Forest restoration project way off target
Only five per cent of the targeted 2.27-million-acre forestation plan has been achieved half way into the 30-year project, according to Kyaw Tint, chairperson of Myanmar Environmental Rehabilitation-Conservation Network.
“The project was kicked off by the Forest Department in 2000. It aimed to reforest 2.27 million acres of forest by 2030. However, only 120,000 acres have been restored so far in nearly 15 years of the project period. It is just five per cent,” he said.
Most nations maintain at least 25 per cent of total land area as forests.
“Even reforesting 2.27 million acres would be just 2.25 per cent of Myanmar’s allocated permanent forest area, which is very low. In contrast, Mexico maintains 80 per cent of its area as forests. Even China has managed to reforest six to seven million acres of forest area a year since 2012 – maybe because of the change in its land policy,” Kyaw Tint added.
Kyaw Tint blamed the Forest Department for not allowing locals to take part in plantation activity because of its belief that forests could be conserved only under its supervision.
“The mindset of the forestry officials must change,” the chairperson said, adding that 30 per cent of the country’s total area needed to be forested with 5-10 per cent of it set aside for wildlife sanctuary.
