Deforestation rising in ethnic areas since coup, environmentalists say

By Admin 04 Jul 2023

DMG Newsroom
4 July 2023, Sittwe

Environmentalists say Myanmar’s armed conflict has led to an increase in airstrikes and illegal logging in ethnic areas, with large investment projects contributing to worrying deforestation. 

Deforestation has become harder to control since the coup, and environmentalists say businessmen are manipulating timber production to their liking by paying higher tax rates.

“Deforestation does not benefit the local indigenous people. Due to deforestation, local people have lost their land and trees, and nature has been damaged. If the local people ban timber production, they are threatened,” said Ma Hsai Ye, an environmentalist from the Kachin Conservation Working Group (KCWG).

On July 1, Karen Rivers Watch, a local civil society organisation, held an online conversation on deforestation, titled “Hope for Indigenous Peoples to Resist Climate Change,” with environmentalists from Myanmar’s ethnic areas in attendance.

Environmental activists say that after the coup, armed conflict in ethnic areas increased, law enforcement weakened, and forest conservation activities declined.

“The ethnic areas are suffering from natural disasters due to lack of rule of law and good management systems,” said Naw Esther of the All Burma Indigenous Peoples Alliance (ABIPA).

Millions of people have been affected by natural disasters in Arakan State, Sagaing and Magway regions and elsewhere in Myanmar, many of whom are facing the negative effects of climate change as a consequence of deforestation.

Environmental activists are urging that armed groups from conflict areas establish good policies regarding deforestation in the areas they control and carry out conservation activities.

“In this situation, we cannot rely on the junta to preserve forests,” said Pado Mahn Ba Tun, an official from the Karen National Union (KNU) forest department. “It is the responsibility of all people not to destroy the forests in their respective areas.”