Forests and forestry
Forest products
Khammuan confiscates large illegal timber haul
Yommalath district authorities in Khammuan province this week seized illegally harvested timber which was hidden inside a shipping container and buried underground at a sawmill in Donpeuay village. The incident was outlined by local media after provincial Forest Inspection Division officials teamed up with local ...
Land owners face prosecution over illegal timber, says Yangon forest department
Owners of timber yards will be prosecuted if illegal timber is found stored on their land, warned the Yangon Forest Department. U Thein Toe, the department’s director, said even if the land owners were unaware that their land was used to store illegal timber, they ...
Ministry okays wood plant
The government issued a statement on February 12 allowing Lim Royal Joint Stock Company to create a temporary wood and furniture manufacturing plant in Trapeang Srae village in Kratie province. According to an announcement signed by Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Veng Sakhon last Thursday, Lim ...
Chain saw injuries in Myanmar tied to illegal logging
As darkness fell in the forests of central Myanmar on a rainy evening last July, May Thu and her husband Myint Swe*, were wrapping up their day’s work: illegal logging. May Thu, a petite 27-year-old with long black hair and shining black eyes, clambered on ...
Agriculture, not gold or USD, most attractive investment channel
Agriculture was never found on the list of the most attractive investment channels for those who have idle money. But things are changing as the government has committed to reserve VND50-60 trillion worth of preferential capital and promised a series of preferential policies for agricultural ...
Deputy PM advises Saravan on development path
Deputy Prime Minister Dr Sonexay Siphandone and his delegation recently visited Saravan provincial authorities to encourage and guide their operations in the year ahead. During the visit from February 5-6, Dr Sonexay listed the successes previously achieved by the province and plans for the year ...
Minister calls for chainsaw import ban to tackle logging
Environment Minister Say Sam Al on February 6 said he would seek approval for a ban on the import of chainsaws in a bid to tackle the country’s persistent illegal logging trade. Mr. Sam Al announced his plans during a morning meeting at the ministry, ...
How should Vietnam behave after the US abandons TPP?
Anti-globalization and protectionist attitudes are increasing in some countries, but Vietnam still has an open economy. This means big challenges for Vietnam in upcoming days. US President Donald Trump on January 23 officially pulled out of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, a move that The New ...
10 sawmills closed, 18 others in process: official
Ten sawmills located near and inside forest areas have been closed and removed, while 18 others are in the process of being removed as part of the government’s crackdown on sawmill operations and illegal logging. The closures came after the government recently issued an order ...
Public should look at detail of anti-forest encroachment measures: Prayut
Government chiefs including Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha on January 31 urged the public to look at the detail of proposals by the National Reform Steering Assembly for tackling forest encroachment, saying it has merely tried to correct wrongs and not legalise wrongdoings including by resort ...