More than 540 tonnes of illegal timber were seized in Arakan State in February, according to figures from the state’s Forest Department.

Timber seizures were concentrated in Thandwe District and Ann Township, and most of it was hardwood, according to an unnamed official from the Forest Department.

“More than 500 tonnes of timber was seized in one month, which is a very large amount. In the past, only about 50 tonnes of timber was seized in Arakan State per month. And most of the timber seized on the ground is hardwood. Most of the timber seized by the Myanmar Navy was teak,” the forestry official added.

According to the Forest Department, 47 cases of illegal logging were logged by the Myanmar military and the Forest Department over the month of February.

“In recent years, there have been military raids and arrests of timber smugglers. Such arrests have led to an increase in timber seizures. If there is a complaint, the police and forest rangers are making arrests together,” an official from Thandwe District Forest Department said.

Ko Tun Tun Oo from Kalarpyin village in Kyeintali sub-township, Gwa Township, said that although timber was being seized at the moment, only hardwoods that were easy to transport and cheap were being confiscated on the ground.

“It looks like a sack that is enclosed with a drawstring. But forest officials are pretending to capture only cheap hardwood. There is only bamboo forest left here [in Kyeintali sub-township],” he added.

Illegal logging is currently rampant in Gwa Township, said Ko Tun Tun Oo, adding that there are no trees big or small in some forest reserves.

Forest cover in Arakan State was measured at about 56% in 2015, but according to a survey conducted in 2020, forest area stood at only about 48%, according to the state’s Forest Department.