22 October 2019, Nay Pyi Taw
With the support of UN-REDD Programme, the 9th meeting of the Myanmar REDD+ Task Force was conducted at Forest Department in Nay Pyi Taw aiming to follow up actions on decisions taken at the 8th Task Force meeting. This assembly is intended to report Task Force members on Myanmar REDD+ progress and some important updates.
The chair of Task Force and Deputy Director General of Forest Department, U Kyaw Kyaw Lwin gave opening remark. In his speech, he emphasized that it has been reached the most significant moment for Myanmar REDD+. There are more important processes of REDD+ implementation in ahead to work together with sister line- ministries, CSOs and private sectors. He said, “We would like to encourage all Task Force members with different backgrounds, skills and experiences to support proceeding Myanmar REDD+ process.”
Dr. Thaung Naing Oo, Secretary to the Task Force gave explanation on action taken to follow up on decisions reached at the 8th meeting of the Task Force including inviting Private Sector to the REDD+ Strategy Validation Workshop as it is one of the important stakeholders for REDD+ implementation. Dr. Thaung Naing Oo also explained progress on REDD+ Myanmar by giving updates on National REDD+ Strategy, Forest reference Emission level and Safeguards Information System (SIS).
Mr. Tim Boyle, UN-REDD Chief Technical Adviser, explained the findings and next steps of the National REDD+ Strategy Validation Workshop. In his presentation, he mentioned that 260 comments on draft Myanmar REDD+ Strategy were received from multi-stakeholder groups including line agencies, sub-national governments, EAOs, CSOs, Ethnic Political Parties, NGOs and international organizations. And strategy will be amended to address all the comments.
And then, Daw Khin Hnin Myint, National Programme Coordinator of UN-REDD presented about decision on hosting of SIS. She mentioned that there are two proposed institutions; Central Statistical Organization and Forest Department to host SIS Database. And Taskforce was requested to make a recommendation which institution is the best to host SIS.
Mr. Tim Boyle, Chief Technical Advisor of UN-REDD explained plans for national Free Prior Informed Consensus (FPIC) consultation. He described that UNDP had accomplished piloting process of FPIC in Mon State involving nine village tracts in Paung, Thanbyuzayat and Ye Townships. He informed the Task Force members that National FPIC Consultation will be organized before the end of 2019. Mr. Tim Boyle went on presentation about updates on approval of Norwegian funding for REDD+ implementation in mangroves. He said that Funding will be transferred to regional UN-REDD “Implementing REDD+” project.
At question-time sessions, Task Force members discussed on presentation topics and gave comments. Total 19 participants from MERN, POINT, FRI, KBZ, FD, ECD, DALMS, DOP, BD, PD, MRPPA and UN-REDD Programme were present during meeting.
