The United League of Arakan (ULA), the political wing of the Arakan Army (AA), has begun imposing new restrictions on logging in areas it controls in Arakan (Rakhine) State.
According to an April 20 announcement, locals may cut up to one ton of wood per year tax-free for domestic and agricultural use, provided it is not for commercial purposes.
“These restrictions are a good move, and people should respect and follow them. Simultaneously, the ULA must implement them clearly and systematically. Trees take many years to grow, so protecting them matters. I believe these measures will make a big difference for environmental conservation,” said a Mrauk-U Township resident.
Those seeking to harvest timber commercially must notify township forest departments in advance; ULA-appointed authorities will then conduct field inspections.
If more than one ton of wood is needed, individuals must first secure a recommendation letter from local authorities before seeking approval from the forestry department.
“The ULA government’s regulation is a positive step. However, it should clearly explain what people who have already planted trees for their own timber are supposed to do. Also, limiting cutting to just one ton of wood per year is quite restrictive—it’s not even enough to build a small house,” a Kyauktaw Township resident pointed out.
The ULA said that if forestry department staff determine, based on field inspections, that there is a genuine need for additional timber, further extraction will be permitted.
However, the ULA’s statement warned that legal action will be taken if any commercial trade is found involving timber harvested for domestic and agricultural use.
Another Kyauktaw resident argued that the one-ton limit is too low for house building. Even when applications are submitted to the forestry department, delays in field inspections can be lengthy, which could make it difficult for people who need to build homes.
“One ton of wood is very little for building a house. The statement says those who truly need more wood will be approved after inspections, but how fast will that process actually be? Will the authorities carry out site inspections immediately after receiving requests? There have been many cases where inspections were promised but never showed up. That’s the main problem,” he told DMG.
The ULA’s Forestry and Environmental Management Department warned that any violation will result in the confiscation of all timber and a one-year ban on household logging.
