Development of the DZGD

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5.3 Case study: Rehabilitation of Shin-ma-taung Hill in the Central dry zone of Myanmar

5.3.1 General characteristics

This is an isolated hill in central flat land peaking at 525 masl Figure 7. The total area of 7 687 ha is made up of 7 300 ha of reserved forest and 400 ha of unclassed forests. Severe weather and environmental conditions such as low rainfall, high temperature and frequent droughts are common. The average annual rainfall has been 450 mm for the last 20 years. Maximum day time temperature rises to 45°C in summer months March to May; the lowest temperature is about 12°C on winter nights December to February. The soil is poor, mostly sandy gravel and rocky, and is not productive. Natural vegetation is dry-thorn forests, dominated by Acacia, Ziziphus and Neem species. The area is well known for Limonia acidissima, locally called Thanakha, from which facial and body cream is made. Figure 7. Location of Shin-ma-taung Hill Source: DZGD 2013.

5.3.2 Deforestation and forest degradation in the area

Shin-ma-taung Hill used to be covered with good dry forest until the 1960s. Since the 1970s, the area faced severe pressure for logs, poles, posts, fuelwood and so forth. After 30 years of such intensive cutting and overexploitation, the once-green hill became highly degraded and partly barren. Local streams and ponds dried out, and the wild animals disappeared. Furthermore, the harsh climatic and edaphic conditions made it difficult for the degraded forests to recover naturally.

5.3.3 Rehabilitation efforts

Rehabilitation was initiated by the Forest Department in 1995. Since its formation in 1997, the DZGD took over this responsibility and has been carrying out the work to date. The main strategy is a combination of plantation establishment and protection of remaining natural vegetation. The protection of remaining natural forests is applied where genetic resources such as mother trees and stumps still remain. From 1998 to 2003 a total 4 926 ha of degraded forest has been kept under continuous care and protection Figure 8. Plantation establishment was applied in barren areas with no vegetation for natural recovery. In this case both village fuelwood plantation, community forest plantation, watershed plantation and hill regreening were established. The aim was to rehabilitate the area and also to provide basic needs for local communities. Trees used for plantation establishment are mostly local indigenous hardy species like Acacia, Ziziphus and Neem. From 1995 to 2001, 2 165 ha of forest plantation were established. This included 807 ha of village fuelwood plantation, 31 ha of community forest plantation, 324 ha of watershed plantation and 1 001 ha of hill regreening plantation. The total rehabilitated area, a combination of natural forest protection area and forest plantation, has reached up to 7 091 ha, or 92 percent of the hill area. Only 596 ha remain untouched. These untouched areas are mostly steep slopes and rocky areas that are difficult for any field operation. Authorities are expecting them to recover naturally over time. Site Location Shin-ma-taung Hill Yesagyo Township, Pakokku District, Magway Region, Central Dry Zone of Myanmar 96 Currently, after 18 years of continuous rehabilitation efforts, Shin-ma-taung Hill has been regreened, and provides all of its former ecological services Figure 9. Streams and ponds have regained their sustainable water levels even in the dry season, wildlife has returned birds, squirrels, rabbits and deer, along with an abundance of fuelwood and fodder for local communities.

5.3.4 Conclusion

This case study clearly shows the success of a combination of two different forest rehabilitation strategies, i.e. forest plantation establishment and protection of remaining natural vegetation. If applied appropriately, with continuous follow up, even heavily degraded forest areas that are unproductive can be fully rehabilitated within two decades. At the moment, 17 severely degraded hills and mountains of the Central dry zone of Myanmar are being rehabilitated by the DZGD using this model. Figure 8. Shin-ma-taung Hill in 2000 Figure 9. Shin-ma-taung Hill in 2012