Stronger forest and farm producers’ groups can help deepen Myanmar democracy

The briefing is about the role of stronger forest and farm producers’ groups in promoting the democratization in Myanmar. This could be successfully implemented through two stages. (1) The emerging of community forest in Myanmar is highlighted by stating that Community Forest User Groups are emerging to manage resources, albeit at a pace below the government’s Forest Master Plan target of 918,000 hectares by 2030. They are mobilising to sell timber, agroforestry crops, non-timber forest products (notably bamboo and rattan), eco-tourism and biomass energy. (2) The forest and farm facility is strengthening, through small grants, their business organisation and capacity. It is also initiating high-level multi-sectoral dialogue to showcase and discuss how stronger locally controlled forest and farm economies can deepen democracy.