| Project Detail |
Myanmars land and natural resources are threatened by conflicts, disputes, environmental degradation, and climate change. This program will strengthen ethnic and community-based systems for better land and natural resources governance in the South East region through empowered local civil society organisations and accountable ethnic Service Departments. This support builds on past successes, and is implemented by trusted local and international partners. Myanmars land and natural resources (LNR) face numerous threats from conflicts, disputes, environmental degradation, as well as climate change. Since the military coup, ongoing violence displaces populations, leading to competition for scarce resources, while landmines render areas unsafe. Short-term war economies, fuelled by corruption and regulatory loopholes, promote unchecked logging and resource extraction, further harming the environment. Natural disasters, in particular floods and heatwaves, damage infrastructures and agriculture, straining resources, as Myanmar is the second most vulnerable country to climate change globally. The rise of ethnic and community-based organizations has led to new governance opportunities, allowing ethnic groups to assume new responsibilities for administering services and managing natural resources. Despite the challenging circumstances, strengthening land and natural resources management should remain a priority, as this is the key to advancing a sustainable agenda, ensuring fair distribution of resources, and protecting the rights of individuals and indigenous communities. Thanks to its decade-long engagement in land governance, Switzerland is perceived as a reliable donor with a solid network of trusted implementing partners on land and natural resources issues. Objectives Land and natural resources in Myanmar Southeast regions are managed according to good governance principles and to locally institutionalized customs, for the benefit of the population, including the most vulnerable (such as indigenous population, internally displaced people, women, and youth). |
