China-Myanmar Timber Governance
Overseas Investment, Trade and the Environment ProgramChina-Myanmar Timber Governance
Summary
Needs & Approach
Objective
Impacts
Updates
Project Details
As Myanmar opens up, this developing nation with rich biodiversity must avoid following China’s path of “pollute first, rectify later” and curtail the exploitation of its natural resources.
GEI has worked closely with the Government of Myanmar as well as Chinese officials and other stakeholders from both countries improve environmental governance and apply innovative market mechanisms to achieve sustainable investment and trade cooperation.
Needs:
Stronger bilateral ties between China and Myanmar to support cooperative efforts to stop illegal timber trade and sustainable development.
Approach:
Conduct a series of informal talks and dialogues as well as in-depth research on the existing situation that can be used as support during the high-level bilateral talks.
Strengthen enforcement against illegal timber trade, promote bilateral timber legality certification, and boost sustainable Chinese forestry investment and development in Myanmar through bilateral cooperation.
Hosted over seven dialogues and workshops about timber trade to foster mutual trust between Chinese and Burmese forestry industry officials.
Passed two groundbreaking mutual agreements on sustainable forestry investment.
Started the China Myanmar Ecological Friendship Fund.
2014: GEI and the Myanmar Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry signed a project cooperation agreement in Naypyidaw. The first of its kind, the agreement marked the formal launch of the project in Myanmar.
2017: China and Myanmar signed an MOU on forest cooperation that officially supports the steps taken for timber legality.
Mid-2017: Release of our report on Myanmar’s illegal timber trade and the role of Chinese policies and firms.
Partner: MONRE: Food Security Working Group
Duration: 2010 – present
Location: Myanmar
Donor: blue moon fund
Insight and News from this Project
