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Forest Management in Myanmar

H.E Mya TheinSupreme Court of the Union

Myanmar

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Biophysical and Geographical descriptions Biophysical and Geographical descriptions

about Myanmarabout Myanmar Situated in continental Southeast AsiaSituated in continental Southeast Asia Located between Latitude 9▫28" and 28▫29" North and Longitude Located between Latitude 9▫28" and 28▫29" North and Longitude

92▫ 10" and 101▫ 10" East92▫ 10" and 101▫ 10" East A largest country in mainland South East Asia sharing its A largest country in mainland South East Asia sharing its

international boundary with People Republic of China in the North international boundary with People Republic of China in the North and North East, Lao in the East, Thailand in the South East, and North East, Lao in the East, Thailand in the South East, Bangladesh and India in the West. Bangladesh and India in the West.

Myanmar can be roughly divided into three parts: the western hills Myanmar can be roughly divided into three parts: the western hills region, the central valley region, and the eastern hills region. region, the central valley region, and the eastern hills region.

Four major rivers; namely, Ayeyarwaddy, Chindwin, Sittaung and Four major rivers; namely, Ayeyarwaddy, Chindwin, Sittaung and Thanlwin, lie in between of these complex terrains by forming the Thanlwin, lie in between of these complex terrains by forming the larger drainage systems with wider tributary networks. larger drainage systems with wider tributary networks.

It also has an altitudinal range from sea level to the snow capped It also has an altitudinal range from sea level to the snow capped peaks of over 5,727m. peaks of over 5,727m.

The rainfall which is distributed over five months of the year ranges The rainfall which is distributed over five months of the year ranges from about 500mm to about 5,000mm. from about 500mm to about 5,000mm.

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Forest Resource BaseForest Resource Base The forests cover 47% of total country area. The forests cover 47% of total country area. Myanmar forests are rich and diverse in flora and fauna and are Myanmar forests are rich and diverse in flora and fauna and are

ecologically complex. ecologically complex. It is known to have about 7,000 plants species, of which 1,071 are It is known to have about 7,000 plants species, of which 1,071 are

endemic. endemic. The bamboos of this area include 96 species.The bamboos of this area include 96 species. 19.87% of the country area is under closed forests and 27.9% of 19.87% of the country area is under closed forests and 27.9% of

the country area is under open forests. the country area is under open forests. Another 29.73% is under wooded land and others occupied Another 29.73% is under wooded land and others occupied

20.50% and water body is 2.81%. 20.50% and water body is 2.81%. Forests are owned by the State and are categorized legally as Forests are owned by the State and are categorized legally as

Reserved Forest (RF) which covers 121,842.91 Areas (18.7% of Reserved Forest (RF) which covers 121,842.91 Areas (18.7% of land area) and Protected Public Forest ( PPF) which covers land area) and Protected Public Forest ( PPF) which covers 40949.60 Areas ( 6.4% of land area). 40949.60 Areas ( 6.4% of land area).

Sources : Forest Department

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Forest Management System of Myanmar

Myanmar is agro-based country and state economy is Myanmar is agro-based country and state economy is based on the agriculture. based on the agriculture.

State receives income from export of world famous State receives income from export of world famous “Burmese teak” which is well-known as “Burmese teak” which is well-known as “one of the “one of the most admired and precious trees”most admired and precious trees”..

Systematic forest management was initiated in 1856 and Systematic forest management was initiated in 1856 and a policy document was established in 1894. a policy document was established in 1894.

The Ministry of Forestry declared the Myanmar Forest The Ministry of Forestry declared the Myanmar Forest Policy in 1995. Policy in 1995.

These policies cover a wide range of concepts including These policies cover a wide range of concepts including Protection of environment, Sustainability of forest Protection of environment, Sustainability of forest resources, Basic needs of the people, Participation of the resources, Basic needs of the people, Participation of the people and Public awareness. people and Public awareness.

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Forest Management System of Myanmar ( Cont’d)

The current policy recognizes the following six imperative;The current policy recognizes the following six imperative; 1. 1. Protection Protection of soil, water, wildlife, biodiversity and of soil, water, wildlife, biodiversity and

environment;environment; 2. 2. SustainabilitySustainability of forest resources to ensure perpetual supply of of forest resources to ensure perpetual supply of

both tangible and intangible benefits accrued from the forests for both tangible and intangible benefits accrued from the forests for the present and future generations;the present and future generations;

3. 3. Basic needsBasic needs of the people for fuel, shelter, food and recreation; of the people for fuel, shelter, food and recreation; 4. 4. EfficiencyEfficiency to harness, in a socio-environmentally friendly to harness, in a socio-environmentally friendly

manner, the full economic manner, the full economic potential of forest resources; potential of forest resources; 5. 5. ParticipationParticipation of the people in the conservation and utilization of the people in the conservation and utilization

of the forests; andof the forests; and 6.6.Public awarenessPublic awareness of the vital role of the forests in the well- of the vital role of the forests in the well-

being and socio-economic being and socio-economic development of the nation.development of the nation.

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Institutional Arrangement for Forest ManagementInstitutional Arrangement for Forest Management

The Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry has the The Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry has the primary responsibility for the administration and management of the primary responsibility for the administration and management of the forestry sector. forestry sector.

