Gap Analysis of the National REDD+ Readiness Process in ......Information sharing, awareness raising and stakeholder engagement 16 Financing 17 Identification of priority gaps 17 The

FOREST

REDD+ Himalayas: Developing and using Experience in Implementing REDD+ in the Himalaya

Gap Analysis of the National REDD+ Readiness Process in Shan State, Myanmar

2

i


December 2018

Editors

Thaung Naing Oo (PhD), Nway Mon Mon Aung, Win Win Nwe, Su Mon San, Aye Chan Maung, Thein Saung, Inkyin Khaine (PhD)

ii

Copyright © 2018Forest Research Institute, Forest Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, Myanmar

Published by Forest Research Institute, Myanmar

Production teamBill Wolfe (Consultant editor) Rachana Chettri (Editor) Dharma R Maharjan (Graphic designer)

Photos: Alex Treadway; Nabin Baral; FRI, Myanmar

Printed and bound in Nepal byFormat Printing Press (P) Ltd., Kathmandu, Nepal

ReproductionThis publication may be produced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made.

This publication is available in electronic form at www.icimod.org/himaldoc

Citation: Oo, T.N., Mg, Aung, N.M.M., Nwe, W.W., San, S.M. Maung, A.C., Saung, T. & Khaine, I. (eds) (2018). Gap analysis of the national REDD+ readiness process, Shan State, Myanmar. Forest Research Institute, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation. Myanmar.

iii

ContentsAcknowledgements ivAcronyms and Abbreviations v

Gap Analysis of the National REDD+ Readiness Process in Shan State 1 Background 1 Rationale 1 Objectives 2 Methodology 2

Findings of the Gap Analysis 5 Policy gaps and possible solutions 6 Legislation gaps and possible solutions 9 Strategic and planning gaps and possible solutions 11 Capacity development gaps and possible solutions 13 Institutional arrangement gaps and possible solutions 13 Technology 15 Information sharing, awareness raising and stakeholder engagement 16

Financing 17 Identification of priority gaps 17

The Way Forward for National Implementation of REDD+ 19

References 20

List of Tables Table 1: Gap analysis consultation meetings 4 Table 2: Gaps and solutions (policy) 6 Table 3: Gaps and solutions (legislation) 9 Table 4: Gaps and possible solutions (strategy and planning) 11 Table 5: Gaps and possible solutions for capacity development related to REDD+ 13 Table 6: Gaps and possible solutions for institutional arrangements for REDD+ 13 Table 7: Gaps and possible solutions related to the technology of REDD+ implementation 16 Table 8: Gaps and possible solutions in terms of information sharing,

awareness raising and stakeholder engagement 16 Table 9: Gaps and possible solutions (financing) 17 Table 10: Prioritized gaps and possible solutions 18

iv

AcknowledgementsI would like to express my sincere thanks to Dr Nyi Nyi Kyaw, Director General of the Forest Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, Myanmar for his support for the project and his guidance and encouragement in completing this report.

I extend my thanks to all those who contributed to the publication of this report, helping us complete it on time. The report would not have been possible without the cooperation of the field crew and survey team, and the interviewees who responded to our questionnaires. We are grateful for their time.

My gratitude to our partner organizations, ICIMOD and GIZ, for their financial and technical support, and the time they spent in helping us complete and publish this report.

Thaung Naing Oo, Ph.D. Project ManagerDirector – Forest Research Institute, Myanmar

v

Acronyms and AbbreviationsAAS Asia Air Survey

CBD Convention on Biological diversity

CFDTC Central Forestry Development Training Centre

ECD Environmental Conservation Department

FFPRI Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute

FLEGT Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade

FREL Forest Reference Emission Level

FRI Forest Research Institute

ICIMOD International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

INGOs International Non-Government Organizations

ITTO International Tropical Timber Organization

KFS Korea Forest Service

MCCSAP Myanmar Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan

MONREC Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation

MRRP Myanmar Forest Reforestation and Rehabilitation Programme

MRV Measurement, Reporting and Verification

NBSAP National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

NECCCCC National Environmental Conservation Committee and Climate Change Central Committee

NFMS National Forest Monitoring System

NSAP National Strategy and Action Plan

NDC Nationally Determined Contributions

RECOFTC The Center for People and Forests

REDD+ Reduced Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation and Carbon Enhancement

SALT Sloping Agriculture Land Technology

UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

1

Gap Analysis of the National REDD+ Readiness Process Shan State, Myanmar

Gap Analysis of the National REDD+ Readiness Process in Shan State

BackgroundTo implement REDD+, Myanmar joined as a partner country of the UN-REDD Programme in December 2011 and has quickly taken steps to start implementing REDD+ Readiness activities. With financial support from the Norwegian government, the Myanmar REDD+ Readiness Roadmap was successfully developed in June 2013 through a series of national and regional multistakeholder workshops in Bago Region, Sagaing Region, Ayeyarwaddy Region and Shan State. The Myanmar REDD+ Roadmap is comprised of six components setting out how Myanmar will implement its REDD+ Readiness activities:

� Management of REDD+ Readiness � Stakeholder consultation and participation � Development and selection of REDD+ strategies � Implementation of framework and safeguards � National forest reference emission level and forest reference level � National forest monitoring system

To achieve REDD+ Readiness, three phases are identified: Preparation (Phase 1), Implementation and results-based demonstration activities (Phase 2) and full implementation with reporting and verification of performance (Phase 3). Currently, Myanmar REDD+ implementation is in Phase 1.

With support from the UN-REDD Programme, action plans for the National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) and Forest Reference Emission Level (FREL) have been developed with contributions from the respective technical working groups. REDD+ national strategies are being developed and are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2016. The Safeguard Information System has not yet been started. However, criteria and indicators for environmental and social safeguards for REDD+ have been developed at the subnational level with support from the ITTO-REDD+ Capacity Building Project.

To fufill the requirements for REDD+ Readiness, Myanmar has been collaborating with international organizations including UN-REDD, Korea Forest Service (KFS), The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), Asia Air Survey (AAS) Co., Ltd, the Centre for People and Forests (RECOFTC, Myanmar), Forestry and Forest Products Recource Institute (FFPRI), the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and local NGOs and CSOs. The gap analysis framework forms the basis for a desk study and a field-based assessment of REDD+.

This gap analysis was conducted by the REDD+ Core Unit of the Forest Department and the Project Management Unit of the REDD+ Himalaya Project, with technical guidance from ICIMOD and financial contributions from the German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).

RationaleThis gap analysis is built on the work of UNREDD at the national level. There is a need to inform subnational actors and vice versa. The national REDD Readiness process analysis, in terms of institutional capacity and setup, will be replicated at the state level for Shan State.

The technical REDD requirements for state level need to be analyzed so that processes for REDD+ move from project to subnational level and eventually to national level. Pilot site experiences and subnational approaches are limited in Myanmar. Given wide differences in social and environmental conditions, deforestation rates and

2


technical capacities, tailoring at the subnational level will be important for Myanmar’s overall REDD+ success.

The development of national institutions for reference levels (RLs) and measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) covers the full scope of REDD+, allowing for a fast start. Nonetheless, development needs to take into account capacity building at subnational level, in this case Shan State, before a gradual expansion to other states.

Moreover, as deforestation and forest degradation are often quite local in nature, different regions and even micro-regions require local implementation of the response measures. Local implementation allows for interventions customized to a particular region and often produce far more successful results than uniform implementation of a national intervention. Therefore, this REDD+ gap analysis looks sat the feasibility needs of Shan State to kickstart the local level REDD+ process.

Objectives1. To review forest legislation and institutional arrangements including policies, laws, action plans, acts, strategies,

rules, regulations, operating procedures and other activities pertinent to REDD+ Readiness in Shan State.

2. To compile information on activities being undertaken by government agencies, NGOs and civil society, with or without external donor support, that may be relevant to the gap analysis in Shan State.

3. To analyse and identify gaps and provide recommendations to address the identified gaps across the process of REDD+ Readiness in Shan State based on information compiled for the above two objectives.

4. To estimate the time and financial resources required to fill each identified gap.

5. To broaden stakeholder consultation and build consensus around the findings before submitting the final report.

MethodologyA core group was formed to provide input and guidance to the assessment and to contribute and participate in research activities for the gap analysis. The members of the core group are from the REDD+ Core Unit of the Forest Department and the Project Management Unit of the Himalayan REDD+ project. A series of wider consultative meetings was held to provide additional inputs to the findings of the core group.

