Environmentalists call for swift action to stop forest depletion in Arakan State

By DMG 20 Apr 2021

DMG Newsroom
20 April 2021, Sittwe

An Arakan State-based environmental organisation has called for immediate action to conserve forest resources in the state.

The chairman of the Rakhine Coastal Region Conservation Association (RCA), Dr. Maung Maung Kyi, said forest resources have been severely depleted by overexploitation in Arakan State, and the state’s ecosystem will be at risk if proper remedial measures are not taken in time.

“There used to be over 400,000 acres of mangrove forests in Arakan State, but more than half of them have gone now. Without mangroves, aquatic species like fish and prawn that are dependent on mangroves for breeding can be depleted over time,” Dr. Maung Maung Kyi explained.

He also called on authorities to systematically control the use of chainsaws in rural parts of Arakan. He claimed that in some parts of Arakan, every village has at least one chainsaw to cut down trees — a practice that contributes to deforestation.

“As they have chainsaws, they excessively cut trees for firewood. But they never plant replacements after cutting down a tree. Unless this is controlled, we won’t be able to prevent forest depletion no matter how much the Forest Department and other agencies try to replenish the trees,” said Dr. Maung Maung Kyi.

Illegal logging is to blame for depletion of forest resources in Arakan State, said vice chairman U Moe Kyaw of the Sittwe-based Sein Pyar environmental conservation group.

“Some say forests deplete because people cut trees for firewood. But that only accounts for a small percentage. In fact, illegal logging is the major factor behind forest depletion,” he said.