YANGON, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar authorities seized over 9,000 tons of illegally harvested log timber in Sagaing region in the fiscal year 2018-19 which ended in September, according to the latest statistics of Sagaing Region Forest Department.

A total of 9,791 tons of timber and hardwood was confiscated during the year in the region including those from Shwebo, Monywa, Katha, Kalay, Mawlaik, Kani and Tamu districts, up 168.5 tons or 1.75 percent correspondingly.

In 2017-18 fiscal year, the authorities seized 9,622.5 tons of timber and hardwood in the same districts.

During 2018-19, the authorities arrested 774 people and seized 341 vehicles, 32 tractors, 35 trailers, 246 motorbikes and 115 motor vessels, clamping down on 228 mills.

Meanwhile, Myanmar has decided to cut its annual limit of logging of teak and hardwood by 50 percent and produce only enough timber to meet the cost of production during 2019-20 logging season.

Only trees aged 30 years and above will be cut down in central Mandalay and Sagaing regions.

Myanmar is one of most resource-rich countries in Southeast Asia. However, statistics show that forest coverage in Myanmar dropped to 42.92 percent over the past two years from over 57 percent in 1990.

Sagaing region suffers the worst from illegal forest exploitation which is also found in Kachin and Shan states and Bago region. Enditem

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