Myanmar forestry officials discuss community forestry
On August 27, RECOFTC and partners met with government departments in Myanmar to discuss community forestry. Government representatives showcases a recent example where the land use rights of communities were recognized.
The meeting included the Union Minister U Win Tun, the Union Minister of Environmental Conservation and Forestry, two Deputy Ministers (U Aye Myint Maung and Dr. Thet Thet Zin), the Director General of Forest Department Dr. Nyi Nyi Kyaw, and the Director General of Planning and Statistics Department U Tin Tun, along with CIFOR, ICRAF and RECOFTC.
At the meeting, the Minister explained the land use policy and plan that is currently being implemented. The minister pointed to a recent example where the government excluded an area of local villages from a reserved forest. This exclusion allowed the households to continue using the land for cultivation of rice and other crops. The example showed how government is recognizing the land use rights of local communities if the area is managed under the Community Forestry Management regime involving integrated agro-forestry to promote livelihood development.
In addition the group discussed methods to improve the livelihood of local people through the agroforestry system, community forestry, and market linkage mechanisms under the framework of a green economy and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
The meeting was widely covered in the Myanmar press. News coverage in Burmese text is available here.
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