The gap analysis includes elements of existing policies, laws, plans and project activities of the REDD+ Readiness process. Secondary data collection, a desk study, field observations, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions were carried out to achieve the objectives. A series of meetings with stakeholders from Shan State was carried out during the course of this study. Building an understanding within the core group on central issues and

3


providing additional inputs to the identification of potential gaps paved the way forward for REDD+. The following table shows the consultation meetings held for the gap analysis.

4


Table 1: Gap analysis consultation meetings

No. Date Main discussion points Participants

1 28-08-2017 Content of report, methodology and review of other reports, assignment of responsibilities

REDD+ core unit members and researchers of FRI, focal persons from REDD+ projects

2 07-09-2017 Consultation on progress by gap analysis team and human resources and capacity development gaps

Gap analysis team members, REDD+ core unit members and researchers of FRI, focal persons from REDD+ projects

3 26-09-2017 Policy and legislations gaps REDD+ core unit and researchers of FRI

31-10-2017 Strategic, planning and technical gaps REDD+ core unit members and researchers of FRI

4 08-11-2017 Institutional and information gaps REDD+ core unit members and researchers of FRI

29-12-2017 Consultation on the gap analysis draft report Gap analysis team members, REDD+ core unit members and researchers of FRI, focal persons from REDD+ projects

5 22-02-2018 Consultation on draft gap analysis report at regional workshop on the role of REDD+ in supporting SDGs and NDCs

REDD+ core unit members, representatives of line ministries, private sector, NGOs, CSOs, country representatives from REDD+ Himalayas project

6 22-03-2018 Consultation on REDD+ gap analysis report REDD+ core unit members, representatives of line ministries, private sector, NGOs, CSOs

Note: Meetings of gap analysis team members on the progress of the analysis was also conducted at two-week intervals and based on progress.

5


Findings of the Gap AnalysisIn the forestry and environment sectors, policies and legislation which directly support REDD+ are:

� Forest Policy (1995)

� Land Use Policy (2016)

� Environmental Conservation Policy (1992)

� Climate Change Policy (Draft, 2017)

� National Environmental Policy (Draft, 2017)

� Forest Law (1992) and Forest Rules (1995)

� Protection of Wildlife and Wild Plants and Conservation of Natural Areas Law (1994) and Rules (2002)

� Environmental Conservation Law (2012) and Rules (2016)

� Myanmar Agenda 21 (1997)

� Community Forestry Instruction (1995, 2016)

� National Code of Practice for Forest Harvesting

6


Tabl

e 2:

Gap

s an

d so

lutio

ns (p

olic

y)

No.

Polic

yLi

nk to

RED

D+

(sup

porti

ng R

EDD

+) G

aps

Poss

ible

sol

utio

ns1.

Land

Use

Po

licy

(201

6)O

bjec

tives

:Pr

ovid

e su

stain

able

land

use

man

agem

ent w

ith la

nd te

nure

righ

ts an

d se

curit

y an

d pr

otec

tion

of n

atur

al re

sour

ces

toge

ther

with

live

lihoo

ds im

prov

emen

t and

food

se

curit

y fo

r all

thro

ugh

prom

otin

g pe

ople

’s pa

rtici

patio

n an

d ge

nder

invo

lvem

ent.

Lack

of l

and

tenu

re ri

ghts

in R

EDD

+ pr

ojec

t are

as.

espe

cial

ly o

n va

cant

land

or v

illag

e la

nd.

Regi

ster a

nd re

cord

the

RED

D+

proj

ect a

rea

to a

void

land

dis

pute

s am

ong

villa

gers

, loc

al c

omm

uniti

es a

nd g

over

nmen

t dep

artm

ents.

Sect

ion

70 a

nd 7

1 of

Par

t 8:

Reco

gniz

ing

recl

assi

ficat

ion,

form

al re

cogn

ition

and

regi

strat

ion

of c

usto

mar

y la

nd u

se ri

ghts

rela

ting

to ro

tatin

g an

d sh

iftin

g cu

ltiva

tion

that

exi

sts o

n fa

rmla

nd,

fore

stlan

d, v

acan

t lan

d, fa

llow

land

, or v

irgin

land

in th

e ne

w n

atio

nal l

and

law

an

d gi

ving

tech

nica

l, fin

anci

al a

nd in

frastr

uctu

re s

uppo

rt.

Wea

knes

s in

the

invo

lvem

ent o

f all

stake

hold

ers

and

deci

sion

mak

ers

from

rele

vant

dep

artm

ents.

Aw

aren

ess

rais

ing

of a

utho

rized

per

sons

from

rela

ted

depa

rtmen

ts.

Sect

ion

24, C

hapt

er 2

, Par

t 3Ba

sed

on la

nd u

se in

form

atio

n, th

e D

istri

ct L

and

Use

Com

mitt

ee m

ay d

efine

land

us

e zo

nes.

2.A

gric

ultu

re

Polic

y (D

raft,

20

17)

Out

put N

o. 3

: Wat

er u

se a

nd m

anag

emen

tEx

plor

ing

unde

rgro

und

wat

er re

sour

ces

with

out a

dver

sely

affe

ctin

g th

e na

tura

l en

viro

nmen

t and

wat

er re

sour

ces.

Wea

k in

volv

emen

t of s

take

hold

ers,

esp

ecia

lly d

ecis

ion

mak

ers

from

rele

vant

gov

ernm

ent d

epar

tmen

ts.A

war

enes

s ra

isin

g of

aut

horiz

ed p

erso

ns fr

om re

leva

nt

depa

rtmen

ts, e

spec

ially

env

ironm

enta

l con

serv

atio

n, e

nviro

nmen

tal

impa

ct a

sses

smen

t and

soc

ial i

mpa

ct a

sses

smen

t.La

w e

nfor

cem

ent t

o be

in li

ne w

ith E

IA.

Out

put N

o. 3

: Env

ironm

enta

l con

serv

atio

n an

d cl

imat

e ch

ange

res

ilien

ce:

Con

serv

e an

d ut

ilize

nat

ural

reso

urce

s an

d ec

olog

ical

sys

tem

s in

a s

usta

inab

le

man

ner.

Lack

of m

utua

l und

ersta

ndin

g am

ong

depa

rtmen

ts or

la

ck o

f con

tact

.N

egot

iate

with

gov

ernm

ent d

epar

tmen

ts ov

er la

nd c

onfli

cts.

Out

put N

o. 9

: Lan

d us

e an

d m

anag

emen

t str

ateg

ic th

rust

:Sy

stem

atic

reco

rds

on s

hifti

ng c

ultiv

atio

n, s

uppo

rt th

e de

velo

pmen

t of h

illy

rice

land

, and

intro

duct

ion

of s

lopi

ng a

gric

ultu

re la

nd te

chno

logy

.

Lack

of l

egal

righ

t to

com

pens

ate

for l

oss

of p

roje

ct

site

s.Re

giste

r the

pro

ject

site

.Fo

rmul

ate

instr

uctio

ns fo

r RED

D+

to b

e re

cogn

ized

by

gove

rnm

ent

depa

rtmen

ts as

a c

omm

unity

fore

st un

der f

ores

try p

olic

y.

3.N

atio

nal

Ener

gy P

olic

y (2

014)

Obj

ectiv

e: T

o pr

ovid

e en

ergy

sec

urity

for e

cono

mic

dev

elop

men

t of t

he c

ount

ry

and

ener

gy s

uppl

y to

peo

ple

livin

g in

rem

ote

area

s an

d to

inte

grat

e so

cial

and

en

viro

nmen

tal c

onsi

dera

tions

into

nat

iona

l ene

rgy

plan

ning

and

in th

e co

mpl

ete

cycl

e of

ene

rgy

deve

lopm

ent.

Wea

k in

volv

emen

t of a

ll sta

keho

lder

s, e

spec

ially

de

cisi

on m

aker

s fro

m re

leva

nt d

epar

tmen

ts.A

war

enes

s ra

isin

g of

aut

horiz

ed p

erso

ns fr

om re

leva

nt

depa

rtmen

ts, e

spec

ially

env

ironm

enta

l con

serv

atio

n, e

nviro

nmen

tal

impa

ct a

sses

smen

t and

soc

ial i

mpa

ct a

sses

smen

t.La

w e

nfor

cem

ent t

o be

in li

ne w

ith e

nviro

nmen

tal i

mpa

ct

asse

ssm

ent.

No.

3 a

nd 6

, Sec

tion

a) o

f No.

21

of o

il an

d ga

s se

ctor

and

No.

3, S

ectio

n b)

of

No.

