The report by the Rights and Resources Initiative said mining, logging and hydropower projects in the northern state of Kachin failed to consider indigenous peoples’ land rights.
"The leadership of previous governments guiding Myanmar (Burma) started a race to sell off our natural resources, and our livelihoods have become collateral damage in the process," said Maung Maung Than, project co-ordinator for RECOFTC – The Centre for People and Forests.
The report says less than 5% of the government’s target of establishing 918,000ha of community forest by 2030 has been achieved.
It also claims the pace of deforestation had raced forward, with dense forest cover declining from 45.6% in 1990 to 19.9% in 2010.
