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The opportunities for freer trade created by the MTS and these regional trade agreements are also providing an impetus for unilateral market-driven reforms, which will enable Myanmar to take advantage of these opportunities in order to achieve sustained growth and diversify its economy, which is rich in natural resources, but hitherto largely under-developed.

The GOM (Government of Myanmar) is committed to protecting Myanmar's biodiversity, conserving natural forests, greening the 17 mountain ranges in the dry zone, encouraging people to get involved in environmental conservation and management, and extracting natural resources sustainably. (…) Accordingly, the Environmental Conservation Law, enacted on 30 March 2012, provides for the detailed development of environmental rules and regulations, mandatory compliance of environmental impact assessments in development projects, upgrading and standardization of environmental assessments, and joint undertakings with NGOs on broad-based public awareness campaigns. (…)

(…) The GOM (Government of Myanmar) also attaches the highest importance to its commitment to international cooperation on climate change, while adopting new technologies for bio-diesel and other clean energy as well as actively educating the public about sustainable development. (…)

(…) As regards forestry, it is also critical that timber and other forest products be extracted sustainably with proper technology. Therefore, the GOM (Government of Myanmar) will encourage better use of new technology and foreign investment in processing value-added forest products for future exports. It will also promote participatory projects of community forestry in the previously deforested areas while strengthening laws and regulations in prohibiting encroachment in the protected forest areas. The GOM will also consider promoting eco-tourism services in the designated areas.

The Government intends to ensure the sustainable development of forest resources by, inter alia: securing people’s basic needs for fuel, shelter, food, and recreation; and achieving efficiency to harness the economic potential of the forest resources. The Government aims to manage 25% of total land area under Permanent Forest Estates (PFEs) and 10% under the Protected Area System (PAS).

(…) Myanmar is one of few countries in the world with natural teak forests and continuous efforts are deployed to preserve this unique endowment. Systematic forest management in Myanmar was first initiated in 1856 and was further consolidated into guiding principles in forest management in 1894. These principles are enshrined in the Myanmar Forest Policy of 1995.

Table 3.7 Export permit
Commodity: Teak scantlings and forest products
Ministry/Department: Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry
(…)

In the case of virgin teak, however, Myanmar has announced its intention of replacing the existing export tax with an export ban, as of 1 April 2014, thereby no longer being the only country without such a ban. The ban, which is arguably more transparent than a prohibitive export tax, is considered necessary to preserve Myanmar's remaining teak forests and to develop a sustainable hardwood timber export industry.

One key objective of Myanmar's tourism policy is to focus on the long-term sustainability of tourism development, notably through responsible and community-based tourism. The policy aims at maximizing economic, social and environmental benefits and minimizing costs. Myanmar is closely working together with the donor community in implementing its tourism development strategy.

Since 2008, private companies have been allowed to participate in power generation, especially in hydropower plant projects. Private sector participation is allowed not only in generation, but also in distribution. Some 77% of total electricity is hydro-powered, followed by natural gas, which accounts for about 20%. A master plan for power production and distribution is under preparation with a view to replacing old gas turbine plants with new more efficient combined cycle plants that use the same amount of gas, but produce two to three time the amount of power.