With Myanmar being faced with problems of mangrove forests disappearing at an alarming rate, the Government of Myanmar is in the process of cooperating with Norway to initiate a mangrove forest conservation plan.

Myanmar’s Minister of Environmental Conservation and Forestry U Win Tun and visiting head of Norwegian Parliament’s Standing Committee for Energy and the Environment Ola Elvestuen, recently had a meeting wherein the two sides discussed cooperation with international non- governmental organizations in rehabilitation programs, mangrove forest conservation activities between the Ministry and the Worldview International Foundation. A Memorandum of Understanding in this regard is expected to be signed.

In May this year, Myanmar and Norway sought cooperation in environmental conservation sector as part of their bilateral cooperation, initiating a letter of intent on the move in its latest development.

The Myanmar Government and Norway’s Ministry of Climate and Environment initiated a letter of intent on cooperation in undertakings also covering water resources preservation in Sittoung and Bago river basins, development of world-famous tourist site of Inlay Lake in Shan state and betterment of social economy of ethnic minorities residing around the lake. Besides these, implementation of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+), promoting cooperation with NGOs in environmental conservation tasks, development and poverty alleviation schemes were also covered by the two countries’ intention.