86
3.1.4 Demand on woodfuel
Woodfuel fuelwood and charcoal is still a major source of household energy, particularly for the large rural population. Although urban households have more opportunities to use electricity or gas, there are still many limitations and blackouts
in urban areas. Based on the household energy consumption of different types of energy for the period 1990-2010 and the projection for 2020 estimated by the Energy Planning Department; FAO 2009, the share percentage of fuelwood and
charcoal consumption significantly decreased over time from 84 percent in 1990 to 69 percent in 2010, and is projected to be 58 percent in 2020. However, due to the growing population it is unlikely to decline in volume. MOECAF has estimated
that woodfuel consumption per annum per household is about 1.4 cubic tons t
3
for urban households and 2.5 t
3
for rural households. With this rate and in combination with the increasing population rate, MOECAF estimates that demand
on woodfuel will increase from 17.5 million t
3
in 2001 to 20 million t
3
in 2020. This woodfuel demand or removal is 12 to 13 times higher than the average annual harvesting of 300 000 tons of teak and 1 200 000 tons of hardwood total
1.5 million tons per annum for the period 2006-2012 MOECAF. MOECAF has estimated that 90 percent of total wood removal from forests is due to woodfuel production. People living in both rural and urban areas rely on forests to meet
this huge woodfuel demand. This trend will continue unless household energy demand is substituted with other energy sources or sustainable forest management practices are implemented to meet rural wood energy needs.
3.1.5 Settlements and urbanization
As the population increased over time, demand for new homes and farming areas has also increased. For most of the rural poor who live in about 65 000 villages, the easiest option to meet this demand is encroachment on nearby forests.
Some villages extend into the forests, and some even establish new subvillages hamlets in nearby forest areas. Every new household requires additional farmland or grazing land for livelihood needs. This has resulted in clearance of additional
forest lands near their new households or hamlets. Table 6 shows the number of hamlets, households, populations and their farmlands settled in the RF and PPF of Myanmar in 2012.
Table 6. Settlements in RF and PPF
Source: Forest Department 2012b.
Urbanization and industrial zone developments in and around large city areas such as Yangon, Mandalay and Dawai, are also leading to deforestation and forest degradation. Along with urbanization, demand for forest products such as
fuelwood, charcoal, polesposts for households and infrastructure development has increased. These urban demands make long-term and intense negative impacts on nearby forests.
3.1.6 Mining
Mining is an important and promising sector for Myanmar’s economic growth MOM 2009-2010. Natural gas, oil, precious stones, gold and copper are the most important natural resources for local and foreign investors. The country is also well
endowed with a variety of mineral resources such as tin, lead, zinc, tungsten, silver and iron. Industrial minerals such as barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, bentonite and fireclay are also found. Conversely, poorly managed and supported
mining sites lead to environmental disturbances that extend well beyond the extent of mineralized areas. Mining activities, especially with open pit systems, usually convert green land to bare land that is often polluted with hazardous materials.
They also contaminate air and water in nearby streams and rivers. In most mining sites of Myanmar, environmental considerations and operations to repair environmental damage, including forest degradation and deforestation, are lacking.
Myanmar is now trying to set up environmental standards for mining activities, which are welcomed by environmental and forest conservation groups.
3.2 Underlying causes
3.2.1 Population growth
Myanmar has a relatively low population density compared with many countries in the ASEAN region. The 2005-2006 population was estimated at 55.4 million which is an increase from 40.78 million in 1990-1991. Population increase,
especially the rural population, is of considerable concern, as they are highly dependent on forest resources, and directly influence fuelwood removal, illegal cutting, shifting cultivation, agricultural expansion and so forth, ultimately leading to
deforestation and forest degradation.
Number of hamlets
1 604
Total
33 983
Other land use
13 453
Land for farming
304 835
Land for households
12 695
Total population
894 266
Number of households
193 074
Settlements in RF PPF ha
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