
Topic:
Agriculture, Forest
Description:
"Mangrove forests are under threat across Southeast Asia and in the country of Myanmar alone more than 60% of them were lost within just two decades between 1996 and 2016, according to researchers at the National University of Singapore.
“Mangroves are one of the world’s most threatened ecosystems, and Myanmar is regarded as the current mangrove deforestation hotspot globally,” the scientists write in a study published in Environmental Research Letters. “Net national mangrove cover declined by 52% over 20 years, with annual net loss rates of 3.60%–3.87%. Gross mangrove deforestation was more profound: 63% of the 1996 mangrove extent had been temporarily or permanently converted by 2016.” Most of the country’s mangroves have been converted into rice paddies, oil palm and rubber tree plantations, as well as areas used for aquaculture. The profound loss of deforestation in the country’s mangrove forests, which are critical for biodiversity, is the reason why Myanmar has been described as a primary hotspot of mangrove loss in the world. “It is quite incredible to consider that nearly two-thirds of all mangroves in Myanmar were deforested over a 20-year-period,” says Edward Webb, one of the authors of the study. Mangrove trees grow in various depths of water in coastal areas and they are crucial for coastal marine ecosystems. Their dense entangled roots stabilize coastlines and provide homes to a variety of marine species, including fish and crustaceans. Mangroves can also absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide, as a result of which these forests play an important role in the fight against climate change.
Mangroves growing in South Asia, in Southeast Asia and elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region account for nearly half, or 46%, of the world’s entire mangrove forests. Southeast Asia is home to the world’s highest rate of mangrove biodiversity. Many of the region’s mangroves, however, have been lost owing to agricultural activities..."
Source/publisher:
"Sustainability Times"
Date of publication:
2020-06-12
Date of entry/update:
2020-06-16
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Mangrove swamps of Burma/Myanmar - general studies and articles, Mangrove swamps: articles and reports referring to Cyclone Nargis, Agriculture in Burma/Myanmar: general and research, The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General
Language:
more
Sub-title:
The derailing of Hkakabo Razi’s World Heritage bid reveals a multifaceted battle of interests spanning international conservation, commercial exploitation, party politics and local desires to wrest back forest management.
Description:
"This story was produced with support from the Rainforest Journalism Fund, an initiative of the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.
In late 2018, ethnic Rawang in Kachin State’s northern Hkakabo Razi region turned against the Forest Department and its international partner, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and drove them out following a series of protests and the torching of a Forest Department guard post.
“The communities don’t let anyone in; their minds are so wounded,” said Ko Phong Phong, a Rawang youth from Khar Lam village, in the foothills of Hponkan Razi, a mountain in Putao Township.
The expulsion of the two groups marked the culmination of rising tensions over a plan to nominate 11,280 square kilometres known as the Hkakabo Razi Landscape – named after its dominant feature, Hkakabo Razi, Southeast Asia’s tallest peak – as a UNESCO World Heritage Site based on the area’s natural significance.
Support independent journalism in Myanmar. Sign up to be a Frontier member. The “landscape” includes the 3,810 sq km Hkakabo Razi National Park in Nawngmun Township, designated a conservation area in 1998, the 2,700 sq km Hponkan Razi Wildlife Sanctuary in Putao and Machanbaw Townships, designated in 2003, and a proposed 4,778 sq km “southern extension” to Hkakabo Razi National Park that encompasses parts of Putao, Nawngmun and Machanbaw townships.
These heavily forested areas host a scattering of remote villages, whose residents must walk for several days to purchase even basic supplies. The areas also possess a rich store of biodiversity, including endangered flora and fauna.
A closer look at what led to the dramatic eviction of forestry officials and a major international conservation NGO – and the derailing of a World Heritage bid – reveals a complex battle of interests spanning international conservation, commercial exploitation, party politics and local desires to wrest back forest management..."
Source/publisher:
"Frontier Myanmar" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2020-06-04
Date of entry/update:
2020-06-09
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Cultural Heritage, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General
Language:
more
Sub-title:
Communities in biodiverse Tanintharyi Region are spurning big, top-down projects and seeking recognition for their own approach to conservation.