21

of e

lect

ricity

sec

tor:

To p

rom

ote

ener

gy e

ffici

ency

and

con

vers

ion

and

to re

view

and

sys

tem

atic

ally

m

anag

e el

ectri

c po

wer

gen

erat

ion

syste

ms

and

trans

mis

sion

sys

tem

s w

ith

min

imiz

ed e

nviro

nmen

tal a

nd s

ocia

l im

pact

.

Lack

of m

utua

l und

ersta

ndin

g am

ong

depa

rtmen

ts or

la

ck o

f for

mal

con

tract

s.Th

e ob

ject

ives

of b

oth

sect

ors

are

for d

evel

opm

ent a

nd

thus

a n

egot

iatio

n m

echa

nism

sho

uld

be d

evel

oped

.

Neg

otia

te w

ith re

late

d de

partm

ents

whe

n fa

cing

land

con

flict

s.

No.

4 a

nd 7

, Sec

tion

a) o

f No.

21

of o

il an

d ga

s se

ctor

; No.

3 a

nd 4

Sec

tion

c), N

o. 2

1 of

ele

ctric

pow

er g

ener

atio

n fr

om w

ater

res

ervo

irs a

nd c

anal

s; N

o.

4 Se

ctio

n d)

of N

o. 2

1 of

coa

l sec

tor;

and

No.

1, 4

and

6, S

ectio

n f),

No.

21

of

rene

wab

le e

nerg

y se

ctor

To p

rom

ote

alte

rnat

ive

ener

gy u

ses,

rene

wab

le e

nerg

y re

sour

ces,

ene

rgy

from

bi

omas

s an

d an

imal

was

te, a

nd a

dvan

ce u

se o

f coa

l to

prev

ent d

efor

esta

tion.

Lack

of l

egal

righ

ts to

com

pens

ate

for l

oss

of p

roje

ct

site

s.Re

giste

r the

pro

ject

site

.

Form

ulat

e in

struc

tions

for R

EDD

+ to

be

reco

gniz

ed b

y go

vern

men

t de

partm

ents

as C

FI u

nder

fore

st po

licy.

Polic

y ga

ps a

nd p

ossi

ble

solu

tions

7


3 co

ntN

o. 8

of S

ectio

n d)

of N

o.21

of c

oal s

ecto

r:

To c

oord

inat

e w

ith o

ther

min

istri

es in

Mya

nmar

and

ASE

AN

mem

ber c

ount

ries

for

the

cond

uct o

f EIA

stu

dies

on

coal

pro

ject

s.

Lack

of fi

nanc

ial s

uppo

rt fo

r ene

rgy

supp

ly p

rogr

ams

or e

ffect

ive

ener

gy s

uppl

y pr

ogra

ms

in th

e RE

DD

+ im

plem

enta

tion

activ

ities

.

To c

olla

bora

te w

ith d

epar

tmen

ts or

NG

Os

to p

rom

ote

alte

rnat

ive

ener

gy s

ourc

es s

uch

as e

ffici

ent s

tove

s, s

olar

and

bio

gas.

To d

raw

ene

rgy

supp

ort a

nd u

tiliz

atio

n as

one

of t

he a

ctiv

ities

of

RED

D+

impl

emen

tatio

n.

Lack

of a

war

enes

s in

loca

l com

mun

ities

abo

ut

susta

inab

le e

nerg

y us

e in

RED

D+

impl

emen

tatio

n ac

tiviti

es.

Arr

ange

trai

ning

pro

gram

s an

d pu

blic

talk

s an

d ca

rbon

inve

ntor

y tra

inin

g to

pro

mot

e pu

blic

aw

aren

ess

and

peop

le’s

parti

cipa

tion

in s

usta

inab

le u

se o

f ene

rgy

and

enco

urag

e ef

ficie

nt u

se o

f ene

rgy

thro

ugh

sola

r or f

uel-e

ffici

ent s

tove

s.

4.C

limat

e C

hang

e Po

licy

(Dra

ft, 2

017)

• Pr

omot

e su

stain

able

nat

ural

reso

urce

man

agem

ent,

prot

ect

biod

iver

sity

and

enh

ance

the

resi

lienc

e of

eco

syste

m s

ervi

ces.

• A

dopt

env

ironm

enta

lly s

ound

tech

nolo

gies

and

goo

d m

anag

emen

t pr

actic

es.

• D

ecou

ple

Mya

nmar

’s co

ntin

ued

grow

th fr

om in

crea

sing

gre

enho

use

gas

emis

sion

s; c

ontri

bute

to th

e gl

obal

clim

ate

chan

ge m

itiga

tion

effo

rt th

roug

h su

stain

able

low

car

bon

ener

gy, t

rans

port

and

indu

stria

l sy

stem

s w

hile

ens

urin

g th

at M

yanm

ar’s

soci

al a

nd e

cono

mic

de

velo

pmen

t nee

ds a

re m

et.

• St

reng

then

cur

rent

par

tner

ship

s an

d bu

ild n

ew p

artn

ersh

ips

amon

g m

inis

tries

and

bet

wee

n go

vern

men

t and

the

priv

ate

sect

or a

nd c

ivil

soci

ety

and

acad

emia

, at t

he g

loba

l, re

gion

al, n

atio

nal a

nd lo

cal

leve

ls fo

r the

effe

ctiv

e im

plem

enta

tion

of c

limat

e ac

tion

in M

yanm

ar.

Lack

of s

peci

fic ta

rget

s fo

r red

uctio

n of

GH

G e

mis

sion

le

vels.

Wea

k se

ctor

al p

olic

y fo

r red

uctio

n of

GH

G e

mis

sion

s.La

ck o

f ins

titut

iona

l cap

acity

for m

onito

ring

the

impa

cts

of c

limat

e ch

ange

pol

icy.

5.N

atio

nal

Envi

ronm

enta

l Po

licy

(Dra

ft,

2017

)

Nat

iona

l env

ironm

enta

l pol

icy

prin

cipl

es•

Mya

nmar

’s ec

osys

tem

s ar

e to

be

prot

ecte

d an

d m

anag

ed in

su

stain

able

way

s.•

Prot

ect t

he ri

ghts

of in

dige

nous

peo

ple

and

ethn

ic n

atio

nalit

ies

to

thei

r lan

ds, t

errit

orie

s, re

sour

ces

and

spiri

tual

her

itage

and

thei

r co

ntrib

utio

ns to

the

larg

er s

ocie

ty.

• M

yanm

ar’s

econ

omic

and

soc

ial d

evel

opm

ent s

trate

gies

will

prio

ritiz

e lo

w c

arbo

n an

d gr

een

econ

omy

path

way

s.•

Susta

inab

le a

nd re

new

able

ene

rgy

for a

ll M

yanm

ar w

ill b

e ac

hiev

ed

thro

ugh

the

use

of e

xisti

ng te

chno

logy

and

inno

vatio

ns in

the

gene

ratio

n, s

tora

ge a

nd s

uppl

y of

ene

rgy.

• C

limat

e sm

art a

ppro

ache

s to

dev

elop

men

t, in

clud

ing

resi

lienc

e,

risk

man

agem

ent a

nd c

limat

e ch

ange

miti

gatio

n str

ateg

ies

will

be

alig

ned.

• En

viro

nmen

tal d

ecis

ion

mak

ing

at a

ll le

vels

will

be

incl

usiv

e,

trans

pare

nt a

nd a

ccou

ntab

le to

sta

keho

lder

s, w

ith c

omm

uniti

es a

nd

citiz

ens

havi

ng th

e rig

ht to

acc

ess

info

rmat

ion

that

cou

ld a

ffect

thei

r liv

es a

nd p

rope

rty.

The

role

of l

and

use,

land

use

cha

nge

and

fore

stry

in

clim

ate

chan

ge m

itiga

tion

and

adap

tatio

n is

not

yet

m

entio

ned.

Iden

tifica

tion

and

impl

emen

tatio

n of

sui

tabl

e fo

rest

reha

bilit

atio

n te

chni

ques

for a

reas

affe

cted

by

defo

resta

tion

and

fore

st de

grad

atio

n co

uld

be d

evel

oped

to s

uppo

rt th

e ac

tion

plan

for

redu

cing

em

issi

ons

from

def

ores

tatio

n an

d fo

rest

degr

adat

ion.

Mya

nmar

Fo

rest

Polic

y (1

995)

Six

polic

y im

pera

tives

pro

vide

man

y en

ablin

g co

nditi

ons

for t

he p

repa

ratio

n of

RE

DD

+ Re

adin

ess.

Spec

ific

plan

s ar

e ne

eded

to im

plem

ent p

olic

y m

easu

res.

No.

