Review of Efforts to Combat Desertification and Arrest and Reverse Land Degradation in Myanmar - Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - page 267

project also focuses on improving socioeconomic survival of rural people who
live in the central arid zone and are badly affected by an acute shortage of
fuelwood supply since the foremost fuelwood deficit areas are located in this
dry zone. The Dry Zone Greening Department promoted utilization of wood fuel
substitutes. The activities for the development of wood fuel substitutes include
distribution of fuel-efficient stoves, promotion of fuel briquette production and
utilization of agricultural residues.

• The primary causes of desertification and land degradation apart from low rainfall

and more frequent and prolonged drought is the destruction of the catchments
of natural water sources leading to water shortages in this dry zone. It has
been estimated that approximately 8,000 villages are facing water shortage. So,
the Irrigation Department and Water Resources Utilization Department under
Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation have been implementing drinking water
supply and irrigation water supply program for food sufficiency and promotion
of crop-productions in the dry zone. The Dry Zone is in danger due to the scanty
rainfall, sparse vegetation and poor land use practices.

• Widespread deforestation and unplanned land use change can harm the land-

scape. Forestlands are vulnerable to encroachment due to expansion of human
settlements and the intensity is directly- related to population of the expanded
or newly located settlement. Ecosystem of wetland areas is expected to have a
significant change due to expansion of human settlement. Inlay Lake ecosystem
in the eastern part of the country is a significant example that shows water
pollution and sedimentation in the water body is due to human settlement in
uplands of the lake. It is rational that biological diversity in coastal areas would
be adversely affected by the expansion of human settlement. These implications
that would be experienced in any expansion of human settlement are given
due consideration for minimizing the unintended consequences. Challenges
facing integrated land management still remain and they include, among others,
inadequate inputs, low capacity level of inter- and intra-agencies related with the
utilization of land resources, the need for urgent economic returns and absence
of comprehensive land use policy respected by all parties.

• The Ministry of Forestry, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation are the

main agencies responsible to manage fragile ecosystems, combat desertification,
including land degradation in all its forms, and mitigate drought. The Ministries
concerned collaborate with the stakeholders at the local levels. to implement
programs and projects such as the greening programs and integrated land
development projects being carried out in the dry zone area of Myanmar which
is the area most affected by drought. Due to very low rainfall and deforestation
the majority of rural population in the area have been facing the problem of soil
erosion and land degradation. In order to address the problems, reforestation and
afforestation the governments are implementing programs, irrigation and water
supply projects. Land degradation problems and the resulting rural poverty in
the semi-arid regions in Myanmar are now being addressed by the governments
through practicing sustainable agriculture and forestry management.