Efforts are being made to submit the by-law for biodiversity and conservation of protected areas to Union Parliament before the end of this year.

"We will try to submit the draft by-law to the Union Parliament before the end of 2018. After today's meeting results, we will seek legal advice from the Attorney General's Office. Then, we will submit the by-law to the parliament," said Kyaw Kyaw Lwin, deputy director general of the Forest Department.

Workshops on seeking suggestions for drafting the bylaw took place in Yangon, Mandalay, Myitkyina and Dawei. Again, a similar workshop was held at Royal Nay Pyi Taw Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday.

"Based on public consultations, workshops will be held in regions and states by inviting all stakeholders. Then we will finalize the draft by-law and it will go to Union Parliament," said Kyaw Kyaw Lwin.

In the biodiversity and conservation of protected areas law, those who kill, hunt, harm, collect, transfer, possess, traffick wildlife or animals protected from trading or their carcasses will face a prison sentence from a minimum of three years to a maximum of 10 years plus a fine.   

The biodiversity and conservation of protected areas law was enacted on May 21 this year repealing the 1994 law.