Description:
"From its forested borderlands in the east, to vast mangrove forests and hundreds of island ecosystems in the Andaman Sea to the west, Tanintharyi Region is a bastion of nature and biodiversity. The region is home to one of the largest remaining expanses of intact low-elevation evergreen forest in Southeast Asia, a stronghold for endangered and endemic species including tigers, tapirs and pangolins.
Indigenous communities have managed this landscape according to local knowledge and practices for generations, and have mobilised to protect it from the large-scale oil palm and mining projects that have expanded across the region. Inter-linking territories connect to form an indigenous-conserved landscape – one that presents an alternative to top-down conservation projects proposed by the government and international conservation organisations.
“Our lands are threatened both by expanding agribusiness and mining projects on one side, and national parks and conservation on the other,” said Saw San Ngwe, a community leader and director of the Myeik-based Southern Youth Development Organization. “Our communities have been conserving this area for generations; it’s time for their efforts and initiatives to be recognised and supported.” Tanawthari Landscape of Life , a new report by Conservation Alliance Tanawthari, a coalition of Karen community-based groups working in the region, outlines the interconnected conservation initiatives of indigenous communities throughout the landscape. This “landscape of life” testifies to the joint efforts of communities to forge a new future that centres on the peaceful interconnections between indigenous communities and nature..."
Source/publisher:
"Frontier Myanmar" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2020-05-22
Date of entry/update:
2020-05-22
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description:
"MYAUNGMYA-With the aim to reduce human-elephant conflicts in the Ayeyawady Region, plans are underway to form five Elephants Emergency Response Unit (EERU) which can control the wild elephants, according to the resources.
Forest reserves in Pathein, Ngapudaw and Thabaung Townships in Ayeyawady Region are home to wild elephants.
As their habitats shrink, wild elephants come close to human settlements in search of food and this leads to human-elephant conflicts. That’s why the killing rate of wild elephants increased.
“ Myanmar Timber Enterprise in Ayeyawady Region is now forming EERU aiming to reduce the conflict between humans and wild elephants, to protect the wild elephants from poachers and to safeguard the private farms. The units are situated in Thitgadoe Ai Elephant camp in Pathein, Htatabin Elephant Camp in Ngapudaw Township, Thubuechaung Elephant Camp in Tharbaung Township, a camp bordering between Laymyatnar and Ingapu Townships and Thayarsan Elephant Camp in Kyangin Township,” said Tin Aung Win, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Irrigation and Environmental Conservation from Ayeyawady Region.
He also said that Myanma Timber Enterprise planned to open more four elephant camps joining hands with the private aiming for public relaxation..."
Source/publisher:
"Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2019-09-24
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-25
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Fauna of Burma's forests, The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General, Forest policy in Burma/Myanmar
Language:
more
Topic:
Conservation, Elephants, forest reserves, Myanmar Forest Department, Poaching
Topic:
Conservation, Elephants, forest reserves, Myanmar Forest Department, Poaching
Description:
"Local authorities found a wild elephant poached and skinned in Myittaya Forest Reserve in Ngapudaw Township, Irrawaddy Region on Sunday.
“The elephant might have died two days ago,” Police Lieutenant Colonel Tun Shwe, spokesperson for the Irrawaddy Region Police Force, told The Irrawaddy. “We found injuries on its neck and ears, and half of its body was skinned.”
Local residents of Htantabin Village found the dead elephant in the forest reserve around 5 miles west of their village and informed forestry police, local police and village administrators about the elephant.
The female elephant was over 2 m tall and 2 m long. She was approximately 23 years old. She is the second elephant to be poached in 2019 in Ngapudaw Township. The first elephant was poached in February.
“We are doing our best to keep wild elephants safe in our region and we are sorry that an elephant was killed despite our efforts,” said U Kyaw Myint Tun, administrator for Tin Chaung Village-Tract. “The authorities should adopt a systematic plan for elephant conservation rather than a reactive approach.”
