| Major Advancements |
Forest Management Plans:
In 1996, FD launched a special operation to update and reformulate the old Working Plans in line with
modern forestry concepts. The new forest management plans at the district level place emphasis not only on
timber production but also on NWFPs, biodiversity conservation and socio-economic well-being of local
people. New management plans for 62 districts covering the whole of the country have already been formulated, and adopted for action with the approval of the
Ministry of Forestry.
production of trees
and
forests as envisioned in NFPs
National Forest Programmes
(NFPs):
National Forestry Master Plan
(NFMP):
At the beginning of 1998, National Forestry Master Plan
(NFMP) was initiated as NFP exercise, comprising 18 chapters for a 30-year period from 2001-02 to 2030-31. The plan reflects not only the existing conditions and management of Myanmar’s forests, but also
social and macro-economic policies of the country. At present, the drafts of all chapters are
completed.
Integrated Plan for the Greening of Central Dry Zone:
The
Integrated Plan for the period from 2001-02 to 2030-31 was pre- pared by
DZGD. The plan
comprises 10 chapters, and the draft document was finalized in 1999.
Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management (C&I for
SFM): Identification of Myanmar’s C&Is for SFM at
both national and FMU levels was
completed in October 1999, and formally approved by the Ministry of Forestry.
Myanmar’s document, which is based on ITTO’s C&I of 1998, contains 7 criteria each at both
national and FMU levels. There are 78 indicators and 257 required
activities at the national level, and 73 indicators and 217 activities at the FMU level,
together with standards of performance for each activity. FD has been testing and assessing the adequacy and application of Myanmar’s C&Is at FMU level for further improvement.
Monitoring resources in Oktwin
Model Forest
Establishment of Model Forests:
FD has established two model forests,
namely Oktwin and Pauk Khaung Model Forests in Bago Yoma Region. JIFPRO and JOFCA have been
cooperating with FD in developing these model forests. Myanmar is also
participating in a regional project entitled “Implementation of Model
Forest Approach for SFM in the Asia-Pacific Region” together with China, Thailand and the Philippines.
Timber Certification:
The Timber Certification Committee (TCC) was formed in August, 1998 by
MOF, and since then, it has been establishing links with other timber
certification bodies on a bilateral basis. Myanmar TCC is in close cooperation
with National Timber Certification Council (NTCC) of Malaysia and Ecolabelling Institute of Indonesia
(LEI). Myanmar TCC is now developing a timber certification process, reflecting Myanmar’s forest
management system. Myanmar’s C&Is are the basis for developing timber certification checklist at the FMU level.
Code of Practice for Forest Harvesting:
The National Code of
Forest Harvesting Practices in Myanmar was developed by the Ministry of Forestry with FAO’s
financial and technical assistance. A number of training courses have been
imparted to the staff of the Extraction Department of MTE for its clear
understanding and immediate implementation in the field.
Field checking using GPS for resources
assessment
Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (RS & GIS): FD has been applying RS &
GIS for its land use mappings and resource assessment since 1995.
Jointly with the Forestry Agency of Japanese Government, land use maps,
covering 67% of the country’s land area were produced by FD during 1995
and 1999. Other agencies such as National Space Development Agency of Japan
(NASDA), ICIMOD
and FAO have also provided FD with remote sensing data and GIS technologies. Since 1999, FD has been
applying RS & GIS and global positioning system (GPS) in forest surveys.
