Forestry Department
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

FRA2010/141
Rome, 2010

G
LOBAL
F
OREST
R
ESOURCES
A
SSESSMENT
2010

C

OUNTRY
R
EPORT



M
YANMAR







2







The Forest Resources Assessment Programme

Sustainably managed forests have multiple environmental and socio-economic functions important at
the global, national and local scales, and play a vital part in sustainable development. Reliable and up-
to-date information on the state of forest resources - not only on area and area change, but also on
such variables as growing stock, wood and non-wood products, carbon, protected areas, use of
forests for recreation and other services, biological diversity and forests’ contribution to national

economies - is crucial to support decision-making for policies and programmes in forestry and
sustainable development at all levels.

FAO, at the request of its member countries, regularly monitors the world’s forests and their
management and uses through the Forest Resources Assessment Programme. This country report
forms part of the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 (FRA 2010).

The reporting framework for FRA 2010 is based on the thematic elements of sustainable forest
management acknowledged in intergovernmental forest-related fora and includes variables related to
the extent, condition, uses and values of forest resources, as well as the policy, legal and institutional
framework related to forests. More information on the FRA 2010 process and the results - including all
the country reports - is available on the FRA Web site (www.fao.org/forestry/fra ).

The Global Forest Resources Assessment process is coordinated by the Forestry Department at FAO
headquarters in Rome. The contact person for matters related to FRA 2010 is:

Mette Løyche Wilkie
Senior Forestry Officer
FAO Forestry Department
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
Rome 00153, Italy

E-mail:

Readers can also use the following e-mail address:


DISCLAIMER

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not

imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its
authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

The Global Forest Resources Assessment Country Report Series is designed to document
and make available the information forming the basis for the FRA reports. The Country Reports have
been compiled by officially nominated country correspondents in collaboration with FAO staff. Prior to
finalisation, these reports were subject to validation by forestry authorities in the respective countries.

FRA 2010 – Country Report, Myanmar


3

Contents

1

TABLE T1 – EXTENT OF FOREST AND OTHER WOODED LAND 5

2

TABLE T2 – FOREST OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT RIGHTS 9

3

TABLE T3 – FOREST DESIGNATION AND MANAGEMENT 13

4


TABLE T4 – FOREST CHARACTERISTICS 20

5

TABLE T5 – FOREST ESTABLISHMENT AND REFORESTATIONERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.

6

TABLE T6 – GROWING STOCK 27

7

TABLE T7 – BIOMASS STOCK 31

8

TABLE T8 – CARBON STOCK 33

9

TABLE T9 – FOREST FIRES 35

10

TABLE T10 – OTHER DISTURBANCES AFFECTING FOREST HEALTH AND VITALITY 37

11

TABLE T11 – WOOD REMOVALS AND VALUE OF REMOVALS 38


12

TABLE T12 – NON-WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS REMOVALS AND VALUE OF REMOVALS 41

13

TABLE T13 – EMPLOYMENT 42

14

TABLE T14 – POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK 44

15

TABLE T15 – INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 46

16

TABLE T16 – EDUCATION AND RESEARCH ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.

17

TABLE T17 – PUBLIC REVENUE COLLECTION AND EXPENDITUREERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.


FRA 2010 – Country Report, Myanmar


4


Report preparation and contact persons


The present report was prepared by the following person(s):


Name
(FAMILY NAME,
First name)
Institution /
address
E-mail Fax Tables
Myint Oo
Deputy Director
Planning and
Statistic Division
(Government of
Myanmar)


Maung Maung
Than, Deputy
Director
Forest
Department
(Government of
Myanmar)





FRA 2010 – Country Report, Myanmar


5

1 Table T1 – Extent of Forest and Other wooded land

1.1 FRA 2010 Categories and definitions

Category Definition
Forest Land spanning more than 0.5 hectares with trees higher than 5 meters and
a canopy cover of more than 10 percent, or trees able to reach these
thresholds in situ. It does not include land that is predominantly under
agricultural or urban land use.
Other wooded land Land not classified as “Forest”, spanning more than 0.5 hectares; with trees
higher than 5 meters and a canopy cover of 5-10 percent, or trees able to
reach these thresholds in situ; or with a combined cover of shrubs, bushes
and trees above 10 percent. It does not include land that is predominantly
under agricultural or urban land use.
Other land All land that is not classified as “Forest” or “Other wooded land”.
Other land with tree cover
(Subordinated to “Other
land”)
Land classified as “Other land”, spanning more than 0.5 hectares with a
canopy cover of more than 10 percent of trees able to reach a height of 5
meters at maturity.
Inland water bodies Inland water bodies generally include major rivers, lakes and water
reservoirs.