U Kyaw Myint Tun has won an award from State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for his efforts to conserve elephants..."
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy"
Date of publication:
2019-09-12
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-13
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Sub-title:
A community forestry scheme introduced by the military junta has allowed some communities to preserve traditional livelihoods, but heavy-handed government control and bureaucratic delays have stymied potential progress.
Description:
"WHEN CHARCOAL burners began casting covetous eyes over the mangrove forest next to coastal Kanyin Chaung village in Tanintharyi Region, its residents joined forces to protect a natural resource that had served their community for generations.
The threat emerged in about 2005 and it worried the mainly ethnic Karen villagers, who had seen the destruction wrought by charcoal burners on mangrove forests in nearby coastal areas.
Then the villagers had some good fortune. A retired professor from the University of Forestry and Environmental Science lived in a nearby village called Aout Thayet Chaung. He told them they could apply to manage the mangrove forest for 30 years under what’s known as the Community Forest Instructions, which were issued by the military government in 1995, the same year it released a Myanmar Forest Policy.
As well as preserving a precious natural resource, the villagers hoped to turn their community forest into a sustainable form of income through a community-based tourism enterprise. However, a long wait lay ahead of them.
“We started applying in 2007 but it took almost 11 years for us to be able to establish this as a community forest,” said U Zaw Win, secretary of the Kanyin Chaung community forest, in Tanintharyi’s Thayetchaung Township, near the regional capital, Dawei..."
Source/publisher:
"Frontier Myanmar"
Date of publication:
2019-08-24
Date of entry/update:
2019-08-24
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General, Forest policy in Burma/Myanmar, Forest management - scientific and general
Language:
more
Description:
"ကျွန်ုပ်တို့ရဲ့ သက်ရှိဇီဝမျိုးစိတ်တွေကို ဘယ်လိုကာကွယ်ထိန်းသိမ်းကြမလဲ"
ဆိုသည့် ခေါင်းစဉ်ဖြင့် ၁၀.၅.၂၀၁၅ ရက်နေ့တွင် ဒီဗီဘီ ရုပ်သံသတင်းဌာန
မှ ထုတ်လွှင့်ပြသသွားခဲ့သည့် ဒီဗီဘီ ဒီဘိတ် (ပထမပိုင်း)။..."
Source/publisher:
"DVB Debate"
Date of publication:
2015-05-10
Date of entry/update:
2019-08-16
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Biodiversity - Burma/Myanmar-related, The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General, The impact of natural disasters on the environment and people of Burma/Myanmar, Fauna of Burma/Myanmar
Language:
more
Sub-title:
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) watchdog unit visited Myanmar in June to investigate the Tanintharyi conservation project, which could threaten the land and forest rights of people in the area.
Description:
"The Social and Environmental Compliance Unit (SECU) met with 150 people from indigenous Karen villages to hear their concerns.
The Conservation Alliance Tanawthari, a coalition of Karen community organisations for the protection of the rights of communities in Tanintharyi, filed a complaint with the SECU in August 2018 to investigate and suspend the US$21 million “Ridge to Reef project”.
After finding the complaint unfounded, the unit conducted the first of two visits to local communities from July 18-20. UNDP Myanmar reported that the project will be suspended until the investigation is complete.
“We understand there are about 224 villages in the project area, including 73 indigenous Karen villages. This project threatens the land and forest rights of thousands of indigenous people, and the rights of refugees to return to their land in the project area, and may undermine peace and stability in the region,” said Saw San Ngwe, director of Southern Youth, a member of the coalition.
Villagers told the visiting delegation that the government cannot be trusted because its “protected areas” in the region have deprived forest-dependent people of their livelihoods and way of life. Moreover, they said, they were never consulted about the project.
