Who is responsible for deforestation in Myanmar and how to prevent it?

Who is responsible for deforestation in Myanmar and how to prevent it?

Published on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 20:21

I am not familiar with forest industry though I have plenty of experience in the forest during my former military career. I am assumed that I am in love with trees and flowers because I have been in Bago Mountain Range, mountain ranges in Shan and Kayin States. I hated to see bloodshed and have smell of gun powder at that time. I remembered that my mind was in peace when I saw the green forest.

The thick rain forest and tranquil mountain streams made my mind fresh. Now I won't have that kind of feelings back. I have been away from mountains, forest, valleys and streams for almost 20 years. Although I have been away from those environments, I can say that my affectionate for those is still fresh. I absolutely believe that Myanmar citizens also have affectionate mind for the forests like I have. The reason I believe is that our race has a strong feeling to love forest since our birth.

But I felt very sad when I learnt about the situation of forest in Myanmar. Especially those who love the nature of the forest felt very bad. I saw news about "Illegal logging is still happened in Bago Mountain Ranges" in a journal about 6 months ago. In the news, it wrote that "the smugglers are from Pauk Khaung Township, Bago region and pulled the teaks with buffaloes and cows. The smugglers sold the timbers to the traders from Pauk Khaung Township. The smugglers can smuggle one teak in two nights and three days time to carry to the foot of the mountain. The timber traders send the logs which are already cut to Pyay. Although the Department of Forestry took field trips and checked, the smugglers do their routine while the authorities are not present. The smugglers can cut down about 50 logs in a week in rainy season when the transportation was difficult. They can cut down about 500 logs in one week at open season, a native Karen said." "I saw that the smugglers pulled the logs with buffaloes and cows six times a day, said a local from Darbi Village, Bago region, was quoted as saying.

Moreover the large numbers of teaks which are already cut down can see in Bago Mountain forests. Kyaw Lwin, Director of Department of Forestry from Bago region said, "we are taken action against the illegal logging. We caught the smuggling with 1,905 tons of timber, 70 trucks, 6 tractors, 20 motorcycles and 7 boats propelled with diesel engines from April to November 2012 in Bago region alone. We are still taken actions and they are still smuggling." The department of forestry drew a five-year plan to make greener areas in Bago Mountain ranges since 2004. The main problem for deforestation is the illegal smuggling and trading of timber. The department planned to prevent the smuggling with replanting trees. The department has seized 36.922 tons of teaks, hardwoods and other timbers during first five-year plan. In second five-year plan, the authorities have seized 75.58 tons of teaks, 33.28 tons of hardwoods and 101.57 tons of other timbers. That is the amount seized by the department and we can guess the number of tons of timbers that have been smuggled.

We have heard of the sad news about smuggling timbers to China. Chinese timber traders smuggled timber into China via Mansi Township in Kachin State and Ma Bane Township in Northern Shan State. They are using trucks loaded with timbers with no license. During the open season, about 200 ten-wheeled and twelve-wheeled trucks from China are carried timbers from the border areas between Kachin and Shan States daily. The wealthy Chinese paid bribe to local authorities such as police and army to cut down the trees with chainsaws, according to locals.
When the reporter asked the Staff Officer of the forestry department in Banmaw District about the smuggling by Chinese traders, he answered that he don't know for sure the timbers are illegal or not in conflict areas in Kachin State, it is reported in the journal. Whatever it is clear that the money used in illegal trading won't be go to state budget.

In other news, I have read that "Myanmar is located between the Asian giants, India and China. The illegal exporting of timbers with cheap price is a big loss for Myanmar, according to Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)." The EIA is an independent campaigning organisation committed to bringing about change that protects the natural world from environmental crime and abuse. The EIA is arrived Myanmar to help to reduce illegal logging and to discuss with local environmental preservation organizations. In the reports of EIA, it is stated that Myanmar has earned US$5.02 billion from exporting of 19.9 metric tons of products relating with forest industry between 2000 and 2007.

"Myanmar is a strategic place for legally logging. Myanmar annually lost billions of dollars because Myanmar's neighboring countries buy logs from Myanmar with very cheap prices using illegal means.  Then, they made these logs into finished products and make a profit. In my opinion, it is a bad method. The amount of logs exported from Myanmar to China and India really surprised me. Now that all the sanctions imposed on Myanmar are lifted, there is more pressure in Myanmar forests because the people from Europe are very fond of Myanmar's teak.  We have to find ways and means to protect the conservation of forests with civil societies from Myanmar. At the same time, bribery connecting with illegal logging and lack of transparency should be highlighted and in the mean time, people should encourage the government to release news, which is more precise. Here, the government alone cannot handle matters in illegal logging, illegally trafficking of logs and preventing of human rights. The measure which the government can do at once is preventing of illegal exporting of logs," Ms. Faith Doherty, the head of forestry movement in Indonesia EIA who has 10 years experience in that field said . Once I have read that Myanmar's illegally exporting of logs to China is over US $ 200 million annually, said Bar Bar Cho, joint secretary of Myanmar Timber Enterprise. I have also read that Myanmar's illegal export of logs to China and India is over 1.6million Metric Ton annually according to the report of EIA. As long as we cannot hinder or prevent the illegal export of loggings, Myanmar's forests are continued to face extinction. Similarly, if there's continue export of logs legally, in coming 20 years, once Myanmar was covered by forests may become a story. These are the facts that Myanmar are worried about their beloved country and their much-loved forests.

