"...Civil society groups are split over a decision by the U.S. government to waive sanctions on Myanmar?s timber sector for one year. The decision, which went into effect late last month, is being hailed by some as an opportunity for community-led and sustainability initiatives to take root in Myanmar, where lucrative forestry revenues have long been firmly controlled by the military and national elites. The European Union, too, is currently working to normalise its relations with the Myanmarese timber sector. ?The concern is that the system that is gaining traction with the international timber industry is to bypass any national systemic forestry reform process.? -- Kevin Woods of Forest Trends Yet others are warning that Washington has taken the decision too soon, before domestic conditions in Myanmar are able to support such a change..."