Instead of conserving the forest, the government has allowed rampant logging and granted large concessions to businesses, including palm oil plantation companies, they said..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Times" via United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Date of publication:
2019-08-09
Date of entry/update:
2019-08-10
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), International resources on land rights and tenure, The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General, Biodiversity - Burma/Myanmar-related
Language:
more
Topic:
capacity building, environment, forest conservation, forests, natural resources management, stakeholder engagement, sustainability, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sustainable forestry
Topic:
capacity building, environment, forest conservation, forests, natural resources management, stakeholder engagement, sustainability, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sustainable forestry
Description:
"With support from the Government of Norway, the UN-REDD Programme in partnership with the Regional Community Forestry Training Centre (RECOFTC), assisted the Government of Myanmar (GoM) and other stakeholders to develop a “REDD+ Readiness Roadmap” in the period July 2012-August 2013. The signature of the National Programme Document was completed on 15th November 2016, with a duration of 4 years. The first funds transfer from the MPTF-O occurred in November 2016.
Thus the 4th quarter of 2018 will represent the half-way stage of implementation of the Programme. Experiences from other countries have indicated that a mid-term review (MTR) can significantly improve progress towards results in the second half of a programme, so a MTR for the Programme is proposed for Q4, 2018.
The objective of the MTR is to secure agreement from both the implementing partner (Forest Department) and the three participating UN Agencies on measures to be implemented to improve performance of the Programme, and to ensure achievement of the anticipated results..."
Source/publisher:
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) via United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Date of publication:
2018-07-23
Date of entry/update:
2019-07-30
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Studies of the regional environment, Conservation forest management, The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General, Sustainable/alternative development in and for Burma
Language:
more
Description:
"Guided by the insights of a Buddhist monk, we explore the lives of the Burmese intertwined with the reconstruction of the road and the environmental effects it will have on one of Southeast Asia's last remaining wildernesses..."
Source/publisher:
Timeline - World History Documentaries
Date of publication:
2019-07-27
Date of entry/update:
2019-07-29
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Society and Culture, Burma/Myanmar - general studies, The impact of natural disasters on the environment and people of Burma/Myanmar, The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General, Buddhism in Burma - general
Language:
more
Description:
"Over the last four years, WWF-Myanmar and its
partners have been working together to better
understand the biodiversity and ecological
processes of the Dawna Tenasserim landscape.
To date, WWF has worked with the Karen Forest
Department (under Karen National Union - KNU)
to carry out camera trap surveys of the area. WWF
has also worked with Columbia University in the
United States to understand past climate trends as
well as future climate projections that could impact
the landscape.
Furthermore, WWF collaborated with the Natural
Capital Project to map ecosystem services and how
changes in land use will impact on the provisioning
of these services 4
as well as with the Smithsonian
Institution, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS),
and Flora and Fauna International (FFI) to summarize results of biodiversity surveys and communicate the biodiversity richness of this landscape.
Finally, WWF worked with the University of Hong
Kong to identify ideas and technical solutions for
how infrastructure can be developed more sustainably in this particular landscape. Now, more than
ever, we are equipped with not only the information about the area’s biodiversity value but also the
threats posed to people and nature by built infrastructure, such as the Dawei-Htee Khee road.
This report is the fourth in a series of reports (see
below) that have been published between 2015-
2018. The first report published in 2015, highlighted the need to consider information about
ecosystem services, land use change, and wildlife
in the planning of the road and the broader land
use planning of the area (A Better road to Dawei—
Protecting wildlife, sustaining nature, benefiting
people). A design manual, published in 2016 as
the second report, showcased design options for
accommodating wildlife crossings and bio-engineering techniques for slope stabilization as well
as alignment options to minimize deforestation
and maximize social and environmental benefits
(Design manual—Building a more sustainable
road to Dawei).
Based on a request from the road developer in
2016 regarding the identification of wildlife movement patterns in the landscape, WWF worked
with conservation organizations active in the area
and regional mammal experts to identify critical
crossing areas for mammals based on modelling
(Wildlife crossing—Locating species’ movement
corridors in Tanintharyi, published in 2016) 5
.
This fourth report specifically brings together
several years of work that has looked in depth
at what is at stake in this important ecological
corridor system—a system that keeps key forested
areas in Thailand and Myanmar connected and
which the Dawei-Htee Khee road cuts across. This
report outlines the history of the road and the newly
approved 2018 Environmental and Social Impact
Assessment (ESIA) of the Dawei-Htee Khee two
lane road project 6
.
