Over 900000 acres deforested annually

Over 900,000 acres deforested annually

Published on Tuesday, 22 April 2014 23:53

YANGON - Over 900,000 acres of forest are cut down annually according to the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry.
The government has banned the export of raw timber in a bid to stem the rate of deforestation and encourage local wood industries but illegal logging continues in many remote parts of the country.
Deputy Minister Aye Myint Maung was addressing a meeting at the 9th session of the Upper House of Parliament.
According to the deputy minister, Myanmar has allowed private teak and hardwood plantations since 2006 but only 107,453 acres of teak and 46,180 acres of hardwood have been planted over the past six years.
Private cultivation is nowhere near keeping up with the rate of deforestation in Myanmar which stands eighth among the top ten most deforested countries in the world.
The timber extraction is now being operated by the state-owned Myanma Timber Industry and the government is also giving the permission to private timber companies and entrepreneurs.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/over-900000-acres-deforested-annually/