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Hardwood Floors Fort Worth of Environment Japan, Yutaka Matsuzawa, stated that through
the MRA the Indonesian and Japanese governments can
develop collaboration and cooperation towards net zero
emission between the two countries.

MYANMAR
Private forest plantations and wood-based industries
A workshop on the development of private forest plantations
and wood-based industries took place on 2 December 2024
at Forest Department, Nay Pyi Taw.
calculations of revenue generated from roundwood production Attendees included representatives from government,
to meet export demand, nature tourism visits, utilisation of wood-based associations and private entrepreneurs from the
forest areas and administrative fines in the forestry sector. forest plantation, rattan, bamboo, furniture and sawmill sectors.

The Ministry aims to achieve specific performance targets Officials reported that Myanmar’s forest cover was estimated
by 2025 which include a 55 percent reduction in greenhouse at 42.19 percent in 2020 and 42.15 percent in 2023 and that
gas emissions from the forestry sector. Additionally, the ministry State-owned and private forest plantations are being established
seeks to reduce the rate of deforestation to 0.2 million hectares to meet the raw material needs of wood-based industries.
per year and attain a national red list index value for species Entrepreneurs were urged to explore new markets, study
under threat. regional export/import conditions and work toward expanding
In related news, the Minister of Environment and Forestry the sector.

indicated a roadmap and strategic plan for the reforestation It was noted that the private sector's foreign income from
of 12 million hectares of damaged forests will be prepared. the wood-based industry exceeded US$29.4 million in the
This is a follow-up to President Prabowo Subianto's fiscal year 2023-2024.
directive at the UN COP29 in Azerbaijan. The potential for increased production and export of finished
Also the Minister confirmed that he will not hesitate to wood products along with bamboo and rattan products using
revoke the Forest Area Borrow-Use Permit (IPPKH) from advanced technology was also emphasised as a means to
corporations that fail to meet the land rehabilitation obligations boost employment and national economic development.
required by the permit. The workshop featured discussions on establishing and
managing private forest plantations, production and sales

Indonesia, Japan Agreement on carbon credit trading processes and the development of wood, bamboo and rattan
The Indonesian press has reported the governments of products.
Indonesia and Japan have reached an agreement to initiate Participants also addressed issues related to exporting
Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for bilateral carbon finished non-timber forest products. In addition, group discussions
credit trading cooperation. focused on sustainable raw material supply, industry growth
This MRA is reportedly the first bilateral cooperation and boosting exports.
model between countries under the framework of the Paris A similar meeting on the development of Myanmar’s timber

Agreement, specifically Article 6.2. industry was held in December 2022, but tangible progress
The Vice Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Ministry remained elusive due to restricted market access.