It furthermore highlights the current and projected
impacts from deforestation within specific areas in
the landscape that are deemed important habitat
for many wildlife species. Moreover, this report
presents case studies from other countries where
successful land use planning and mitigation measures occurred in and around similar landscapes
where road construction has taken place. Finally,
by drawing on these examples and the evidence
collected in the Dawna Tenasserim landscape, this
report provides a set of recommendations for key stakeholders listing how they can implement better
land use planning within this important landscape
to avoid further destruction and deterioration of
these “wild highways”.
It should be noted that while there are many social
and environmental issues associated with the
Dawei-Htee Khee road project, this report only
focuses on forest and wildlife related issues and the
broader fragmentation impacts this road will have
on the landscape. WWF recognizes that many social
issues related to the road construction, including
poor consultations, inadequate or lack of compensation, road safety issues and loss of livelihoods are
yet to be resolved and should be further studied
and addressed. That is, however, beyond the scope
of this technical report assessing impacts on forest
and wildlife from the Dawei-Htee Khee road..."
Source/publisher:
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
Date of publication:
2019-07-05
Date of entry/update:
2019-07-22
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
The impact of climate change on the environment of Burma/Myanmar, The impact of natural disasters on the environment and people of Burma/Myanmar, Biodiversity - Burma/Myanmar-related, Climate Change - Migration Burma/Myanmar, The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.89 MB
more
Description:
"In 2016 the Myanmar Climate Change Alliance (MCCA), implemented by
UN-Habitat and UN-Environment, on behalf of the Ministry of Natural
Resources and Environmental Conservation, conducted a detailed
climate change vulnerability assessment of Labutta Township, in
collaboration with WWF and Columbia University...."
Source/publisher:
HABITAT (United Nations Centre for Human Settlements)
Date of publication:
2018-00-00
Date of entry/update:
2019-07-14
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
HABITAT - Burma/Myanmar, Climate Change - Burma/Myanmar: general, Climate Change - Migration Burma/Myanmar, Adaptation, The impact of natural disasters on the environment and people of Burma/Myanmar, The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
2.29 MB
more
Description:
"Fisheries and aquaculture make a significant contribution to Myanmar’s economy. The fisheries
sector contributes roughly 2 percent of Myanmar’s gross domestic product (GDP), 50 percent of
animal protein consumption, 6 percent of employment—rising to as high as 34 percent in some coastal
areas—and up to 56 percent of state/regional government revenue. Marine fisheries, freshwater
fisheries, and aquaculture contribute to production in roughly equal proportions, for a total annual
production of 3 million tons.
Fisheries’ contributions to economic output and employment in Myanmar still lag behind other
countries in the region. For instance, the aquaculture sector alone contributes more to the GDP of
Bangladesh and Vietnam (at more than 3 percent and more than 5 percent, respectively) than the
entire fisheries sector’s contribution to GDP in Myanmar.
There is a scarcity of scientific data on which to base the management of Myanmar’s fisheries.
Official catch estimates show an inexorable rise in marine fisheries’ production, but these are
contradicted by stock assessment data suggesting that between 1979 and 2013 pelagic stocks fell
by as much as 90 percent and demersal stocks by around 50 percent..."
Source/publisher:
World Bank
Date of publication:
2019-06-01
Date of entry/update:
2019-07-11
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
World Bank Group - Burma/Myanmar, Fisheries (including aquaculture and fishing), Sustainable/alternative development in and for Burma, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General, Environmentalists of Burma/Myanmar
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
2.04 MB
more
Description:
"Myanmar’s forest and timber sector has been central to the country’s economy and society,
particularly over the last century. Myanmar’s forests contain some of the most valued species in the
world—particularly rosewood, ironwood, and teak. Myanmar also has one of the most longstanding
forest management systems in the tropics. Today, despite reduced timber extraction revenues, wood
industry still generates over 8 percent of formal government revenues. Beyond timber, rural society
largely depends on non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and agroforestry for food, medicine, and wood
fuel, which is by far the most important energy source in rural Myanmar, with between 60 percent and
80 percent of communities relying on this source. Some of Myanmar’s forests also form some of the
world’s most critically important biodiversity ‘hotspots’.
