12 December 2018, Nay Pyi Taw
With the support of Forest Department, UN-REDD team conducted a day consultation workshop to enhance stakeholders’ participation on sharing comments, recommendations and concerns of their owns on expansion of community forest at Amara Hotel, Nay Pyi Daw.
Nearly 50 representatives from different government agencies, non government organizations, international NGO, local organizations and community representatives who manage community forest by themselves attended the workshop.
At opening ceremony, U Kyaw Kyaw Lwin, Deputy Director General (DDG) of Forest Department gave opening remark. In his speech, DDG mentioned significant role of community for managing and expanding community forest. He also emphasized the importance of stakeholder engagement for sustainable development of community forest.
Mr. Tim Boyle, Chief Technical Advisor of UN-REDD programme explained about workshop’s objectives highlighting the purposes of consultation meetings with concerned ministries, local organizations, and even ethnic minority groups to raise public concerns and comments on proposed PAMs (Policies and Measures).
And then U Sein Moe, Assistant Director, Forest Department gave presentation on the review of current status of CF’s and prospects for future development. U Kyaw Kyaw Myo, Project Officer of MERN organization presented about CSO perspective on Community Forest status and prospects.
In addition, Procedures for applying to change the designation of VFV land to CF was discussed by U Min Thant Tun, Asst. Director of DALMS (Department of Agricultural Land Management and Statistics. In relation with his topic, U Khin Maung Latt, Programme Coordinator, Metta Development Foundation discussed about Community-driven Natural Forest Conservation.
In term of group discussion, participants exchanged views on processes of establishing Community Forest (CF). In afternoon session, Dr. Ei Ei Swe Hlaing, Assistant Director from Forest Research Institute presented about Perspectives on resources needed for Forest department to support CF. Daw Khin Moe Kyi, Training Coordinator of RECOFTC organization discussed on CSO perspectives on resources needed for Forest Department in supporting CF.
After the presentation session, groups discussed again for required resources to support CF’s expansion and management. And then, they gave recommendations and comments at local level and national level respectively.
This workshop is the second workshop that UN-REDD team organized in order to review the respective PAMs. And it is also proposed to organize a series of consultation workshops in near future. The first of these consultation workshops was on “Incorporate forested VFV land into PFE”.
