June 10, 2024

Since the military coup in Myanmar, environmental degradation has significantly worsened due to rampant natural resource extraction, according to an article published on June 9 by Georgetown University in the United States. The article highlights that excessive logging, jade and gold mining, and other environmentally damaging activities have increased, severely impacting the natural environment and the local communities.

Following the coup, deforestation, illegal logging, and mining have surged, leading to severe environmental damage and putting local communities at risk. The article notes that the combined effects of conflict and climate change have left over 18 million people in need of humanitarian aid.

Frequent power outages since the coup have forced many to rely on firewood and charcoal for cooking, further accelerating deforestation. This reliance on traditional fuels exacerbates the environmental crisis and threatens the remaining forests.

The article underscores the urgent need for international organizations to collaborate on environmental conservation efforts in Myanmar. Environmental experts stress the importance of coordinated international action to protect Myanmar’s natural environment from further destruction.