The importance of Myanmar’s forests is not limited to their wood products alone:
• Forest governance and the peace process are directly intertwined: Two-thirds of Myanmar’s
remaining forested areas are managed by ethnic groups, in many cases through customary
tenure systems, with much of this forest located in conflict areas. It is evident that inclusive forest
governance and natural resource management and empowering local agents will contribute to
the national peace-building process and reduce conflict.
• Community forestry (CF) and smallholder plantations are financially and socially viable and
can meaningfully contribute to rural income generation, provided the appropriate institutions,
rights, incentives, and technical support are in place. Community-based forestry programs
represent international best practice, providing tenure to communities to stimulate investments
and creating trust, income, and business opportunities.
• Wood processing can enhance exports and rural jobs creation. Myanmar currently loses
economic value from limited or wasteful low-quality timber processing of some of the world’s
most valuable timber. Looking to other countries in the region, Vietnam invested heavily in high
value-added processing and forest small and medium enterprises (SMEs) over the last 10 years,
and today is the fifth largest exporter of wood products with revenue exceeding that of Myanmar
more than twentyfold in value. The looming global supply gap for wood products will most likely
boost this sector even more in the future.
• At the same time, forests and mangroves provide significant ecosystem services for water
catchment, habitat for flora and fauna, carbon storage, soil nutrient recovery, and increasingly
important disaster risk protection. With accelerating climate change, forests’ role in both
mitigation and, more crucially, adaptation will be increasingly essential (improving basin-level
hydrological functions, especially maintaining moisture recycling and rainfall and reducing
droughts and floods), especially for downstream/lowland populations.
In the years before the democratic transition, forest areas were largely over-logged to maximize
timber revenues with little consideration for sustainability, which resulted in widespread degradation
of the Permanent Forest Estate (PFE). Illegal logging and corrupt practices are still ongoing, but in 2014,
a log export ban (alongside other policy measures) was imposed to stop the plundering of production
forests. Since then, the forest and timber sector is undergoing a series of reforms to better control and
manage the resources in a more socially inclusive and transparent way. Although the current direction
is positive, and there is high political ownership by the government and society, progress is still slow..."
Source/publisher:
World Bank
Date of publication:
2019-06-01
Date of entry/update:
2019-07-11
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
World Bank Group - Burma/Myanmar, Sustainable agriculture - Burma/Myanmar, Fisheries (including aquaculture and fishing), Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General, Sustainable/alternative development in and for Burma, Environmentalists of Burma/Myanmar
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
3.02 MB
more
Description:
"Hydropower development in Myanmar has potentially wide-ranging impacts. Hydropower
development in Myanmar is taking place in the context of sustained and rapid economic growth over
approximately the last two decades. This has been driven predominantly by growth in the industrial
sector, although growth in the agricultural and service sectors has also been important. Extractive and
natural-resourced based industries have been an important component of this growth with natural gas,
minerals and timber comprising the lion’s share of exports.
The economics baseline develops a broad strategic picture of relevant economic sectors, highlights
development and environmental issues, identifies interactions with hydropower development and
potential cumulative impacts of hydropower and other economic development. Based upon
consultations throughout potentially hydropower affected areas of the country, five economic sectors
were identified as having important linkages with hydropower that the SEA should investigate, these
were i) the Power sector; ii) Agriculture; iii) Forestry; iv) Mining; and, v)Transportation.
Power sector - Hydropower has significant direct economic benefits. It represents an important part
of grid-based electricity generation, accounting for around 3.5 GW of installed capacity and 72% of
grid-based electricity generation in 2014. The value of the electricity generated per year is best
estimated in terms of the value of alternative supply of electricity, which would make the
approximately 6,920 GWh generated by hydropower in 2014 worth USD 735 million.1
Agriculture - agriculture has expended relatively rapidly since the 1990s with significant increases in
land under cultivation, irrigable area and cropping intensity. The use of agricultural inputs has also
grown rapidly with increases in the use of agricultural chemicals and mechanisation in particular.