Polic

yLi

nk to

RED

D+

(sup

porti

ng R

EDD

+) G

aps

Poss

ible

sol

utio

ns

8


5.co

ntFo

rest

polic

y al

low

s co

mm

uniti

es to

col

lect

fuel

, wat

er,

fodd

er, s

helte

r and

food

for t

heir

basi

c ne

eds

and

enjo

y re

crea

tiona

l act

iviti

es in

the

fore

st.If

all a

cces

s to

fore

sts is

restr

icte

d fo

r the

RED

D+

proj

ect,

the

parti

cipa

tion

of c

omm

uniti

es w

ill d

eclin

e.

Ther

e sh

ould

be

alte

rnat

ive

fore

st ar

eas

for f

ulfil

ling

basi

c ne

eds

and

thos

e ar

eas

shou

ld b

e m

onito

red

and

man

aged

in a

su

stain

able

man

ner.

Part

icip

atio

n•

Enlis

ting

peop

le’s

parti

cipa

tion

in p

rom

otin

g tre

es fo

r mee

ting

thei

r nee

ds a

nd in

crea

sing

non

-farm

inco

me

thro

ugh

adop

tion

of

com

mun

ity fo

restr

y an

d ag

rofo

restr

y pr

actic

es.

Dev

elop

and

initi

ate

awar

enes

s ra

isin

g pr

ogra

ms

to h

elp

com

mun

ities

und

ersta

nd th

at c

onse

rvin

g fo

rests

can

also

pro

duce

in

com

e fro

m re

sults

-bas

ed p

aym

ents.

Land

use

• To

evo

lve

a sy

stem

of b

alan

ced

and

com

plem

enta

ry la

nd u

se u

nder

w

hich

land

is o

nly

dive

rted

to u

ses

whe

re it

wou

ld p

rodu

ce th

e m

ost

and

dete

riora

te le

ast.

• To

pha

se o

ut e

xisti

ng p

ract

ices

inco

mpa

tible

with

sou

nd la

nd

man

agem

ent a

nd w

hich

cre

ate

adve

rse

envi

ronm

enta

l con

sequ

ence

s.

Lack

of l

and

tenu

re s

ecur

ity fo

r im

plem

entin

g th

e RE

DD

+ pr

ojec

t. A

n in

struc

tion

like

CFI

sho

uld

be d

evel

oped

to le

gally

reco

gniz

e la

nd te

nure

and

regi

ster l

egiti

mat

e la

nd te

nure

righ

ts fo

r loc

al

peop

le in

RED

D+

impl

emen

tatio

n ar

eas.

Fore

st r

egen

erat

ion

and

affo

rest

atio

n•

To p

ursu

e so

und

prog

ram

mes

of f

ores

t dev

elop

men

t thr

ough

re

gene

ratio

n an

d re

habi

litat

ion

oper

atio

ns to

opt

imiz

e pr

oduc

tivity

fro

m n

atur

al fo

rests

.•

To e

ncou

rage

pla

ntin

g of

fast

grow

ing

mul

tipur

pose

tree

spe

cies

in

degr

aded

fore

sts a

nd fa

rm la

nds

to m

eet i

ndus

trial

and

dom

estic

de

man

d an

d re

store

eco

logi

cal b

alan

ce.

Polic

y m

easu

res

• Re

fore

st 30

,000

hec

tare

s an

nual

ly fo

r reh

abili

tatio

n of

deg

rade

d la

nds

and

for m

eetin

g ru

ral n

eeds

.•

Reha

bilit

ate

and

prot

ect d

enud

ed c

oasta

l are

as.

Inte

rsec

tora

l coo

rdin

atio

nEs

tabl

ish

mor

e ef

fect

ive

coor

dina

tion

and

coop

erat

ion

amon

g se

ctor

s of

the

econ

omy

havi

ng a

n in

fluen

ce o

n fo

restr

y in

clud

ing

inte

rnat

iona

l ag

enci

es a

nd in

stitu

tions

con

cern

ed w

ith fo

restr

y de

velo

pmen

t.

No.

Polic

yLi

nk to

RED

D+

(sup

porti

ng R

EDD

+) G

aps

Poss

ible

sol

utio

ns

9


1.Th

e Fo

rest

Law

(199

2)•

The

mai

n pr

inci

ples

(a, b

, c, d

, e a

nd i)

sup

port

the

impl

emen

tatio

n of

RED

D+

by p

riorit

izin

g fo

rest

cons

erva

tion

polic

y, e

nviro

nmen

tal c

onse

rvat

ion

polic

y,

and

impl

emen

tatio

n of

inte

rnat

iona

l agr

eem

ents.

• N

o. 1

3, 1

4 an

d 15

lega

lly s

uppo

rt th

e di

ffere

nt k

inds

of p

lant

atio

ns e

stabl

ishe

d in

side

and

out

side

PFE

s.•

Acc

ordi

ng to

No.

41,

42

and

43, l

egal

ized

pro

hibi

tions

and

fixe

d pe

nalti

es

will

bec

ome

an a

sset

by

enha

ncin

g th

e le

gal p

rote

ctio

n of

esta

blis

hed

RED

D+

fore

sts in

PFE

s.•

Incl

usio

n of

com

mun

ity fo

rests

as

one

of th

e m

ain

func

tions

of t

he F

ores

t D

epar

tmen

t cou

ld a

ttrac

t loc

al p

eopl

e to

a R

EDD

+ pr

ogra

m.

• Th

e RE

DD

+ co

ncep

t is

not i

nclu

ded

in th

e la

w o

r in

the

prin

cipl

es.

• Th

e Fo

rest

Law

is e

nfor

ced

only

in P

FEs

and

not i

n al

l for

este

d ar

eas.

• N

o le

gal s

ecur

ity fo

r cus

tom

ary

fore

st la

nds.

• N

o sp

ecifi

c sta

tem

ent f

or p

rohi

bitio

ns in

RED

D+

area

s or

how

to p

unis

h of

fend

ers.

• N

o le

gal s

tate

men

t for

ens

urin

g a

bene

fit s

harin

g sy

stem

from

RED

D+

fore

sts.

• A

lack

of l

egal

sup

port

for d

evel

opin

g fin

anci

ng

mec

hani

sms

for r

esul

ts-ba

sed

paym

ent o

f RED

D+

fore

sts.

• Th

e RE

DD

+ co

ncep

t or a

lega

l mec

hani

sm s

houl

d be

de

velo

ped

and

incl

uded

in th

e la

w w

hich

stre

ngth

ens

the

secu

rity

of R

EDD

+.•

Polic

y or

pro

cedu

res

secu

ring

land

tenu

re o

f RED

D+

in c

usto

mar

y fo

rest

land

s an

d fo

reste

d ar

eas

outsi

de

PFEs

sho

uld

be d

evel

oped

in c

oord

inat

ion

with

line

m

inis

tries

.•

A le

gal s

tate

men

t for

sec

urin

g RE

DD

+ ac

tiviti

es,

finan

cing

mec

hani

sms

and

bene

fit s

harin

g m

echa

nism

s sh

ould

be

deve

lope

d.

2Fo

rest

Rule

s (1

995)

Enab

les

fore

st of

ficer

s to

sup

port

RED

D+

activ

ities

thro

ugh

the

follo

win

g m

eans

:•

In p

rote

cted

pub

lic fo

rest

area

s, d

eleg

ated

fore

st of

ficer

s ha

ve a

utho

rity

to

prev

ent d

escr

ibed

des

truct

ive

activ

ities

in fo

rests

and

can

pun

ish

offe

nder

s ac

cord

ing

to th

e ru

les.

• Ru

les

on e

stabl

ishm

ent o

f diff

eren

t kin

ds o

f pla

ntat

ions

, ext

ract

ion

and

reve

nue

colle

ctio

n fro

m p

lant

atio

ns a

re s

et u

p fo

r for

est o

ffice

rs.

• Fo

rest

offic

ers

can

allo

w e

xtra

ctio

n of

fore

st pr

oduc

e by

follo

win

g th

e pr

oced

ures

in th

e fo

rest

rule

s an

d in

acc

orda

nce

with

the

Fore

st La

w (1

992)

.

As

the

fore

st ru

les

wer

e is

sued

in 1

995,

the

RED

D

+ co

ncep

t is

abse

nt e

spec

ially

in re

latio

n to

the

follo

win

g po

ints:

• N

o ru

les

for e

stabl

ishi

ng R

EDD

+ pl

anta

tions

.•

No

rule

s fo

r im

plem

entin

g RE

DD

+ ac

tiviti

es.