National level meeting on Development of Forestry Sector held at Nay Pyi Taw on 24 October 2012, a report made by the Union Minister of Environmental Conservation and Forestry expressed that exporting of logs will be prohibited starting from April 1, 2014. I welcomed his speech but I have a question to ask to the Minister. Are there many logs left after 1 April 2014 which is a target date for forbidden logs exporting? I am not asking that question without intention. According to the present findings, illegal logging, legally extracting logs exceeding the required amount still use of terraced cultivation and making of charcoal can be witnessed in the entire Myanmar. Using various exits, logs or already cut logs are still exporting and logs can be seen floated along rivers and creeks can be seen to date whether one wants to see it or not. We have already experienced the weather disorder because of cutting trees abundantly.

I have also read about reducing in production teak and other hard woods to 15 to 20 per cent starting from 2012-2013 in order to prevent forest depletion. But as a citizen of Myanmar I feel so sorry to see the piles of logs at the wood fields. They are very terrible scenes for me. Will it be possible to leave unspoiled natural resources for the coming generations of ours? It gives me a thought to ponder.  Concerning this matter, while I toured Chindwin River in early month of June 2013, I have seen a timber production company had cut lots and lots of timber and piled near that river. I enclosed that photo with my writing. I had also witnessed motor vessels packed with logs, which were ready for transporting. What made worse was that ply wood factories are built closed to the forest and ply wood are also placed on the vessel. I don't know for sure that they are doing their businesses with the permit of the Ministry and the respective authority or not. But I am alone thinking in doubt that, are there any forests along Phaungpyin and Homalin that is along the Chindwin River.

What I want to put in a nutshell is that cutting woods abundantly in the whole Myanmar is a true fact and that matter is a very worrisome thing for the future of Myanmar. In the last 50 years, forest cover area in entire Myanmar was 149,889 square miles and it made 57 per cent of the nation's areas. But, forest depletion annually is now 50,000 acres and it can be calculated that only 24 per cent of the nation is covered with forests.  Though the responsible officials said that there are 40 per cent of forest covered areas in Myanmar, it is not a practical calculation and the present findings make me hard to believe their saying.

According to the experts, forests depletion is the basic for global warming.  The global warming leads our world into natural disaster such as disorder weather, flooding and storms. Not to make this matter worse, we have to stop cutting trees and start growing trees extensively. Not only to growing trees, we need to actual protection of trees. Though we said we are growing trees but do it as a pretending and continue to cutting trees, and as long as lacking of nurturing the already planted trees forests depletion will continue and ecology system will also into ruin.
Likewise, Kachin, Chin, Shan and Rakhine States couldn't handle the hill side cutting and we couldn't take strict action to those doing business in charcoal making. From the shifting cultivation to a permanent cultivation, the responsible should find ways and means. The systematic and practical solution should be carried out by the government for creating terrace cultivation, instead of firewood and charcoal, alternate use of substitute fuel should introduce.

Though there are various sayings and management for forest conservation, nothing practical comes out. The responsible should take notice of the fact that greedy people joining with corrupted staff in depleting the forests. At present, the income of the nation is being earned by other means and it is more important in preventing of forest depletion whether by selling trees and earned the nation's capital. We welcomed planting of substitute trees to cover forests depletion. But, it is not sufficient enough to grow trees on the sides of pavements. We need to grow trees where the forest depletion takes place.

Everybody can see the signboards describing "dried hills and mountain leads to dried farmland," "a green and lush mountain makes the world more beautiful", "Grow tree. Then only our world will become green", and "our people cherish trees and forests. Growing trees make you become wealthy." But it is needed to practice to become reality according to the words expressed in the signboards.  It is not acceptable that the forests given by our forefathers should not be depleted. Now, the forests are nearly depleted and if we are not protect them at present when are we going to do that work? Like the saying goes it's now or never.

Recently, I made a visit to China. There I had found out that Chinese government is making goals and laying out projects firmly in substituting of depleted forest due to extension of industrial sector development. I had noticed that to emphasize on conservation of natural environment is written in every last paragraph of Goals laid down by the Chinese government. For example, 30 acres of land is allowed for building a factory, one third of that area that is 10 acres have been spare for cultivation and that must be carried out by the factory. In growing trees, nursery planting is prohibited and big trees are moved in the area of the factory and planted there. When the factory inaugurates, the environment of the factory area is green and lush. I had witnessed that experienced. It is good example to follow.
At present, there is no program in our country. That's why cutting and exporting takes abundantly. We shouldn't watch those doing their desire like a saying goes, a permit leaves a whole forest nothing. That information given by the responsible people should take a note by the responsible authority and severe action should be taken now.

I want to request the President and the authorities to stop earning money from forest for state budget, to prevent cutting wood with rules and regulations, to take action seriously against the culprits and to wipe out the production of firewood and coal which are included in making deforestation in Myanmar. That's why I want to ask "Who is responsible for deforestation in Myanmar and how to prevent it?"

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/06/25/who-is-responsible-for-deforestation-in-myanmar-and-how-to-prevent-it/