These changes have led to significant increases in agricultural productivity over the last two decades.
However, in recent years value-added growth in the sector has been low. Significant interactions
between hydropower and agriculture include:
• Reduced nutrient transport;
• Reduced deltaic stability;
• Increased erosion downstream of HP plants;
• Unseasonal changes in water flow or availability;
• Loss of riverbank gardens associated with changes in flow regime and/or sedimentation;
• Loss of agricultural land in area inundated by HP plants with a reservoir;
• Loss of access to land in watershed protection area;
• Reduced flooding of plants managed for flood reduction;
• Increased water availability for irrigation if plants managed for multiple use;
• Improved electricity supply;
• Deforestation and knock-on consequences for other sectors (such as flooding, erosion and soil
degradation) and biodiversity loss;
• Increased pollution from agricultural run-off compounding reservoir water-quality issues; and,
• Increased soil degradation, erosion and sedimentation caused by agricultural practices.
Forestry - forestry represents a relatively small and declining share of GDP. Although value-added
has grown considerably since the early 2000s, in recent years production in the sector has declined, in
part due to policies banning the export of raw timber. Illegally exported timber, not accounted for in
official statistics, is typically smuggled across the border to China, remains important. The key
development and environmental issue associated with the forest sector is deforestation and
unsustainable use of timber resources. Important interactions with hydropower development were
identified as:
• Clearance of forest from inundation areas and transmission line corridors;
• Deforestation through better access to forests, through road and other infrastructure, including
during the plant construction period; and
• Increased watershed erosion due to deforestation and sedimentation in reservoir..."
Source/publisher:
World Bank
Date of publication:
2019-01-30
Date of entry/update:
2019-07-11
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
World Bank Group - Burma/Myanmar, Sustainable agriculture - Burma/Myanmar, Fisheries (including aquaculture and fishing), The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General, The impact of natural disasters on the environment and people of Burma/Myanmar
Format :
pdf
Size:
2.56 MB
more
Description:
''Rural communities in Myanmar have numerous economic, environmental, and social opportunities
but also face challenges as they seek a clear and solid pathway to development. The Government
of Myanmar (GoM), as well as several development and donor organizations, have recognized the
potential of community forestry (CF) to address many of these challenges. This recognition has taken
the form of targets for CF development (for example, 2.27 million acres [919,000 hectares (ha)] of
community forests by fiscal year 2030/31), legal frameworks (for example, Community Forestry
Instructions [CFIs], 1995 and 2016), and programs by state and non-state actors (NSAs).
The first steps in the development of a CF program in the country started in December 1995 with the
issuance of the CFI. The early years of CF, which can be defined as an emergent phase, were limited
by legislative and institutional challenges. However, recent years have seen the program develop with
focus moving from protection, with limited livelihood opportunities for communities with tenure to
their forests, to livelihood and enterprise development, recognizing that forests will only be protected
if local communities are allowed and able to tangibly benefit from their forests (for example, revised
CFI, 2016 and CF Strategy Action Plan, 2018–2020).
This work examines the state of CF and community forest enterprises (CFE) in Myanmar, assessing
their impacts, exploring the challenges to and opportunities for their upscaling, and from these
putting forward a series of recommendations to ensure that the program sustainably delivers for
forest communities as well as Myanmar as a whole...''
Source/publisher:
World Bank
Date of publication:
2019-06-01
Date of entry/update:
2019-07-10
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
World Bank Group - Burma/Myanmar, Sustainable agriculture - Burma/Myanmar, Fisheries (including aquaculture and fishing), Sustainable/alternative development in and for Burma, The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
5.86 MB
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Description:
"Myanmar's gross domestic product (GDP) was US$67 billion in 20171 and has been growing at a high
rate of 7.2 percent in 2013-2018. The GDP growth rate is expected to be 6.2 percent in the 2018/19
fiscal year (World Bank Group 2018). Most of the contribution to GDP growth in the past five years has
stemmed from industry (1.9 percentage points from manufacturing and 0.7 percentage points from
other industries) and services (3.9 percentage points).
