SYSTEMATIC land management is required in implementing the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (2018-2030), said National Land Use Council Chairman and Vice President U Henry Van Thio during the fourth coordination meeting of the council held at the Ingyin Hall of Forest Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.

At the meeting, NLUC Chairman and Vice President U Henry Van Thio emphasized the important role of his council to draft the National Land Law in accordance with the National Land Use Policy after reviewing the existing laws pertaining to land management for the development of better land management systems.

He also pointed out the connection between land management systems and climate changes resulting from global warming, adding that land resources were the most fundamental resources for human beings in providing food, clean water and biodiversity, and other ecosystem services. However, these resources were also the root causes for emission of greenhouse gases. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the emission of greenhouse gases from the sectors of agriculture, forestry and other land use contributed 23 per cent of total emissions from various sources in the world.

As a repercussion of climate changes, Myanmar suffered severe weather conditions such as 2008 Cyclone Nargis, floods, landslides and excess day temperatures, causing more devastations which impacted on the socioeconomic situation. As a result, Myanmar ranked third in the list of most vulnerable countries and territories in the world from 1998 to 2017.

At this point, the Vice President called for reducing climate changes in the country, and to manage land resources for adaptation.

The world leaders adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the UN Summit in September 2015. Most of the goals are related with land management, and the Goal 15 highlighted to manage forests for their sustainability, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and prevent biodiversity loss.

Moreover, the Strategy 5.5 of Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (2018-2030) has mentioned the improvement of land governance and sustainable management of resource-based industries ensuring the country’s natural resources dividend benefits all the people.

The National Land Use Council has formed a working committee to support the council’s works in drafting the National Land Law that can cover other land use management laws, and in adapting these laws.

The NLUC has also formed working committees for implementing OneMap Myanmar to have access to high-quality spatial data on land, and contributing to more transparent and accountable development planning and governance of land and other natural resource, the technical advisory board for land use, and the coordination committee for implementing agriculture development strategy.

The Vice President also added that these working committees need to follow the guidelines of NLUC, to get assistance from the technical advisory board and to collaborate with the working committees under the NLUC.

Finally, he urged all participants at the meeting to discuss the future plans for implementing systematic land resources management of the NLUC.

Then, the Secretary of NLUC and Union Minister U Ohn Win discussed accomplishment of resolutions from the third coordination meeting and the requirements of land use committees and working committees in Union Territory (Nay Pyi Taw) and States/Regions.

Next, discussions were made by the following officials: Deputy Attorney General U Win Myint on the process of drafting the National Land Law, Deputy Minister Dr Ye Myint Swe on the collecting spatial data which will be mainly included in the OneMap Data Portal, Deputy Director-General U Hlwan Moe from the Department of Agriculture Land Management and Statistics on implementing agricultural development strategy and Director General Daw Wah Wah Maung from the Pension Department on the works of technical advisory board.

The members of NLCU and Union Ministers Dr Aung Thu, U Thant Sin Maung, U Win Khaing and U Soe Win; Deputy Minister U Tin Myint and officials presented the short- term and long-term plans of their ministries to work with NLUC.

Then, the Chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council, the chief ministers of Stats/Regions and cabinet members discussed permissions of NLUC for the land uses in respective areas, settling disputes over land ownership, employment opportunities in mining sector, technical works for OneMapMyanmar, land utilization for power lines and decisions on land policies on consultation between the Union level and the State/Region levels.

In conclusion, the Vice President gave suggestions and comments to ensure coordination based on the discussions.

The meeting was also attended by the council’s Secretary and Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Ohn Win, and the members of council Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Dr Aung Thu, Union Minister for Transport and Communications U Thant Sin Maung, Union Minister for Electricity and Energy U Win Khaing, Union Minister for Planning and Finance U Soe Win, Chairman of the Nay Pyi Taw Council Dr Myo Aung, chief ministers of States/ Regions, members of working committee, departmental heads and officials.

MNA

(Translated by Aung Khin)

Photo: MNA

Ref: The Global New Light of Myanmar