• N

o ru

les

for s

harin

g be

nefit

s fro

m R

EDD

+ fo

rests

.•

No

defin

ed ru

les

for i

mpl

emen

ting

RED

D+

for

Fore

st D

epar

tmen

t sta

ff.

• Se

t up

clea

r leg

ally

bin

ding

rule

s fo

r for

est o

ffice

rs to

im

plem

ent R

EDD

+ ac

tiviti

es.

3En

viro

nmen

tal

Con

serv

atio

n La

w

(201

2)

• Fo

rmat

ion

of a

n En

viro

nmen

tal C

onse

rvat

ion

Com

mitt

ee w

ith re

spon

sibi

litie

s fo

r su

ppor

ting

rele

vant

dep

artm

ents

will

stre

ngth

en R

EDD

+ ac

tiviti

es, e

spec

ially

in

safe

guar

ding

info

rmat

ion

syste

ms

and

deve

lopm

ent.

• A

ccor

ding

to 1

8, 1

9 an

d 20

, the

Min

istry

mus

t sup

port

the

Fore

st D

epar

tmen

t fo

r the

con

serv

atio

n of

fore

st re

sour

ces

as it

s m

ain

resp

onsi

bilit

y.

• N

o RE

DD

+ co

ncep

t is

embe

dded

in th

e la

w.

• N

o le

gal s

uppo

rt fo

r get

ting

bene

fits

from

em

issi

on re

duct

ion,

esp

ecia

lly in

the

fore

stry

sect

or.

• A

lega

l mec

hani

sm s

ecur

ing

bene

fits

from

em

issi

on

redu

ctio

n fro

m R

EDD

+ ne

eds

to b

e pr

ovid

ed.

4En

viro

nmen

tal

Con

serv

atio

n Ru

les

(201

4)

The

rule

s su

ppor

t RED

D+

by a

ssig

ning

the

Envi

ronm

enta

l Con

serv

atio

n D

epar

tmen

t to

focu

s on

soc

ial a

nd e

nviro

nmen

tal s

afeg

uard

dev

elop

men

t.•

Envi

ronm

enta

l Con

serv

atio

n C

omm

ittee

is c

haire

d by

the

Min

iste

r of M

ON

REC

, w

ho c

an p

repa

re a

nd m

odify

rele

vant

pol

icie

s fo

r env

ironm

enta

l con

serv

atio

n in

co

ordi

natio

n w

ith li

ne d

epar

tmen

ts.•

The

com

mitt

ee m

ust p

rom

ote

an e

nviro

nmen

tal e

duca

tion

and

awar

enes

s ra

isin

g pr

ogra

m.

• Be

fore

impl

emen

ting

a de

velo

pmen

t pro

ject

suc

h as

RED

D+,

the

depa

rtmen

t m

ust c

arry

out

soc

ial a

nd e

nviro

nmen

tal i

mpa

ct a

sses

smen

ts.

• C

lear

rule

s on

the

role

of E

CD

or M

ON

REC

in

RED

D+

impl

emen

tatio

n ar

e m

issi

ng.

• Sp

ecifi

c ru

les

on ro

les

of E

CD

or M

ON

REC

in R

EDD

+ im

plem

enta

tion

shou

ld b

e fo

rmul

ated

.

Tabl

e 3:

Gap

s an

d so

lutio

ns (l

egis

latio

n)

No.

Law

s an

d re

gula

tions

Link

to R

EDD

+ (s

uppo

rting

RED

D+)

Gap

sPo

ssib

le s

olut

ions

Legi

slat

ion

gaps

and

pos

sibl

e so

lutio

ns

10


5Pr

otec

tion

of W

ildlif

e an

d W

ild P

lant

s an

d C

onse

rvat

ion

of

Nat

ural

Are

as L

aw

(199

4)

• Th

e la

w s

uppo

rts R

EDD

+ im

plem

enta

tions

by

proh

ibiti

ng th

e fo

llow

ing

destr

uctiv

e ac

tiviti

es in

fore

sts w

ithou

t per

mis

sion

in e

ither

nat

ural

or p

rote

cted

fo

rest

area

s:•

Ente

ring,

tres

pass

ing,

gra

zing

, plu

ckin

g or

bre

akin

g an

y ki

nd o

f wild

pla

nts

and

culti

vate

d pl

ants

in a

pro

hibi

ted

zone

.•

Dig

ging

on

the

land

.•

Cul

tivat

ing

or c

arry

ing

out a

ny w

ork.

• Ex

tract

ing

colle

ctin

g or

inju

ring

in a

ny m

anne

r any

kin

d of

cul

tivat

ed o

r wild

pl

ants.

• D

estro

ying

eco

syste

ms

or a

ny n

atur

al s

tate

in a

nat

ural

are

a.•

Alte

ring,

rem

ovin

g, d

estro

ying

or o

blite

ratin

g an

y bo

unda

ry a

nd b

ound

ary

mar

ks o

f pro

tect

ed a

reas

.

• N

o sp

ecia

l reg

ulat

ions

for R

EDD

+ ac

tiviti

es.

• Sp

ace

for R

EDD

+ im

plem

enta

tion

and

allo

win

g RE

DD

+ ac

tiviti

es in

pro

tect

ed a

reas

is la

ckin

g.

• A

sta

tem

ent f

or R

EDD

+ im

plem

enta

tion

activ

ities

sh

ould

be

incl

uded

in th

e la

w. A

s an

alte

rnat

ive,

a

lega

l doc

umen

t, po

licy

or ru

les

for i

mpl

emen

tatio

n of

RED

D+

activ

ities

in p

rote

cted

are

as s

houl

d be

ad

opte

d.

6Va

cant

, Fal

low

an

d Vi

rgin

Lan

d M

anag

emen

t Law

(2

012)

• Th

e la

w s

ecur

es R

EDD

+ fo

rests

from

enc

roac

hmen

t and

bus

ines

s ac

tiviti

es s

uch

as a

gric

ultu

re, m

inin

g an

d liv

esto

ck ra

isin

g us

ing

the

follo

win

g m

eans

:•

Busi

ness

act

iviti

es a

re o

nly

allo

wed

on

land

whi

ch is

lega

lly re

mov

ed fr

om

rese

rved

fore

st sta

tus.

• In

cas

es w

here

bus

ines

s ac

tiviti

es fo

r the

pur

pose

of t

he c

ount

ry’s

deve

lopm

ent

are

perm

itted

, the

adm

inis

trativ

e bo

dy m

ust c

oord

inat

e w

ith M

OEC

AF

to

ensu

re th

e bu

sine

ss d

oes

not d

estro

y re

serv

ed fo

rests

, pro

tect

ed p

ublic

fore

sts,

prot

ecte

d ar

eas

or w

ater

shed

are

as.

• In

unc

lass

ified

fore

st la

nd a

reas

out

side

PF

Es, R

EDD

+ im

plem

enta

tions

in fo

reste

d ar

eas

are

neith

er fa

vore

d no

r sec

ured

by

the

law

.

• A

lega

l doc

umen

t for

sec

urin

g an

d su

ppor

ting

RED

D+

in u

ncla

ssifi

ed fo

rests

sho

uld

be

deve

lope

d.`

7Va

cant

, Fal

low

and

Vi

rgin

Lan

d Ru

les

In p

erm

anen

t for

est e

state

s (P

FEs)

, the

law

ens

ures

land

tenu

re s

ecur

ity o

f RED

D+

fore

sts b

y pr

even

ting

busi

ness

act

iviti

es th

roug

h th

e fo

llow

ing

regu

latio

ns:

• Be

fore

issu

ing

perm

issi

on fo

r bus

ines

s la

nd u

se, t

he to

wns

hip

depa

rtmen

t mus

t ca

rry

out i

nspe

ctio

ns o

n w

heth

er th

e ap

plie

d va

cant

, fal

low

or v

irgin

land

s ar

e fre

e fro

m o

ther

offi

cial

land

use

s, la

nd ti

tles

or p

roje

cts.

• A

ppro

val o

f MO

NRE

C m

ust b

e ob

tain

ed o

n th

e ba

ses

that

the

busi

ness

will

not

de

stroy

a fo

rest

esta

te o

r exi

sting

env

ironm

enta

l con

ditio

ns.

• If

RED

D+

plan

tatio

ns a

re p

lann

ed to

be

esta

blis

hed

in V

FVL

outsi

de P

FEs,

an

area

from

5,0

00 a

cres

to 5

0,00

0 ac

res

can

be d

esig

nate

d as

gov

ernm

ent

proj

ects

of a

cen

tral l

and

adm

inis

tratio

n bo

dy. I

f the

land

is g

rant

ed, l

and

tenu

re

is s

ecur

ed fo

r up

to 3

0 ye

ars.

