Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
The major tasks to be implemented by the Dry Zone Greening Department
include establishment of forest plantations, protection of remaining natural forests,
initiating development of wood fuel substitutes and management and development
of water resources.
The greening activities of the DZGD have also been accelerated. A comprehen-
sive plan for reforestation of Dry Zone for 30 year-period (2001/2002-2030/2031)
has been drafted. The plan is divided into six five year short-term plans.
7.2
Forest Plantation
Human overpopulation is leading to destruction of tropical forest due to widening
practices of slash-and-burn and other methods of subsistence farming necessitated
by famines in lesser developed countries. As a result of increased population,
shifting cultivation, fuelwood extraction and other human activities, very little of
the original natural vegetation remains and a degraded form of trees were found
in many places of the Dry Zone. In the absence of forest cover on the watersheds,
severe floods were sometimes occurred causing great damage on both property and
human lives. During 2001 rainy season because of high rainfall and flash floods of
the sandy streams, several villages were swept away by severe flood water.
Forest Department is fully engaged in Afforestation and Reforestation
Program including planting trees for commercial purposes, industrial wood
supply, fuelwood supply and watershed management. In order to promote the
environment, forest plantations are being established in the five critical districts
(Kyaukse, Myingyan, Nyaung-U, Yamethin and Maiktila). The following is a set of
criteria for forest plantations: -
• Only local variety seedlings are to be used in forest plantations
• Onlyover70%survivalratearetobeconsidered for successful plantation
Forest plantations must supplement 5-10 % of the wood-fuel needs of the Dry
Zone
The government has also made continuous efforts to sustain forest productivity in
cooperation with FAO, aiming not only to improve environment and food security,
but also to efficiently utilize rural energy through establishment of community wood
lots. Myanmar Forest Policy (NFP), has identified six imperatives in its text for
sustainable forest management (SFM). One of the six imperatives is to satisfy the
basic needs of people for timber, firewood, food, shelter and recreation. Moreover,
Myanmar's effort to protect and conserve forestlands and resources will result
in environmental balance, which, in turn will support the improvement of food
production and social setting. The forestry sector of Myanmar is now in the process
of developing NFPs for the whole country and for the Central Dry Zone greening
within the context of the national sustainable development strategy. In NFP, the
existing 50 % coverage of forests over the total land area of the country are to be
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