"The timber trade has been one of the most important economic sectors in Myanmar?s economy for over a century. A sophisticated administration has developed to facilitate it. However the capacity to extract and export has overridden considerations for sustainability, for in-country value addition and even for domestic use. Forests have been systematically over-logged for decades: Colonial and military governments have focussed on export-oriented timber exploitation and significantly exceeded estimated sustainable levels (the Annual Allowable Cut) for decades. This plunder reached a final crescendo in the felling season of 2013-2014 as it became clear the opportunities provided by the military era were ending. Myanmar?s forests are now largely exhausted. There are very few commercially valuable trees remaining in accessible forest areas. Illicit logging practices have been widespread: Specific details and evidence of how the shadowy system has precisely worked is not easy to come by, but the overall picture is clear. MTE needed sub-contractors because MTE did not have enough capacity itself for the level of extraction they wanted. In return for award of concessions they are said to have paid very large bribes to senior military and MTE staff. In conjunction with the MTE the timbers have been sold off at low prices to neighbouring countries. Windfall profits to subcontractors from ?mining? the forests, free grants of timber as patronage for loyalty and in return for substantial bribes and timber allocations ? all kept the dysfunctional system generating huge profits for those unethical enough to plunder the nation?s heritage. There is a new mood of improved stringency to enforce harvesting regulations indicated by policy pronouncements, interviews and observation. But there is also lack of transparency and entrenched interests. Unaccounted illegal flows and malpractice evidently persist, although the extent is reduced. Felling still continues but is ?scraping the barrel?: Today, the harvested volume as well as the sawing grade quality is far lower than in the 1980s, and preferred species have become very scarce. Many sawmills are idle or running below capacity. The timber industry is in a difficult transition from exporting logs to further processing: The business model of ?mining? old growth forest resources has precipitated the current crisis and is no longer viable or legal. Reforms are urgent An inter-related set of actions are urgently required to transform the forest sector from the current ?vicious cycle? of decline to a ?virtuous cycle? of regeneration through participatory management focused on the growing and marketing of timber trees. Such reforms are:..."