• Th

e pr

oced

ures

are

bur

eauc

ratic

and

tim

e co

nsum

ing.

• Sp

ecifi

c ru

les

shou

ld b

e is

sued

des

crib

ing

proc

edur

es a

nd h

ow to

faci

litat

e th

em

whe

n ap

plyi

ng fo

r VFV

L la

nd fo

r RED

D+

impl

emen

tatio

n.

8Fa

rm la

nd la

w a

nd

farm

land

rule

s (2

012)

To p

reve

nt e

ncro

achm

ent o

f far

min

g in

RED

D+

impl

emen

ting

area

s, th

e la

w c

reat

es

the

follo

win

g co

nditi

ons:

• W

ithou

t leg

al a

ppro

val f

rom

the

rele

vant

adm

inis

trativ

e bo

dy, n

o tre

spas

sing

or

agric

ultu

ral a

ctiv

ities

are

allo

wed

.•

Rele

vant

dep

artm

ents,

incl

udin

g th

e Fo

rest

Dep

artm

ent,

can

be a

mem

ber o

f the

ad

min

istra

tive

body

of f

arm

land

man

agem

ent a

t diff

eren

t gov

erna

nce

leve

ls.•

The

adm

inis

trativ

e bo

dy s

houl

d gu

ide

and

supe

rvis

e sh

iftin

g cu

ltiva

tion.

• La

ck o

f a v

erifi

catio

n pr

oces

s fo

r pro

pose

d fa

rm la

nd u

se w

ith fo

rest

land

title

or o

ther

la

nd ti

tle b

efor

e is

suin

g le

gal d

ocum

ents

perm

ittin

g us

e.

• Fo

r iss

uing

lega

l doc

umen

ts an

d pe

rmis

sion

fo

r far

m la

nd, a

n in

struc

tion

shou

ld b

e ad

ded

requ

iring

the

com

mitt

ee to

info

rm a

nd

stren

gthe

n co

ordi

natio

n w

ith th

e lo

cal F

ores

t D

epar

tmen

t to

chec

k th

e ex

istin

g la

nd ti

tle.

No.

Law

s an

d re

gula

tions

Link

to R

EDD

+ (s

uppo

rting

RED

D+)

Gap

sPo

ssib

le s

olut

ions

11


Table 4: Gaps and possible solutions (strategy and planning)

No. Strategy or plan

Link to REDD+ Gaps Possible solutions

1. National REDD+ Strategies (2018, Draft)

The goal of the Myanmar REDD+ strategy is to contribute to a climate resilient, low carbon and sustainable development path (MCCSAP goal) thr ough transformational change in the land use and forestry sectors by reducing deforestation and forest degradation while enhancing livelihoods, sustainable growth and development. To achieve this goal, seven objectives are formulated:• Reduction of deforestation and the related carbon

emissions by 30% by 2030.• Enhancement of forest carbon stocks by 24.56 million

tonnes by 2030.• Reversal or reduction of forest degradation on

overexploited and depleted forests.• Reduction of forest degradation from firewood

extraction.• Stabilizing shifting cultivation and reducing

pioneering encroachment in forests.• Reduction of forest fires.• Reduction of forest degradation caused by grazing

and browsing of domestic animals.

• The financial investment requirements for implementing the policies and measures are not yet secured, except for the funding requirements of the 10-year Reforestation and Rehabilitation Programme.

• Institutional arrangements should be strengthened. Subnational units in particular are required for effective implementation.

• REDD+ investment plan needs to be developed and funding sources secured (e.g. Global Climate Fund).

• Forming subnational REDD+ units.

2 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP 2016)

• NBSAP provides a comprehensive framework for planning biodiversity conservation, management and use in a sustainable manner and ensures the long-term survival of Myanmar’s rich biodiversity. NBSAP set targets and priority actions to achieve Aichi Targets. For example:

• Target 15.1: By 2020, there are over 130,000 hectares of forests under community forestry.

• Target 15.2: By 2018, guidelines for the national forest restoration programme that incorporate best international practices are formally adopted by government and pilot projects are initiated.

• Target 15.3: By 2020, the REDD+ Readiness Road Map is actively being implemented.

• Lack of integrated plans to address issues around climate change impacts and biodiversity loss.

• Weak coordination and limited coordination mechanisms for climate change-related sectors and biodiversity conservation-related sectors.

• Integrated action plans should be developed for a win-win approach, especially for climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.

3 (Intended) Nationally Determined Contributions

• Reserved Forests and Protected Public Forests will be extended up to 30% of the country’s total area of 50,025,402 acres.

• Protected Areas will be extended up to 10% of the total area (16,708,678 acres).

• Increase the number of energy efficient cooking stoves disseminated to reduce the amount of firwood used for cooking. Indicative goal: to distribute approximately 260,000 cook stoves between 2016 and 2031.

• Limited staff and inputs for reservation processes.

• Reservation processes take time.• Weak coordination and cooperation

of some states and regional governments for reservation and establishment of protected areas.

• Limited awareness and misunderstanding within local communities for expanding reserved forests, protected public forests and protected areas.

• No international support or cooperation for the task of expanding reserved forests,

• Cooperation among government, INGOs, NGOs, CSOs and local communities should be strengthened.

• Negotiation and extension skills of Forest Department staff should be improved.

Strategic and planning gaps and possible solutionsREDD+ has direct links with the following strategies and plans which contribute substantially to REDD+ Readiness in Myanmar:

12


4 Myanmar Reforestation and Rehabilitation Program- MRRP(2016-17 to 2026-27)

The main objective is to restore and rehabilitate the degraded forests and enhance ecosystem services. The indicative targets are:• Formulation of a forest plantation policy.• Establishment of 148,627 ha (352,438 acres) of

forest plantations owned by the State.• Establishment of 115,427 ha (285,104 acres) of

private plantations.• 331,392 ha (818,538 acres) of assisted natural

regeneration in production forests.• Conservation of 202,429 ha (500,000 acres) of

remaining natural forests in the central dry zone.• Establishment of 311,875 ha (770,332 acres) of

community forests.• Reservation of 1,610 square miles (6.19 5% of

country area) to fulfill the national target of 30% of PFEs in accordance with Myanmar forest policy, 1995.

• Weak systematic monitoring and evaluation for the implementation of MRRP linking to REDD+.

• Limited or no studies on potential impacts of MRRP in terms of political, ecological, social and economic perspectives.

• Limited consultations with stakeholders.

• Systematic monitoring and evaluation for implementation of MRRP linking to REDD+ should be carried out.

• Since MRRP is a long-term programme, systematic studies should be conducted.

• Stakeholder consultations should be taken into account for full and effective participation.

5 30-Year Forest Management Plan 2001-2002 to 2030-2031

• Translating forest policy into practice is the backbone of a sustainable forest management and a long-term plan.

• Weak monitoring and evaluation.

• Weak links with international commitments related to UNFCCC, CBD and UNCCD.

• Monitoring and evaluation should be strengthened.

• 30-year forest management plans should be developed and linked to international commitments.

6 National Strategy and Action Plan for Mangroves 2016

• The NSAP is the backbone of mangrove reforestation and rehabilitation.

• Limited funding for mangrove conservation and reforestation in coastal areas.

• Weak coordination among line ministries related to integrated coastal area management.

• Mangrove conservation and reforestation activities should be linked to international multilateral funding sources, including Green Climate Fund, Global Environmental Facility and Disaster Risk Reduction and bilateral cooperation agreements.

• Coordination mechanisms should be strengthened through the Coastal Area Management Central Committee.

7 National Climate Change Strategy

• The strategies and action plans outline the pathways and the means to address climate change. Strategies and plans aim to achieve climate resilient development and pursue a low carbon development pathway by 2030 to support inclusive and sustainable development.

• There are no specific actions and funding for implementation is limited.

• Limited or no sectoral strategies and action plans.

• Limited capacities and facilities for implementation.

• Funding should be secured through national budgets or international multilateral funding mechanisms and bilateral cooperation.

• Sectoral plans for relevant line ministries need to be developed and implemented as part of the National Action Plans.

• Capacity building activities for each sector should be accelerated and the required facilities provided.

No. Strategy or plan


13


Table 5: Gaps and possible solutions for capacity development related to REDD+

No. Capacity development and

Institutions

Links REDD+ Gaps Possible solutions

1 Human resource development plan, Forest Department

No links or specific actions for capacity development related to REDD+ and climate change mitigation.

No specific capacity programme for the development of REDD+.

Short- and long-term action plans for REDD+ capacity development for institutions should be prepared.