Myanmar has relied heavily on natural resource exploitation to sustain economic growth, and
serious environmental issues are emerging, underlining the importance of transparent and robust
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system. There are growing concerns around the impacts
of the large-scale development, including deforestation, depletion of inland and coastal fisheries,
land degradation, flooding and landslides, biodiversity loss, and the deterioration of water and air
quality (IFC 2017; Rai6er, Samson, and Nam 2015). A functioning EIA system is critical in identifying
and managing the potential impacts of large-scale development and striking the balance between
economic development, environmental conservation, and social inclusion.
Balancing economic growth and environmental protection remains a critical policy challenge.
Myanmar was ranked 171st in the World Bank Group Doing Business 2019 report; in terms of
environmental governance, Myanmar scored 138th out of 180 countries on the Yale Environmental
Performance Index in 2018. There is a need to improve business regulations while increasing efficiency
and effectiveness of EIA, monitoring, and compliance systems that support environmental and social
(E&S) sustainability. This also underlines the need for effective public participation in environment
and natural resources (ENR) management, which an effective EIA process can facilitate.
At the policy level, the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (MSDP) (2018-2030) and National
Environment Policy (2019) provide the foundation for mainstreaming ENR into development
planning. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC) and its
Environmental Conservation Department (ECD) have also set ambitious targets to recruit more than
19,000 staff by 2025 and establish 73 offices at the district level and 365 offices at the township
level. Internally, they have also recogni6ed the urgent need to strengthen EIA systems.
Significant progress has been achieved in recent years by the Government of Myanmar (GoM)
in establishing the legal and regulatory framework for environmental management. The GoM
has introduced the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) (2012), supported by the Environment
Conservation Rules (ECR) (2014) and EIA Procedure (2015). The government has also set up an EIA
Division to oversee the review and approval of EIAs, Initial Environmental Examinations (IEEs), and
Environmental Management Plans (EMPs). Over the last three years, the World Bank, International
Finance Corporation (IFC), Asian Development Bank (ADB), United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP), Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Myanmar Center for Responsible Business
(MCRB) and other development partners have invested in building the capacity of ECD through support
to training and development of sector-specific guidelines..."
Source/publisher:
World Bank
Date of publication:
2019-06-01
Date of entry/update:
2019-07-10
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
World Bank Group - Burma/Myanmar, Sustainable agriculture - Burma/Myanmar, Fisheries (including aquaculture and fishing), Sustainable/alternative development in and for Burma, The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General, The impact of natural disasters on the environment and people of Burma/Myanmar
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
2.45 MB
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Description:
"Forests constitute the dominant ecosystem in Myanmar, with 44.2% of the country’s land area. Logging of natural forests
in Myanmar, a major source of revenue, has been stopped since 2016 and the current priority of the country is to increase
the forest plantations. A serious threat to Myanmar’s rich biodiversity has been reported to be unsustainable land use
practices and uncoordinated development.
The Forest Research Institute (FRI) in Myanmar has a pivotal role to play in fulfilling the research related to sustainable
management of forest resources, contribute to the Forest Policy of Myanmar, and provide up-to-date information on
forestry and environment related issues.
In order to support various range of forest stakeholders, which include the relevant government departments, timber
traders, timber industries, planters, and the general public, FAO is strengthening FRI capacities to produce high-quality and
relevant research outputs that contribute to sustainable forest management. Without the support of a dynamic and
productive FRI, the forestry sector in Myanmar will not be able to realize its potential to remain a key driver of national
socio-economic development and the provision of forest ecosystem services that underpin agricultural production, rural
livelihoods and resilience..."
Source/publisher:
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Date of publication:
2019-01-01
Date of entry/update:
2019-06-17
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), The forests of Burma/Myanmar - General, Forest policy in Burma/Myanmar
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
501.37 KB
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