Sustainable forest management in Myanmar one-step closer

5 July 2018 News

One year on, and our project to support Myanmar as it reforms its forest sector is gathering pace. This was clear last month, as the Myanmar Forest Certification Committee (MFCC) held its first annual multi-stakeholder coordination meeting.

The half-day coordination meeting was attended by a range of stakeholders, including the Myanmar Government’s Forestry Department, Timber Enterprise and Department of Research and Innovation, FAO, FLEGT VPA advisors, international and national NGOs, certification bodies and the private sector.

This coordination meeting marks an important step in this 3-year project to support the country as it transitions to the sustainable management of its forests, funded jointly by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, PEFC and MFCC.

Open and constructive cooperation

MFCC Chairman, U Shwe Kyaw, opened the meeting, encouraging open and constructive cooperation to help realise the project goals and deliver an operational national forest certification system in Myanmar within the next two years.

In its first year, the project has helped to strengthen the MFCC secretariat, field test Myanmar’s timber legality assurance system (MTLAS) and establish cooperation between EU buyers and Myanmar wood industries. Project partners have also created the national system documentation and conducted auditor training.

“Over the last six months, the auditor trainings and participatory assessments have been instrumental in building a robust pathway for credible assessments against the Myanmar Forest Certification System,” said Mr. Gan Boon Keong, an international forestry certification assessor who carried out the auditor training.

“Whilst Myanmar faces challenges to demonstrate the sustainability of its forest products, this first year has laid the necessary foundation to meet the project goals, and in particular develop the capacity of key partners to take the project forward,” concluded Richard Laity, PEFC International Development Officer, Southeast Asia.

Find out more

If you would like to learn more about how you could get involved in the partnership, please contact: MFCC - timcertcom@gmail.com or PEFC International - development@pefc.org