Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
While agricultural land use is still manageable outside forest lands, Forest
Department is in the process of increasing the existing permanent forest estate from
the present status of about 18 to 40 % as stipulated in Myanmar Forest Policy, 1995.
7.3
Dry Zone Water Supply Program
Water is scarce in the Dry Zone due to low annual rainfall. It is believed that 8,042
villages (2,454 villages in Sagaing Division, 1,469 villages in Magway Division and
4,119 villages in Mandalay Division) are facing water shortage.
Water supply is one of the main activities of rural area development program
carried out in the current short-term 5 year (2001/2002-2005/2006) plan. Works
for supplying water include ground-water tapping projects and river-water pumping
projects for both drinking water and irrigation water supplies. These projects are
being carried out collectively by a number of governmental departments.
The Development Affairs Department under the Ministry for Progress of Border
Areas and National Races and Development Affairs is undertaking the task of
providing adequate water supply in the rural areas. The Ministry has drawn up the
10-year water supply project and has now been implementing to supply water for
Sagaing, Magway and Mandalay Divisions.
7.4
Other Programs and Projects
Some technical assistance projects are being provided by ICIMOD. In Myanmar
as in all developing countries mountain ecosystems are susceptible to soil erosion,
landslides and rapid loss of habitat and genetic diversity. Unemployment, poverty,
poor health and poor sanitation also prevail among mountain dwellers. Most
mountain areas are experiencing environmental degradation. Proper management
of mountain resources and socio-economic development of people need immediate
action. It should aim at preventing soil erosion, increasing the amount of tree
and plant life, and maintaining the ecological balance in mountains. For local
communities and indigenous people, education, health care and energy should be
provided. The people also need more opportunities to earn livelihood from such
activities as tourism, fisheries, environmentally sound mining, cottage industries,
and processing of medical plants.
Myanmar's major mountainous areas as part of Hindu Kush-Himalayas are
found in Chin, Kachin and Shan States. Myanmar has been the member country of
International Mountain Development (ICIMOD) since the early 1990s. Biodiversity
study in Pi-daung Nature Reserve in Upper Most Myanmar of the Kachin State
is being undertaken jointly by Myanmar and ICMOD. An experiment on slope
land agriculture technique is also underway in Northern Shan State, which is
financed by ICIMOD. Furthermore, a project proposal for the management of
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