2 Central Forestry Development Training Centre (CFDTC)

Despite providing conventional forestry subjects, no links between training courses and REDD+ training.

No REDD+ or climate change mitigation and adaptation training programmes or lectures.

REDD+ and climate change courses should be included in regular training programmes.

3 Myanmar ForestSchool (MFS)

Despite providing conventional forestry subjects, no links between training courses and REDD+ training.

No REDD+ or climate change mitigation and adaptation training programme or lectures.

REDD+ and climate change courses should be included in regular training programmes.

4 Forest Research Institute (FRI)

Focal Institutions for REDD+ and FRI provide many REDD+ training courses in collaboration with international organizations including UN-REDD Programme, ICIMOD, KFS, ITTO, and FFPRI.

Few resource persons and many researchers need to be trained.No links between REDD+ and ongoing research activities.

Training-of-trainers for REDD+ should be organized for FRI researchers and REDD+ working group members.FRI research projects should be designed to link with REDD+ and climate change mitigation.

Capacity development gaps and possible solutionsCapacity development and institutional strengthening related to REDD+ are of crucial importance. Since REDD+ is a long-term process, it can only be achieved if stakeholder and institutional capacity development is well planned.

Institutional arrangement gaps and possible solutions

Table 6: Gaps and possible solutions for institutional arrangements for REDD+

No Institutional arrangement


1. National Environmental Conservation Committee and Climate Change Central Committee (NECCCCC)

• Take actions to prevent environmental damage and ensure environmental sustainability.

• Supervise and oversee rehabilitation activities in relevant areas based on the magnitude and intensity of impacts caused by government projects and activities or commercial and private activities.

• Participate in and promote actions toward international collaboration and cooperation relating to environmental conservation.

• Approve activities related to urban management planning.• Facilitate and negotiate with government agencies and institutions

to find solutions to environmental problems.• Organize special task forces with terms of reference to implement

conservation activities effectively and efficiently.• Take actions on tasks and duties given by Cabinet.

• There is no direct link between REDD+ Task Force and the NECCCC.

• A regular reporting system for the progress of REDD+ to the NECCCCC should be created.

14


2 REDD+ Taskforce

• Supervise the implementation of all REDD+ Readiness activities including the development and monitoring of consolidated work plans and corresponding reporting by the technical working groups, the REDD+ Task Force Office and those involved in roadmap implementation.

• Coordinate and monitor all REDD+ initiatives in the country to ensure new initiatives or projects are integrated into the implementation of the REDD+ Readiness phase and contribute to the development of national REDD+ systems and approaches.

• Consolidate or validate technical reviews and proposals generated by technical working groups, the REDD+ Task Force Office, REDD+ projects or the national REDD+ Network and submit them to the NECCCCC for review and endorsement if required.

• Provide guidance on overall capacity building and adherence to safeguards under REDD+.

• Advise on issues brought to the attention of the task force by stakeholders through the technical working group, consultations and other channels.

• Ensure community concerns are heard and acted upon, that FPIC principles are applied, and that community partners are given due recognition in benefit sharing.

• Report to the NECCCCC and MONREC on resource mobilization for REDD+ Readiness implementation and piloting selected REDD+ strategies if required.

• Inform the NECCCCC about the latest international agreements and developments related to REDD+ implementation and offer feedback to the UNFCCC through the NECCCCC.

• There is no capacity building and awareness raising programme for task force members or decision makers.

• Task force members have limited capacity and awareness about REDD+.

• There is no regular mechanism for meeting and discussion with technical working groups of the REDD+ core unit.

• Organize capacity building and awareness raising programme for TF members.

• A regular meeting should be created to report all progress by technical working groups, INGOs and NGOs.

3 REDD+ core unit • Provide technical support to REDD+ technical working groups. • There is no regular mechanism for meeting with technical working groups or the REDD+ core unit.

• A regular coordination mechanism should be established between national technical working groups and the REDD+ core unit of the Forest Department.

4 National Technical

• Stakeholder Engagement and Safeguards Technical Working Group.

• Establish a process for stakeholder engagement during the development of the roadmap and to set out a broad strategy for further stakeholder engagement during the preparation of a comprehensive national REDD+ strategy.

• Identify current measures in respect to the Cancun safeguards applying to forest management in Myanmar and propose measures to strengthen those safeguards.

• There are no subnational technical working groups.

• Subnational REDD+ technical working groups should be formed to strengthen collaboration with the national technical working group.

• MRV Technical Working Group.• To assess baseline national technical capacities and

institutional arrangements related to forest monitoring and measurement, reporting and verification functions of the national forest monitoring system (NFMS) for REDD+.

• Identify potential strategies for the development of Myanmar’s forest RELs/RLs.

• There are no subnational technical working groups.

• REDD+ technical working groups should be formed to strengthen collaboration with the national technical working group.

Drivers and strategies for technical working groups:• Identify and quantify the major drivers of deforestation

and forest degradation in Myanmar and their underlying causes and identify potential strategies to address them.

There are no subnational technical working groups.

• REDD+ technical working groups should be formed to strengthen collaboration with the national technical working group.

5 Informal REDD+ stakeholder network

• An informal REDD+ multistakeholder network was established as part of the initial REDD+. Awareness raising and consultation activities were conducted in 2010–12. The current network consists of a

• mailing list of interested individuals, primarily from government and civil society organizations. This mailing list has so far been used to disseminate REDD+ information, to establish lists of invitees for REDD+ workshops and events (including the national roadmap consultation workshops) and to establish the membership of roadmap technical working groups. The network includes members of existing environmental networks.

• Formal networking should be established.

• Networking for REDD+ should be extended to government ministries, NGOs, CSOs, the private sector, local government and communities and ethnic groups.



15


6 CFNWG • Develop community forest and related policy, strategies and plans for the short- and long-term to achieve the objectives of community forests.

• Provide overall guidance for the development of community forestry targeted by nationally determined contributions.

• No coordination or formal communication between CFNWG, the REDD+ taskforce and technical working groups.

• Establish formal lines of communication with CFNWG, national technical working groups and the REDD+ taskforce.

7 CF Units (HQ, and regions) of the Forest Department

• Monitor the progress of community forests across the country.

• There are no links with the REDD+ taskforce and community forest units of the Forest Department.

• No coordination or formal communication between community forest units and the REDD+ taskforce and technical working groups.

• Establish formal communication among CFNWG, National TWGs and REDD+ Taskforce.

8 Settlement Unit of the Forest Department

• Constitute reserved forests, protected public forest and protected areas to meet the nationally determined contribution targets.

• There are no links between the REDD+ taskforce and the Settlement Unit.

• No coordination or formal communication between Settlement Unit and REDD+ taskforce and technical working groups.

9 FLEGT TWG • Combat illegal logging to ensure timber legality and an assurance system.

• There is no regular mechanism for meeting and sharing information.

10 National GHG Inventory Technical Working Group

• Collect emissions data from various sectors and prepare a national GHG report as a second communication to UNFCCC.

• There is no regular mechanism for meeting and sharing information.

• Limited capacity within line ministries.



Technology

Two out of four elements of the REDD+ mechanism are directly related to REDD+ technology, the National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) and Forest Reference Emission Level/Forest Reference Level (FREL/FRL). In addition to technology, these elements need good facilities such as computers, high resolution satellite images, software and Internet access. Without these facilities, these elements cannot be achieved.

16


Table 7: Gaps and possible solutions related to the technology of REDD+ implementation

No. Technology Link to REDD+ Gaps Possible solutions

1 Remote sensing and geographic information systems (RS/GIS)

Directly contribute to the FREL/FRL and the National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS).

Limited availability of up-to-date satellite images on a regular basis.Limited availability of high resolution satellite images.

Provide up-to-date satellite images on a regular basisProvide high resolution satellite images ideally covering the whole country otherwise hotspot areas on a regular basis.

2 Forest Inventory Directly link to NFMS and FREL/FRL.

Need appropriate NFI design to cover carbon accounting and calculation of sustained timber production (Annual Allowable Cut).Centralized NFI system and NFMS. It is necessary to build up staff capacity in State and Region Forest Departments.

NFI design should be developed to cover carbon accounting calculation of Annual Allowable Cut.State and Region Forest Departments should be encouraged to improve their capacities to conduct inventory and forest monitoring by themselves.

3 Carbon enhancement activities (Role of forest conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stock)

Directly contribute to REDD+

Limited technical know-how of carbon enhancement activities of private investors and forest dependent communities.

Appropriate technologies should be accelerated for carbon enhancement activities and locally controlled forest management systems and community-based forest management systems, from planning to marketing.