1.2 National data
1.2.1 Data sources

References to sources of
information
Quality
(H/M/L)
Variable(s) Year(s) Additional comments
GOM. 1991. Forest Cover
of Myanmar, the 1989
Appraisal. Kyaw Tint and
Tun Hla, Yangon January
1991.
H Extent 1975
&1989

GOM. 1997. ISDP
(Information System
Development Project for
the Management of
Tropical Forest), Rakhine,
Yangon, Bago, Magwe,
Chin, Mandalay, Kayah,
Sagaing, Ayeyarwady
State and Divisons
H Extent

1997
GOM. 1997. Land Use

and Land Cover Mapping
for Mon State
H Extent

1997
GOM. 1998. Anti-narcotic
sampling frame mapping,
Landuse Map of Shan
States using 2001 Landsat
7 ETM data.
H Extent

1998
GOM. 2000a. Tanintharyi
Division, Study on forest
resources and landuse
changes in the southern
H Extent

2000
FRA 2010 – Country Report, Myanmar


6

part of Myanmar.
FAO,FD
GOM. 2000b. Kachin
State Land Cover
Mapping, Inter

Departmental Project,
Forest Department
H Extent

2000
GOM. 2000c. Karen State
Land Cover Mapping,
Inter Departmental Project
H Extent

2000
Remote sensing
interpretation
H Extent 2006 Most of the country areas have been
classified by using 2006 Landsat 7
ETM, some areas have been used
2007 and 2008 Landsat 7 ETM and
only Shan State have been used
2005 Landsat 5 TM data. That is
why Land cover can be said 2006
data because of mostly using 2006
Landsat 7 ETM and field checked
had been thoroughly done during
2006.


1.2.2 Classification and definitions

National class Definition
Closed Forest

under forestry or no land use, spanning more than 0.5hectares; with trees
higher than 5 meters and a canopy cover of more than 40 percent, or trees able
to reach these thresholds in situ.
Open Forest
(normally degraded
forests)
under forestry or no land use, spanning more than 0.5hectares; with trees
higher than 5 meters and a canopy cover between 10 and 40 percent, or trees
able to reach these thresholds in situ.
Mangrove
Area covered by Mangrove tree species as interpreted from satellite imagery
and aerial photographs
Agriculture
Permanent agriculture areas, mostly from plains and valleys. In some cases it
is mixed with shifting cultivation
Shifting Cultivation
Shifting Cultivation in the forested areas and mountain areas
Other Wooded lands
(Scrub and Grass
Land)
Areas mostly covered by grassland and stunted trees, shrub forests, lower that
10% crown density.
Water
Inland water bodies, lakes, reservoirs, large streams and rivers
Others
Other areas (snow, rock, bareland, sandbanks)

1.2.3 Original data

FRA Classes Extent in "000" ha

1975 1989 1997 1998 2006
Closed Forests
30322.0
31553.8 25293.9 25516.6 17468.58
Open Forests
10873.6
8131.1 10080.8 9970.5 15542.56
Sub -Total Forests 41195.6 39684.9 35374.7 35487.1 33011.14
Other wooded Land
8876.0
10178.0 11919.3 10547.0 19949.16
Other Land (including water
bodies) 17586.8
17792.9 20363.8 21623.8 14697.61
Total Land area 67658.4 67655.8 67657.9 67657.9 67657.9
FRA 2010 – Country Report, Myanmar


7


Remote Sensing and GIS Section of Planning and Statistics Division, Forest Department,
under Ministry of Forestry is the organization responsible for processing forest cover data of
Myanmar.
The first appraisal was initiated in 1957 using 1:24,000 scale aerial photography and manual
interpretation. Second appraisal (1975) was assessed by using 1:1million scale color
composite from 80m x 80mx MSS data, third appraisal (1989) was implemented with
1:500,000 scale Landsat TM data (30m x 30m resolution) and manual interpretation. Fourth
Appraisal compiled for FRA2000 in 1997 was a combination of various surveys, however,
majority consisted digital classification of 30m x 30m Landsat TM data.


FRA2005 and Current FRA2010 data contain Landsat 7 ETM databases, some areas have
been checked in the field thoroughly by using 30 meter resolution Landsat images and 4
meter resolution IKONOS images from anti-narcotic surveys.


1.3 Analysis and processing of national data
1.3.1 Calibration
FAOSTAT figures (as from FRA 2010 guidelines)
Country area: 67 658 Land area: 65 755 Inland water: 1 903


1.3.2 Estimation and forecasting
Estimation for forest for 1990, 2000, 2005 and 2010 is being done by using change forecast
function using 1989, 1998 and 2006.
Estimation for other wooded land has been done using 2006 figures and applying the change
rate from the 1989 and 1998 figures to the 2006 to calculate 1990, 2000, 2005 and 2010
figures. This calculation was necessary since the 1989 and 1998 surveys looked much more
comparable each other than the one of 2006 which is belief to be the most reliable since it was
followed by field checking and it is the most updated dataset.

