Review of Efforts to Combat Desertification and Arrest and Reverse Land Degradation in Myanmar - Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - page 281

The National Commission for Environmental Affairs (NCEA) was established
in 1990 to advise the government on environmental policies and acts as National
Coordination Body (NCB). NCEA is responsible for observation and monitoring of
the environment.
In 1994, the Ministry of Forestry (MOF) launched a “Three Year Greening
Project for the Nine Critical Districts” of Sagaing, Magway and Mandalay Divisions
in the Dry Zone. This was later extended to 13 districts with the creation of new
department namely the Dry Zone Greening Department (DZGD) in 1997.
In April 1995, Myanmar hosted the Asia-Pacific Meeting on the follow-up to the
International Convention to Combat Desertification in Yangon. In January 1997,
Myanmar acceded to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
(UNCCD). Even before Myanmar's accession to UNCCD, measures relating to
combating desertification have been taken at the local and national levels.
The most evident efforts are the appearance of the National Commission for
Environmental Affairs (NCEA) comprising all ministries and the development of
National Action Program (NAP). Myanmar has been a signatory of United Nation
Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) since 1997. In Combating deser-
tification and drought, the participation of local communities, rural organizations,
national Governments, non - governmental organizations and international and re-
gional organizations is essential. A UNDP/FAO project entitled “ Environmentally
Sustainable Food Security and Micro-income Opportunities in the Dry Zone ”
has been successfully implemented in three districts of the Dry Zone namely,
Chaung-U, Magway and Kyaukpadaung townships with community participation.
Small-scale Afforestation and Reforestation Projects are also been undertaken
jointly with some international NGOs such as Yomiuri, Organization for Industrial,
Spiritual and Cultural Advancement-International (OISCA-International), Japan
International Forestry Promotion and Cooperation Agency (JIFPRO) and Korean
International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

7.1 The Dry Zone Greening Department

The Dry Zone Greening Department was entrusted with the following objectives:

• To green the Central Dry Zone of Myanmar

• To provide the basic needs for forest products of the rural people

• To enhance knowledge and promote participation of the public on environmental

conservation and sustainable development

• To promote the socio-economic status of rural communities

• To improve climatic conditions of the environment for supporting sustainable

agriculture

• To prevent desertification