Myanmar is facing the risks of climate change impacts as the country’s annual deforestation rate between 2010 and 2015 reached 1.72 per cent, said Ohn Win, Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation at a workshop on the suggestion on the analytical results of the village firewood plantation law and bylaw, at Tungapuri Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw on June 7.

In his opening speech, the Union Minister said, “The country’s forest resources are declining due to the facts such as agricultural extension, rapid urbanization, high demands for firewood, excessive timber extraction and illegal timber logging. According to the FAO’s FRA-2015, the forest coverage area accounts for 42.92 per cent of the country’s total area. The climate changes hamper the sustainable development of the country.

It is found that the country is in need of village firewood forest plantations for the firewood, fuel and other basic forest products which are essential for the people. To satisfy the firewood needs of the rural people, the establishment of 1.35 million acres of the village firewood plantations and 2.27 million acres of community-owned forest plantations, from 2010 to 2030, is clearly described in the major project for the National Forest Sector, the Union Minister added.

“According to the Constitution, the provision for the establishment of village firewood plantations in the regions and states. Apart from Yangon Region, the village firewood plantation law has been enacted in other regions and states. The bylaws have been drafted in some regions and states. The law and bylaws need updating as they are drafted based on the old law and bylaws. The region and state forest departments will be mainly responsible for the amendments of laws and bylaws, he said.