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Myanmar Exports Less Teak, More Har



Myanmar Exports Less Teak, More Hardwood in Six Months

Xinhua, Rangoon, 10 October 2000. Myanmar exported 174,045
cubic-meters of teak in the first six months of this year, 10.54
percent less than the same period of 1999, according to the latest
figures released by the country's Central Statistical Organization.

Meanwhile, during the period, the country exported 278,472
cubic-meters of hardwood, 23.3 percent more than the
corresponding  period of 1999.

Export earning from teak and hardwood totaled 131.3 million
U.S. dollars during the half-year period.

In the last four years, the export volume of teak and hardwood
were annually maintained at 200,293 cubic-meters and 216,035
cubic-meters respectively with their total annual earning amounting
to 153 million dollars.

Timber has become Myanmar's second largest export goods after
agricultural products. Foreign exchange gained through export of
timber accounts for about 20 percent of Myanmar's total export earning.

Myanmar's forest covers 50 percent of the country's total land area,
a 7-percent reduction compared with 1962. The decline of forest coverage
was attributed mainly to the indiscriminate felling of trees.

To protect environment, Myanmar plans to increase the reserved and
protected public forest areas to 30 percent from 18.6 percent.

Besides, Myanmar has established 30,375 hectares of forest
plantations annually including 8,100 hectares of teak plantations.