Policies designed to promote environmental sustainability in Burma/Myanmar

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Description: Agriculture; Atmosphere; Biodiversity; Desertification and Drought; Energy; Forests; Freshwater; Land Management; Mountains; Oceans and Coastal Areas; Toxic Chemicals; Waste and Hazardous Materials
Source/publisher: United Nations - Agenda 21
Date of entry/update: 2012-06-29
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English
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Description: Poverty; Demographics; Health; Education; Human Settlements
Source/publisher: United Nations - Agenda 21
Date of entry/update: 2012-06-29
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English
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Individual Documents

Description: "Each morning at the break of dawn, Zaw Win and his team herd their elephants across the sweeping forest floor down to the river bank. They scrub and clean the mighty mammals before harnessing them to begin their day's work. Zaw Win, a third-generation oozie [Burmese for elephant handler] keeps a close eye on his animals which are his livelihood. Decades of military dictatorship has meant many aspects of Myanmar are frozen in time. One of those traditions dates back thousands of years - the timber elephant. Myanmar has around 5,000 elephants living in captivity - more than any other Asian country. More than half of them belong to a single government logging agency, the Myanma Timber Enterprise (MTE). Elephants are chosen over machines because they do the least damage to the forest. These elephants have survived ancient wars, colonialism and World War II while hard woods extracted by elephants in Myanmar once fed the British naval fleet. Yet today, Myanmar's timber elephant is under threat. Once the richest reservoir for biodiversity in Asia, Myanmar's forest cover is steadily depleting and the government blames it on illegal loggers. Now, the forest policy is being overhauled. The Ministry for Environmental Conservation and Forestry has pledged to reduce its logging by more than 80,000 tonnes this fiscal year. Myanmar will ban raw teak and timber exports by April 1, 2014, allowing only export of high-end finished timber products. MTE says that the private elephant owners contracted by the government will be the first on the chopping block. Saw Moo, a second generation private elephant owner, sees a bleak future for his stable of 20 elephants. He fears the family business will end in his hands and he may have to sell his elephants, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. 101 East follows the oozies deep into Myanmar's forests, gaining unprecedented access to remote elephant logging camps and witnessing the extraordinary communication between elephants and men as they work. But will the elephants and their handlers, who have survived kingdoms and military dictatorships, survive democracy and the open market? Is there a place for them in a changing modern world? 101 East asks if this could be the end of Burma's mighty timber elephants..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Al Jazeera English"
2013-10-24
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-16
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
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Sub-title: WWF’s Green Economy Programme in Myanmar 2018-2021
Description: "The foundations for a green economy – that will support people, nature and economic development in Myanmar - have been laid. WWF has played an instrumental role in highlighting natural capital values through Myanmar’s first natural capital assessment, identifying green economy investments through the development of Myanmar’s Green Economy Policy Framework, and developing initial policies for sustainable economic development in Myanmar. WWF is now positioned to raise green economy to the next stage, at the policy level as well as in our priority landscapes. Our vision is to see the true values of Myanmar’s nature acknowledged and reflected in government policies, commercial investments, and smallholder development - resulting in sustainable development that ‘bends the curve’ for biodiversity, forests, rivers, and mangroves, and makes Myanmar a more climate resilient country. We want to see a future where Myanmar’s intact forests are conserved and degraded areas are restored, where wildlife increase in numbers, and where people’s livelihoods are better and their benefits from nature secured..."
Source/publisher: World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
2017-11-11
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-23
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 2.91 MB
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Description: "Indigenous self-determination and community protection of natural and cultural heritage in action" The Salween Peace Park initiative is a collective effort involving over 300 representatives from 23 village tracts in the 3 townships of Mutraw District; the Mutraw District's Forestry Department; and one of Myanmar's leading environmental organizations, the Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN). Since May 2016, the proposed 5,205 km² Salween Peace Park has undergone a lengthy and inclusive review process by indigenous Karen communities. The initiative was subject to its first public referendum in May 2016. A second public referendum was held in Day Bu Noh village in the Mutraw (Hpapun) District between December 26th to 28th, 2016. The review and comment period is ongoing and expected to be complete by the end of 2017. The Salween Peace Park development process continues to work towards international recognition--cooperating with Thailand's adjacent Salween National Park and Salween National Wildlife Sanctuary. Once formally established, the initiative will engage the Myanmar national government in discussions as to how to best protect the reserve and maximize its public benefit"
Source/publisher: KESAN
2017-02-04
Date of entry/update: 2018-11-27
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: (English sub-titles)
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Description: Overview: • Definition of CF and its significance to REDD+ objectives • CF in Thailand and Myanmar - Background &Characteristics - Existing challenges • Connecting CF and REDD+ • REDD+ progresses in Thailand and Myanmar • Risks and Opportunities to CF
Source/publisher: Ratchada Arpornsilp and ZawWin Myint
2014-04-27
Date of entry/update: 2014-05-23
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 5.07 MB
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Description: Conclusion and recommendations: Myanmar, like any other developing country, needs to have sectoral policies, objectives and strategies in agriculture, forestry and fisheries which are based on the present socio-economic, political and administrative situation. The three sectors should be monitored, supervised, evaluated and revised as necessary. The ministries concerned should issue documents that formalize the commitment and intent of the government in ensuring sustainable development of the resources for economic and environmental purposes. Surveys and studies which have not been previously or properly carried out (e.g., water demand in industries, soil sedimentation and rehabilitation) should now be undertaken systematically as part of short- and long-term plans; the results should be officially documented and published. With regard to environmental affairs in Myanmar, the concept is: "Everything possible is being done to prevent environmental degradation and make it a heritage that future generations can enjoy". Myanmar, although included among the least developed countries, is well endowed with natural resources for agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Modern technology and capital investment, coupled with a well-prepared plan and proper management, will lead to sustainable utilization of those resources. Priority should be given to self-sufficiency in food in order to contain domestic prices. When any surplus is exported, proper processing, packaging, storage and transportation are prerequisites to meeting international market requirements and standards. The suggested policies in this report, which have been discussed in detail to bring about better comprehension and serious consideration, could be used as a base to modify and improve and, if found feasible, officially adopted. All government policies on the three sectors must be well-defined, officially and legally documented, published and have theirnotification issued by the government. 74 KB
Creator/author: U Myint Thein, Director-General (Retd), Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Yangon)
Source/publisher: UNESCAP
1995-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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