National Forest Tenure Dialogue Proceedings

This document is a summary of the National Dialogue on Strengthening Forest Tenure Rights conducted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MoNREC) and LCG as part of the MRLG funded Strengthening Forestland Community Tenure Through Policy, Pilots and Law Project, in Nay Pyi Taw on May 11-12, 2017. Discussion focused on how to strengthen the recognition of forest tenure rights in Myanmar. The event was attended by Forest Department staff from national, state, and regional offices, parliamentary representatives, civil society organizations, national and international resource persons, and community representatives from around the country. This national dialogue follows regional dialogues in Mon State, Bago Region, and Tanintharyi Region, where case studies were selected that highlight different opportunities to recognize forest tenure rights, promote rural development, and protect the environment. The case studies include community conservation of limestone caves and smallholder rubber plantations in Mon State, customary land and forest management in Tanintharyi Region, and housing and land rights for communities displaced by Cyclone Nargis to reserved forests in Bago Region. The national level dialogue also identified gaps in current laws and policies that should be reviewed and amended to fit a changing national context, including increased government decentralization and democratization.