Natural Resources Issue: Deputy C-in-C Attends Meeting on Administration and Management

National-Level Central Committee on Administration and Management of Natural Resources in Coastal Areas held its 1st meeting on Wednesday afternoon at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation in Nay Pyi Taw.

In the meeting, Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win, in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee stressed that conservation, extraction and utilization of natural resources in the coastal areas must be harmonious between the users and founders. He also said that the State-Level Central Committee on the Administration and Management of Natural Resources in Coastal Areas was formed on 30 November 2016 to implement ten assigned duties.

It held seven meetings to adopt 54 points of decisions. Among them, 47 points were implemented, and seven points underway. Global countries, including Myanmar, are carrying out the tasks in line with 17 sustainable development goals. Among them, the 14th goal is related to the coastal areas and the development of the marine regions. It was reported that some 30 per cent of the world’s fish resources, including fish resources from Myanmar coasts, has been extremely exploited. Consequently, the coastal areas face extreme exploitation.

Likewise, water pollution at the seas imposes threats to fish resources and ecosystems. About 80 per cent of waste found in the seawater came from the inland area. Most of the wastes discarded into the seawater are plastic wares. While joining hands with the international community in implementing the 14th goal, Myanmar adopted the sustainable development plan (2018-2030) and emphasized the implementation of the 5th goal to conserve the natural environment, including coastal areas and marine water. All citizens, including Tatmadaw (Navy), should shoulder the duty of protection of coastal areas and marine water.

Also, union ministers discussed administration, management and conservation of coastal area resources, mangrove forest management and establishment of mangrove forest ecosystem, prevention of water pollution, environmental conservation, natural disaster management, conservation of fish resources and efforts for fish sufficiency, and educative tasks.

In conclusion, the Vice-Senior General said that it is necessary to take account of coastal region development, which can affect the natural environment and socio-economy. The establishment of mangrove forests, forest reserves, protected pub-lic forests, and wildlife sanctuaries must be undertaken under the plans. Effective prevention must be taken for the tasks harming the mangrove forests.

Undertakings of ten tasks of the Central Committee must be based on own experiences. For sustainability of coastal resources in Myanmar, all stakeholders need to work in concert for multiple administration and management of coastal resources. It’s learnt that Myanmar’s coastal area is 1,200 miles long, and, livelihoods and jobs of more than 3,000 million of the global population depend on the sea coasts and marine biodiversity.