The several departments which take responsible for receptive The several departments which take responsible for receptive functions. The formation of those departments are as follows;functions. The formation of those departments are as follows;

(1)(1) Planning and Statistics Department (PSD) Planning and Statistics Department (PSD) (2)(2) Forest Department (FD)Forest Department (FD) (3)(3) Planning and Statistics Department (PSD) Planning and Statistics Department (PSD) (4)(4) Myanma Timber Enterprise (MTE)Myanma Timber Enterprise (MTE) (5)(5) Dry Zone Greening Department (DZGD) Dry Zone Greening Department (DZGD) (6) Environmental Conservation Department (ECD) (6) Environmental Conservation Department (ECD) The Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry also The Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry also

launched the launched the National Forest Management Plan (2002-2031)National Forest Management Plan (2002-2031) in in order to establish the District Level Forest Management Unit (FMU) order to establish the District Level Forest Management Unit (FMU) in 63 Districts. in 63 Districts.

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Myanmar Judicial System and Legal Myanmar Judicial System and Legal Framework for Forest Management Framework for Forest Management

(a)(a) Current Judicial System in Myanmar Current Judicial System in Myanmar Adopted on the 28th October, 2010Adopted on the 28th October, 2010 Formation of Courts are as follows:Formation of Courts are as follows: Supreme Court of the Union;Supreme Court of the Union; High Courts of the Region and the State;High Courts of the Region and the State; Courts of the Self-Administered Division;Courts of the Self-Administered Division; Courts of the Self-Administered Zone;Courts of the Self-Administered Zone; District Courts;District Courts; Township Courts; Township Courts; Other Courts constituted by law;Other Courts constituted by law;  

Myanmar Judicial System and Legal Myanmar Judicial System and Legal Framework for Forest Management ( Cont’d)Framework for Forest Management ( Cont’d)

(b)Legal Framework for Forest Management The Burma Forest Act 1902 – First Legal Framework The Burma Forest Act 1902 – First Legal Framework Forest legislation enacted in November 1992Forest legislation enacted in November 1992 Protection of wildlife and wild plants and conservation of natural Protection of wildlife and wild plants and conservation of natural

areas law in 1994areas law in 1994 Myanmar Forest Policy in 1995Myanmar Forest Policy in 1995 Forest Rules in 1995. Forest Rules in 1995. "Dry Zone Greening Department" was set up in 1997 and "Dry Zone Greening Department" was set up in 1997 and

environmental rehabilitation measures are being undertaken in the environmental rehabilitation measures are being undertaken in the Dry Zone Areas. Environmental Conservation Law was Dry Zone Areas. Environmental Conservation Law was promulgated in 2012, to protect and conserve natural promulgated in 2012, to protect and conserve natural environment. environment. 88

Forest Law (1992)Forest Law (1992)

Emphasise the importance of people’s awareness and Emphasise the importance of people’s awareness and participation in the conservation and sustainable participation in the conservation and sustainable utilization of forest resources.utilization of forest resources.

Offences for extracting, moving, keeping in possession Offences for extracting, moving, keeping in possession unlawfully and forest produce, including fauna and unlawfully and forest produce, including fauna and flora, are liable to be punished with fine up to 20,000 flora, are liable to be punished with fine up to 20,000 kyats or with imprisonment for a term up to 2 years or kyats or with imprisonment for a term up to 2 years or both. both.

Offences relating to teak trees, the punishment is Offences relating to teak trees, the punishment is heavier with up to 50,000 kyats fine or 7 years heavier with up to 50,000 kyats fine or 7 years imprisonment. imprisonment.

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Forest Law (1992) ( Cont’d)Forest Law (1992) ( Cont’d) The courts are empowered to confiscate all forest produce, The courts are empowered to confiscate all forest produce,

vehicles, vessels, animals, machinery, tools and implements vehicles, vessels, animals, machinery, tools and implements used in the commission of the offence in addition to the used in the commission of the offence in addition to the punishments for the related offence. punishments for the related offence.

Forest officers are also empowered to take administrative Forest officers are also empowered to take administrative actionsactions

Relevant Government departments and Government Relevant Government departments and Government organizations shall carry out the conservation, management, organizations shall carry out the conservation, management, beneficial use, sustainable use and enhancement of regional beneficial use, sustainable use and enhancement of regional cooperation of the forest resources under section 18 of the cooperation of the forest resources under section 18 of the Environmental Conservation Law (2012).Environmental Conservation Law (2012). 1010

Challenges for the Forest Management Challenges for the Forest Management

The Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry has The Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry has the primary responsibility for the administration and the primary responsibility for the administration and management of the forestry sector. management of the forestry sector.

Forest Law has weaknesses in policy and legal provision to cope Forest Law has weaknesses in policy and legal provision to cope with changes in illegal logging pattern.with changes in illegal logging pattern.

Need to input the enforcement mechanism for the severe forest Need to input the enforcement mechanism for the severe forest degradation and deforestation, habitat and biodiversity loss, soil degradation and deforestation, habitat and biodiversity loss, soil degradation and disturbance of the forest ecosystem services. degradation and disturbance of the forest ecosystem services.

Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry has been Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry has been debating the revision of the existing 1992 forest law in order to debating the revision of the existing 1992 forest law in order to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of forest management in enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of forest management in Myanmar. Myanmar.

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ConclusionConclusion

Myanmar has much potentials of natural environment Myanmar has much potentials of natural environment those are still unspoiled. those are still unspoiled.

Forest management is the very important for natural Forest management is the very important for natural conservation. conservation.

Every country must cooperate and coordinate to solve Every country must cooperate and coordinate to solve these events. these events.

Take caring and maintaining of our environment is Take caring and maintaining of our environment is more essential task for us. more essential task for us.

Government is now debating country’s forest reform Government is now debating country’s forest reform 1212

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