1 Forest Management in Myanmar H.E Mya Thein Supreme Court of the Union Myanmar

2 Biophysical and Geographical descriptions about Myanmar  Situated in continental Southeast Asia  Located between Latitude 9▫28" and 28▫29" North and Longitude 92▫ 10" and 101▫ 10" East  A largest country in mainland South East Asia sharing its international boundary with People Republic of China in the North and North East, Lao in the East, Thailand in the South East, Bangladesh and India in the West.  Myanmar can be roughly divided into three parts: the western hills region, the central valley region, and the eastern hills region.  Four major rivers; namely, Ayeyarwaddy, Chindwin, Sittaung and Thanlwin, lie in between of these complex terrains by forming the larger drainage systems with wider tributary networks.  It also has an altitudinal range from sea level to the snow capped peaks of over 5,727m.  The rainfall which is distributed over five months of the year ranges from about 500mm to about 5,000mm.

3 Forest Resource Base  The forests cover 47% of total country area.  Myanmar forests are rich and diverse in flora and fauna and are ecologically complex.  It is known to have about 7,000 plants species, of which 1,071 are endemic.  The bamboos of this area include 96 species.  19.87% of the country area is under closed forests and 27.9% of the country area is under open forests.  Another 29.73% is under wooded land and others occupied 20.50% and water body is 2.81%.  Forests are owned by the State and are categorized legally as Reserved Forest (RF) which covers 121, Areas (18.7% of land area) and Protected Public Forest ( PPF) which covers Areas ( 6.4% of land area). Sources : Forest Department

4 Forest Management System of Myanmar  Myanmar is agro-based country and state economy is based on the agriculture.  State receives income from export of world famous “Burmese teak” which is well-known as “one of the most admired and precious trees”.  Systematic forest management was initiated in 1856 and a policy document was established in  The Ministry of Forestry declared the Myanmar Forest Policy in  These policies cover a wide range of concepts including Protection of environment, Sustainability of forest resources, Basic needs of the people, Participation of the people and Public awareness.

5 Forest Management System of Myanmar ( Cont’d)  The current policy recognizes the following six imperative;  1. Protection of soil, water, wildlife, biodiversity and environment;  2. Sustainability of forest resources to ensure perpetual supply of both tangible and intangible benefits accrued from the forests for the present and future generations;  3. Basic needs of the people for fuel, shelter, food and recreation;  4. Efficiency to harness, in a socio-environmentally friendly manner, the full economic potential of forest resources;  5. Participation of the people in the conservation and utilization of the forests; and  6.Public awareness of the vital role of the forests in the well- being and socio-economic development of the nation.

6 Institutional Arrangement for Forest Management Institutional Arrangement for Forest Management  The Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry has the primary responsibility for the administration and management of the forestry sector.  The several departments which take responsible for receptive functions. The formation of those departments are as follows;  (1)Planning and Statistics Department (PSD)  (2)Forest Department (FD)  (3)Planning and Statistics Department (PSD)  (4)Myanma Timber Enterprise (MTE)  (5)Dry Zone Greening Department (DZGD)  (6) Environmental Conservation Department (ECD)  The Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry also launched the National Forest Management Plan ( ) in order to establish the District Level Forest Management Unit (FMU) in 63 Districts.

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

Myanmar Judicial System and Legal Framework for Forest Management ( Cont’d) (b)Legal Framework for Forest Management  The Burma Forest Act 1902 – First Legal Framework  Forest legislation enacted in November 1992  Protection of wildlife and wild plants and conservation of natural areas law in 1994  Myanmar Forest Policy in 1995  Forest Rules in  "Dry Zone Greening Department" was set up in 1997 and environmental rehabilitation measures are being undertaken in the Dry Zone Areas. Environmental Conservation Law was promulgated in 2012, to protect and conserve natural environment. 8

Forest Law (1992) Forest Law (1992)  Emphasise the importance of people’s awareness and participation in the conservation and sustainable utilization of forest resources.  Offences for extracting, moving, keeping in possession unlawfully and forest produce, including fauna and flora, are liable to be punished with fine up to 20,000 kyats or with imprisonment for a term up to 2 years or both.  Offences relating to teak trees, the punishment is heavier with up to 50,000 kyats fine or 7 years imprisonment. 9

Forest Law (1992) ( Cont’d)  The courts are empowered to confiscate all forest produce, vehicles, vessels, animals, machinery, tools and implements used in the commission of the offence in addition to the punishments for the related offence.  Forest officers are also empowered to take administrative actions  Relevant Government departments and Government organizations shall carry out the conservation, management, beneficial use, sustainable use and enhancement of regional cooperation of the forest resources under section 18 of the Environmental Conservation Law (2012). 10

Challenges for the Forest Management Challenges for the Forest Management  The Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry has the primary responsibility for the administration and management of the forestry sector.  Forest Law has weaknesses in policy and legal provision to cope with changes in illegal logging pattern.  Need to input the enforcement mechanism for the severe forest degradation and deforestation, habitat and biodiversity loss, soil degradation and disturbance of the forest ecosystem services.  Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry has been debating the revision of the existing 1992 forest law in order to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of forest management in Myanmar. 11

Conclusion  Myanmar has much potentials of natural environment those are still unspoiled.  Forest management is the very important for natural conservation.  Every country must cooperate and coordinate to solve these events.  Take caring and maintaining of our environment is more essential task for us.  Government is now debating country’s forest reform 12

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