| Author | Aung San Win |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.HS-97-27 |
| Subject(s) | Forest management--Myanmar--Citizen participation
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. HS-97-27 |
| Abstract | The dry zone of Myanmar occupies 26080 sq. miles, nearly one third of the total
country. It i.s the most important agricultural area of the country, and dry cultivation is widely
practiced with sesame, groundnut, and pigeon pea as the principal crops. Supplementary
occupations are also essential to most dwellers of the dry zone. Sparse forest comprising
xyrophytic species have covered the dry zone since time memorial.
Due to population pressure, a resulting thin layer of the forest and a lack of alternative
energy, a major human concern in the dry zone is the acute shortage of fuelwood for domestic
cooking and rural cottage industries. The Sustainable Community Multipurpose Fuelwood
Woodlots project (MY A/93/003) was initiated as a joint venture of UNDP/F AO and Forest
Department, with the recognition of the importance of grassroots' involvement in protecting
and managing the communal woodlots and their wider environment. However, questions have
remained to what extent the project could benefit local people and could promote the sustained
community forestry approach in the dry zone.
The research has documented that the project partially achieved its targets and
objectives. The participation of local people in project activities was not as the project
expected and poor people still lag behind in most of the project's activities. Some factors such
as increased poverty in households, distribution of power and wealth, poor extension activities
and poor coordination within the project were obstacles against sustained local people's
participation. Most of the villagers were hardly consulted regarding sharing the project's
benefits and the distribution system did not depend upon the decision of the villagers.
The project partially achieved its targets particularly in terms of establishment of tree
plantation, distribution of immediate project's benefits and increased environmental
awareness. And the project's implementation ineffectually focused on the process of
improving local institutional capabilities within better power distribution which will foster the
participation of people from poor strata.
In the view of the local people, the most important activities to overcome the fuel wood
deficit problem: the establishment of fuelwood woodlots plantation through communal
management and individual management, increasing income generating opportunities,
expanding the knowledge on the efficient use of energy, and conserving and protecting the
existing dry forest by local people. The wider issues of forest conservation and management
program in community forestry context need to be launched with rural poverty alleviation
scheme.
Eventually, planning framework of the sustainable community forestry management in
the dry zone were formulated in order to improve the conservation and management of the dry
zone forest resources through the genuine local people's participation in reforestation and
fuelwood supply programme. |
| Year | 1997 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. HS-97-27 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Human Settlement (HS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Dale, Reidar; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Remigio, Amador A;Soparth Pongquan; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Royal Thai Government;
Queen Sirikit's scholarship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1997 |