Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar: On October 18 Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry (MOECAF) on behalf of the National Land Resource Management Central Committee publicly released the draft National Land Use Policy.This is the first policy of its type to be developed in Myanmar. For the first time, 17 nationwide public consultations on the draft policy will be held in 14 states and regions beginning on November 17, 2014in Nay Pyi Taw territory. Interested persons can provide feedback on the policy during the meetings, in person at MOECAFor by submitting comments to a dedicated e-mail address.. The Government of Myanmar has been developing the draft policy using a multi- stakeholder consultation process that began in 2012, with the National Dialogue on Land Tenure and Land Use Rights findings, which fed directly into the draft policy. In addition, advice from non-governmental technical experts (national and international), extensive research on various land use issues in Myanmar from academic institutions, donors, INGOs and CSO’s, information from media reports, and findings from various Parliamentary commissions on land use issues supported the development of the draft National Land Use Policy. “The purpose of developing the this draft policy is to strengthen the land tenure security for all people in Myanmar, particularly vulnerable groups such as the poor, smallholder farmers, ethnic communities and women,” explained Dr. NyiNyiKyaw, Director General Forestry Department. The policy is designed to improve governance systems for sustainable land administration, help create effective mechanisms for land dispute resolution, promote the use of participatory land use planning, and support economic development in the country.The policy also contains a section dedicated to the recognition and protection of ethnic land rights. Following the consultations, comments received will be categorized, assessed for relevance, and incorporated into the policy through an approach that should balance the views of various stakeholders. This process of analysis and review, will continue until end December, and be followed up with expert round table meeting, which will be participated by internal and external technical experts and representatives of CSOs andethnic leaders. After that a national level workshop will be organized for final inputs from key stakeholders. The policy will be finalized and the results will be made public in January 2015. Representatives of stakeholders and the general public are encouraged to attend the public consultations and can register at the Directors Office of their State/regional Forest Department. For more information please contact: U Tin Maung Than - MOECAF – Forest Department. Ph: 067- 405428 The draft policy can be viewed and downloaded at: http://www.fdmoecaf.gov.mm Individuals or organizations may submit comments on the draft policy until December 31 to: [email protected]. Or deliver comments in person at the Forest Department, Building No. 39, Nay Pyi Taw.