|
Environmental Situation in Myanmar
|
The World Environment Day falls on 5th June. In commemoration of the World Environment Day, we have an interview with an official of the National Commission for Environmental Affairs.
 |
 |
 |
The environmental condition of Myanmar can be described by two perspectives:- (1) Natural resources situation, (2) The Quality of the environment.
Regarding the natural resources, the condition is still very good. We still have rich forest, land resources, water resources and a large lot of marine and mineral resources as well as biological resources. We do have some problems relating with deforestation, soil erosion and sanitation of river sand, lakes as well as depletion of minerals and marine resources and lots of biodiversity.
Regarding the quality of the environment, the air quality, the water quality and the soil quality is more or less good but the amount of waste discharge into the river, into the air and on land is increasing. So, there is a problem of air pollution, water pollution and land pollution in some places. Most of the ministries have some kind of measures to protect the environment. For instant, the Ministry of Forestry has forest law they also have forest policy and wild life protection law. And the Ministry of Mines also have the mines law, likewise the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries also has the fisheries law and the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation also has law to protect the environment. Moreover, we also have special projects like the greening of the dry zone and the establishment of wild life sanctuaries as well as marine parks and national parks for the conservation of the environment.
The Government has recently formed the Environmental Conservation Committee comprising ministers and deputy ministers and 10 special task forces have also been formed under the committee. Four of the task forces are related with the protection of the river systems including the Ayeyarwaddy, Sittaung, Thanlwin and Chindwin. And one is related with the protection of the marine and coastal eco-system and the five remaining task forces they are responsible for the protection of the forest regions in the country, the east, the west, north, south and central forest regions. The committee and the task forces will access and attest the environmental issues in the country.
The government is now paying greater attention to the environmental matters in the country. And it has also been taken important actions to promote effective environmental management in the country. So, I think the outlook is very promising.
People participation is very important because all of us depend on the environment to sustain our life as well as our livelihood. People all of us should take interest and participate in all the environmental protection activities in the country.