Table 8: Gaps and possible solutions in terms of information sharing, awareness raising and stakeholder engagement

No. Info. sharing, awareness and

stakeholder engagement

Links to REDD+ Gaps Possible solutions

1 Forest Department Website

All forestry-related information is published on their website, including REDD+ progress.

Limited articles and information about REDD+ progress.

REDD+ related articles and up-to-date information should be uploaded on a regular basis.

2 MONREC website All forestry, forest products, environment and mining information from MONREC is published on the website, including REDD+ progress.

Limited articles and information about REDD+ progress.

There are many priorities to be uploaded. REDD+ related articles and up-to-date information should be uploaded on a regular basis.

3 FRI Facebook page All forestry-related information from the Forest Department is published on the page, including REDD+ progress.

Only a little information about REDD+ events is published.

FRI should link to UNREDD (Myanmar) to publish more information and REDD+ and climate change articles.

4 UNREDD Programme (Myanmar) website and Facebook

All REDD+ information and progress is published on the website.

Only updated information and ongoing events are uploaded.

REDD+ related articles should be published and shared on a regular basis.UN-REDD should also publish in Myanmar language.UN-REDD Programme should publish a monthly or quarterly journal focusing on REDD+ progress and climate change.

5 Monthly journal (Thitaw Kyaemon) published by the Forest Department

All forestry-related information from the Forest Department is published on the website, including REDD+ progress.

Limited information and publications about REDD+.

REDD+ articles, REDD+ project progress from the Forest Department should be included in the journal on a regular basis.

6 Private sector, line ministries, State and Region governments

Success of REDD+ implementation depends on full and effective participation of stakeholders.

Limited awareness about REDD+, so their participation is still limited.

Awareness raising campaigns and capacity development training should continue to be organized on a regularly basis.

Information sharing, awareness raising and stakeholder engagementREDD+ implementation will fall within the responsibility of MONREC. The MoAI is another key REDD+ institution playing a major role in land use planning and management. However, several other line ministries have responsibilities that are relevant to the management of a REDD+ programme. It is, therefore, crucial to improve coordination among government ministries, State and Region governments, CSOs, NGOs, communities, the private sector (horizontal, vertical coordination), and international organizations.

17


FinancingTable 9: Gaps and possible solutions (financing)

No. Financing mechanism

Links to REDD+ Gaps Possible solutions

1 National budgeting system

Sets the budget for the Forest Department’s activities, which includes reducing deforestation and forest degradation and enhancing carbon stocks as well as NFMS.

No specific budget allocation for REDD+ Readiness.

Mainstream REDD+ into the national budget system for annual allocation of funds.

2 Private sector financing

Private sector investing in teak and other hardwood forest plantations which contribute to REDD+.

No specific intention for REDD+ and climate change mitigation purposes.

Encourage the private sector to get involved, invest and contribute to REDD+ and climate change mitigation efforts.

3 Multilateral financing

Funding for REDD+ Readiness. No long-term commitment to financing for REDD+.

Sustainable financing mechanisms should be developed in collaboration with appropriate international organizations (e.g. Green Climate Fund and others).

4 Bilateral financing

Funding for REDD+ Readiness and capacity building of government staff, CSOs, NGOs, communities and stakeholders.

Done on a project basis with no long-term commitment to REDD+.

Bilateral cooperation should be extended to secure funding for subnational or project level REDD+ activities.

5 Environmental Trust Fund

Can provide REDD+ Readiness and capacity building of government staff, CSO, NGOs, communities and stakeholders.Can provide for carbon enhancement activities.

No environmental trust fund in Myanmar.

Create an environmental trust fund for REDD+.

5 Payment for Environmental Services (PES)

Can provide REDD+ Readiness and enhance ecosystem services.

No legal background or PES practice in Myanmar.

PES should be initiated with the appropriate legal background.

Identification of priority gapsThe conclusion from a series of consultation meetings, expert interviews and round-table discussions was that while many gaps need to be filled, it is not possible to fill them at once or even within a short time due to limited funding, expertise and experience. Therefore, based on expert consultations, priorities have been identified to estimate the cost of implementation. The following table lists the priorities and associated costs.

18


Table 10: Prioritized gaps and possible solutions

No. Category Gaps Possible solutions and priorities

1 Policy • Weak policy support for addressing drivers of deforestation, particularly substitution of firewood and charcoal.

• Land use policy (2016) is still inactive and many land-related issues were observed during field visits.

• Lack of supporting policy and mechanisms linking to forest conservation.

• Identify possible sources of energy including gas and electricity as well as energy efficiency measures such as efficient cook stoves.

2 Legislation • Legal support for REDD+ implementation activities, land tenure and benefit sharing is lacking as a consequence of the absence of REDD+ concepts in laws.

• No legal support for REDD+ implementation in unclassified areas (outside PFEs).

• -Rules and responsibilities for staff to implement REDD+ activities are not formulated in line departments.

• A legal instrument for REDD+ securing implementation activities, tenure and benefit sharing needs to be formulated by the Forest Department and coordinated with relevant ministries.

• A legal document for securing and supporting REDD+ in unclassified forest areas should be developed.

• Set up clear and legally binding rules for implementation through staff to conduct REDD+ activities.

3 Strategies and plans

• The financial investments required for implementing REDD+ strategies, policies and measures are not yet secured, except the funding requirements for the 10-year Reforestation and Rehabilitation Programme.

• Regarding implementation of NDC, there are limited staff and inputs for reservation processes.

• Weak coordination and cooperation of some State and Region governments, communities for reservation and establishment of Protected Areas.

• Regarding NBSAP, there is a lack of integrated planning to address issues of climate change impacts and biodiversity loss.

• Weak coordination (limited coordination mechanism) for climate change sectors and biodiversity conservation sectors.

• A REDD+ investment plan needs to be developed and funding secured (e.g. GCF or other bilateral cooperation agreements).

• Cooperation among government, INGOs, NGOs, CSOs and communities should be strengthened.

• Negotiation and forestry extension skills of staff members of the Forest Department should be improved.

• An integrated action plan should be developed for a win-win approach, especially for climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.

4 Institutional capacity

• There is no direct link between the REDD+ task force and the NECCCCC.

• There are no capacity building and awareness raising programmes for task force members or decision makers. Task force members have limited capacity and awareness of REDD+.

• There is no subnational technical working group.

• A regular system for reporting REDD+ progress to the NECCCCC should be created.

• Organize capacity building and awareness raising programmes for task force members.

• A subnational technical working group should be formed and linked to the national technical working group.

5 Institutional arrangements

• There is no direct link between the REDD+ task force and the NECCCCC for overall supervision.

• Lack of subnational REDD+ technical working group.

• A regular reporting system and mechanism should be built between the REDD+ task force and the NECCCCC.

• A subnational REDD+ technical working group should be formed.

6 Technology • Limited availability of up-to-date satellite images.• Limited availability of high resolution satellite

images.

• Provide up-to-date satellite images on a regular basis.• Provide high resolution satellite images covering the

whole country or at least some hotspot areas on a regular basis.

7 Information sharing, awareness raising and stakeholder engagement

• Limited articles and information about REDD+ progress.

• Limited awareness about REDD+ so participation is still limited.

• REDD+ articles and up-to-date information should be uploaded on a regular basis.

8 Financing • No national budgeting for REDD+ readiness. • Mainstream REDD+ into the national budgeting system.

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The Way Forward for National Implementation of REDD+Myanmar has been trying hard to launch a national implementation of REDD+ and access results-based payments through three phases: Phase I, which covers capacity building and preparation of four REDD+ design elements, including developing national strategies and action plans; Phase II, which is piloting subnational implementations to demonstrate emission reduction and carbon enhancement through policies and measures; and Phase III, the national implementation of REDD+ for results-based payment.

There have been over three years of REDD+ Readiness preparation since the UN-REDD National Programme began in Myanmar in 2015. Bilateral cooperation between the Forest Department and international organizations such as ITTO, KFS and AAS has implemented subnational and related REDD+ projects for capacity building of government staff and stakeholders to support REDD+ Readiness. However, Myanmar is classified as a Least Developed Country and there are many gaps that need to be filled for successful REDD+ Implementation and consequently access to result-based payments. A step-by-step process to address these gaps is the way to go for Myanmar.

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FD-ICIMOD REDD+ ProjectForest Research Institute, Forest Department,

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation

Myanmar

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Documents

Gap Analysis of the National REDD+ Readiness Process in ......Information sharing, awareness raising and stakeholder engagement 16 Financing 17 Identification of priority gaps 17 The