Deforestation in Myanmar
[4] In the 21st century, contributing factors to deforestation in Myanmar include continued timber extraction, illegal logging, agricultural expansion, land disputes and civil conflict.
Although the traditional agricultural practice of swiddening has been practised in Burma for thousands of years, there are no signs that it led to significant deforestation and may in fact have helped maintain the forests.
[3] Significant deforestation in Burma began in the 1800s during the colonial era as the British cut down large expanses of forest for timber, a resource in high demand for their empire.
Coming mainly from Pegu Range of central Burma, logs would be pulled by elephants to rivers and then floated downstream to sawmills.
The government, under military rule and the Burma Socialist Programme Party, claimed control of the forests and supported a State Timber Board nearly seven times larger than the 1952 establishment.
[5] In 1992 the SLORC passed a new Forest Law that, for the first time, put emphasis on environmental conservation and in 1993 shut down the Thai logging deals.
[8] Following political liberalisation during the 2010s, Myanmar's forest department and more than 45 non-governmental organizations and civil society groups began working to address deforestation and land tenure issues.
[10] Recent efforts to integrate back into the international economy have led to an influx of state development projects, many of which exploit Burma's natural resources and forests.
[11] While international pressure and support for economic development has increased, the technique of forest conversion has been employed in Burma since the colonial era.
[13] Lack of regulations has led to unbridled and destructive logging that has caused environmental damage such as soil erosion, river contamination, and increased flooding.
[14] Due to the remoteness of these regions and the international demand for hardwoods, illegal logging is a threat that is hard to address and will probably continue contributing to deforestation.
A major problem is that illegal logging is still classified in Myanmar as an environmental matter, and not as a criminal act, making it difficult for the Forest Department to bring a lawsuit against the offenders.
Satellite imaging of the conflict in Rakhine State suggested significant deforestation corresponded with military demolition of inhabited areas.
[16] Since the restoration of military rule and escalation of civil war following the 2021 coup d'état, illegal logging has increased as conservation activities have declined.
[9][17] Forest product exports from Myanmar to several European countries and the United States continued following the military takeover, despite international sanctions.
[20][21] Mangrove deforestation in Myanmar is usually for commercial uses or resources extraction, and is occurring mainly in 3 different regions: Rakhine State, Ayeyarwady Mega Delta, and Tanintharyi Division.
