Green Development Initiative in Myanmar Myanmar Delegates Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry (MOECAF) ASEAN-China Environmental Cooperation Forum 2011 Innovation for Green Development, Nanning, China 22 nd October, 2011

Presentation Outlines Country profile Environmental status Institutional arrangement Green Development Policy and law Green Development Initiative Issues and the way forward for Green development

Land Use Status of Myanmar Land CategoryArea (,000 ha)% of Land Area Forests31, % Other Wooded land20, % Other land13, % Inland water bodies1, % Total67, %

Institutional Arrangement The Government pays great attention to conserving the environment and preventing its degradation, loss of biodiversity, etc., Environmental management is increasingly being accorded as priority on the national agenda. NECC has been reformed as a focal point for national environmental conservation and international cooperation in place of NCEA. National Commission for Environmental Affairs (NCEA) was organized in 1990 for the overall environmental management in the country. - To act as the focal point and coordinating agency for environmental matters and promoting environmentally sound and sustainable development. National Environmental Conservation Committee (NECC)

Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry (MOECAF) Ministry of Forestry has been changed to Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry in 2011 Under MOCAF, - Planning and Statistic Department, - Forest Department, - Dry Greening Department and - Myanmar Timber Enterprise. Department of Environmental Conservation is now approved by President to set under the Ministry for the effective implementation of environmental conservation and management in Myanmar

National Environmental Policy Aim to establish sound environmental policies in the utilization of natural resources to conserve environment and prevent its degradation To achieve harmony and balance between socio- economic, natural resources and environment through the integration of environmental considerations into the development process enhancing the quality of the life of all its citizens. Green Development Policy and Laws

Myanmar Agenda 21 The purpose is to mobilize and focus national efforts to achieve sustainable development. The policy strategies and actions on social, economic and environmental dimensions are clearly depicted in the agenda. National Strategy for Sustainable Development (NSDS) Myanmar's NSDS vision is "Wellbeing and Happiness for Myanmar People". Three goals identified are: - Sustainable management of natural resources; - Integrated economic development; and - Sustainable social development. Policy and Laws related Green Development cont:

Apart from the National Environmental Policy, 60 legal instruments existing sectoral policies, law and regulations relating to the management and conservation of the environment. National environmental law approved by President is being submitted to be finally adopted at Parliament. The highlights in terms of green development in the law are: - To encourage green economy and to adopt its strategies and action plan in order to mainstream into the development sectors. - To conduct the developing projects in cooperated with environmental management plan to mitigate environmental impacts and monitoring system on implementation. Policy and Laws related Green Development cont:

Focusing on biodiversity conservation and environmental stability while the sustainable development of forest resources in enhancing socio- economic development. (Forest Policy-1994) It also encourages to motivation and share of management responsibilities with people in terms of private and community forest investments both fulfillment of the basic needs of people and environmental conservation. (Forest Law-1992) Policy and Laws related Green Development cont:

The Law highlights habitat maintenance and restoration, protection of endangered species of both fauna and flora, establishment of national heritage parks and naturally protected areas for nature conservation. ( Wildlife, wild plant and Natural areas law 1994) Supporting the economic development and basic needs of local community while conserving the environmental stability (CF Instruction- 1995) Policy and Laws related Green Development cont:

National Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) The national EPA report was prepared under the guidance of a national coordination committee (NCC) with participation of 21 agencies and departments. Seven key priority areas of environmental concerns are identified: Forest Resources Threats to Biodiversity Land degradation Water resources management Solid waste management Air pollution Climate change

Green development seeks to remove the trade-off between environmental sustainability and economic growth. Myanmar assumes low carbon green development as a new developmental policy which ensures ecologically sustainable economic development. Myanmar therefore supports the shift towards the low carbon green development by East Asia Countries. Myanmar’s stand to Green Development

Permanent Forest Estate cover about 24% and PAS is about 3.93% of the country area So far, 32 wildlife sanctuaries, 1 nature reserve and 3 national parks, have been formed and managed. PFE and PAS will be increased up to 30% and 10% respectively. Green Development Initiative: Nature and Biodiversity Conservation

Green Development Initiative: Forestry Sector Forest Plantations Nation-wide tree planting program Forest development in border areas Private plantations and community forests Stabilizing the shifting cultivation Watershed Plantations Mangrove conservation Dry zone greening programs

 Targets to create a Low Carbon Society  To encourage people (end user) to reuse, reduce and recycle waste and use energy efficiently  To improve appropriate technologies for recycling processes.  To change the raw material for energy friendly product  To make process design for less waste and energy efficiency  To encourage clean energy generation Green Development Initiative: Industrial and Energy Sectors

Clean Fuel Switching fuel from diesel and gasoline to compress natural gas in the place of petrol and diesel More than numbers of Diesel gasoline powered vehicles are modified into CNG vehicles

Gel-Type Battery Clean Energy Efficient LED with Solar Power CNG Filling Solar energy Creation of Green Development

Issues for Green Development initiative in Myanmar Limited knowledge, research and resources to support investment in green development Lack of understanding about green strategy, practices and operations in development sectors Limited capacity and institutional structure Lack of environmental sound technology Financial insufficiency

The way forward for Green Development initiative To formulate green development strategy and mainstreaming into national development plan To strengthen institutional arrangement and the capacity building, and also the coordination mechanism for integrting among different sectors and NGOs, privates and local communities To raise people awareness and participation for environmental conservation in terms of green development, green growth and green economy To encourage research for clean and low carbon technology to be more efficient use of resource and energy. To initiate and create opportunity for green business in key sectors To develop green financial mechanism and also seeking to find financial assistance To promote regional and international cooperation

Thank you