1990 2000 2005
2010
Closed forest 30883 23505 18475 13445
Open forest 8335 11364 14846 18329
Total forest 39218 34868 33321 31773
Other Wooded land 19498 19703 19908 20113
Other land 7039 11184 12526 13869
Inland Water bodies
1 903 1 903


1 903

1 903

Total Area of Country
67658

67658

67658

67658


1.3.3 Reclassification into FRA 2010 categories

This step is not necessary because national and FRA categories match with each other.

FRA 2010 – Country Report, Myanmar


8

1.4 Data for Table T1

Area (1000 hectares)
FRA 2010 categories
1990 2000 2005 2010
Forest 39218 34868 33321 31773

Other wooded land 19498 19703 19908 20113
Other land 7039 11184 12526 13869
of which with tree cover

Inland water bodies
1 903 1 903

1 903

1 903

Total for country
67658 67658

67658

67658

1.5 Comments to Table T1

Variable / category Comments related to data,
definitions, etc.
Comments on the reported trend
Forest
Other wooded land
Other land
Other land with tree cover There is no national information on
“other land that has a tree cover”.

Inland water bodies



Other general comments to the table
Remote Sensing and GIS Section of Planning and Statistics Division, Forest Department, under Ministry of
Forestry is the organization responsible for processing forest cover data of Myanmar. The first forest resource
appraisal in the country was initiated in 1957 using 1:24,000 scale aerial photography and manual
interpretation. The second appraisal (1975) was assessed by using 1:1million scale colour composite from 80m
x 80mx MSS data. The third appraisal (1989) was implemented with 1:500,000 scale Landsat TM data (30m x
30m resolution) and manual interpretation. The fourth appraisal compiled for FRA2000 in 1997 was a
combination of various surveys, however, majority consisted digital classification of 30m x 30m Landsat TM
data. The latest appraisal has data from Landsat 7 ETM databases, some of the areas have been checked in the
field thoroughly by using 1 meter resolution IKONOS images from anti-narcotic surveys.
Four separate survey data are used as baseline data. 67% of the data is from the Information System
Development Project for the Management of Tropical Forest. The data for Shan State and Kachin State are only
estimation in FRA2000 as these areas are partially covered with 1997 surveys. Now a landcover map for these
two states is being developed. Data for Taninthary Division is produced from 1997 (average image year) using
manual interpretation of 1:250,000 scale print outs of Landsat 5 TM. The latest data is digitally interpreted data
of Landsat7 ETM. Moreover, year 2000 data for Karen State is amended by RS & GIS Section. As all different
surveys are controlled and driven by the user needs, so that priority classifications are different. All National
Data are grouped into following classification.



Expected year for completion of ongoing/planned national forest inventory and/or RS survey / mapping
Field inventory
Remote sensing survey / mapping

FRA 2010 – Country Report, Myanmar



9

2 Table T2 – Forest ownership and management rights

2.1 FRA 2010 Categories and definitions

Category Definition
Public ownership Forest owned by the State; or administrative units of the public
administration; or by institutions or corporations owned by the public
administration.
Private ownership Forest owned by individuals, families, communities, private co-operatives,
corporations and other business entities, private religious and educational
institutions, pension or investment funds, NGOs, nature conservation
associations and other private institutions.
Individuals
(sub-category of Private
ownership)
Forest owned by individuals and families.
Private business entities and
institutions
(sub-category of Private
ownership)
Forest owned by private corporations, co-operatives, companies and other
business entities, as well as private non-profit organizations such as NGOs,
nature conservation associations, and private religious and educational
institutions, etc.
Local communities
(sub-category of Private
ownership)
Forest owned by a group of individuals belonging to the same community

residing within or in the vicinity of a forest area. The community members
are co-owners that share exclusive rights and duties, and benefits contribute
to the community development.
Indigenous / tribal
communities
(sub-category of Private
ownership)
Forest owned by communities of indigenous or tribal people.
Other types of ownership Other kind of ownership arrangements not covered by the categories above.
Also includes areas where ownership is unclear or disputed.


Categories related to the holder of management rights of public forest resources

Public Administration

The Public Administration (or institutions or corporations owned by the
Public Administration) retains management rights and responsibilities
within the limits specified by the legislation.
Individuals/households
Forest management rights and responsibilities are transferred from the
Public Administration to individuals or households through long-term
leases or management agreements.
Private institutions

Forest management rights and responsibilities are transferred from the
Public Administration to corporations, other business entities, private co-
operatives, private non-profit institutions and associations, etc., through
long-term leases or management agreements.
Communities


Forest management rights and responsibilities are transferred from the
Public Administration to local communities (including indigenous and
tribal communities) through long-term leases or management agreements.
Other form of management
rights
Forests for which the transfer of management rights does not belong to any
of the categories mentioned above.


FRA 2010 – Country Report, Myanmar


10

2.2 National data
2.2.1 Data sources

References to sources of
information
Quality
(H/M/L)
Variable(s) Year(s) Additional comments
GOM. 1989. Forest
Department, Planning and
Statistics Div.
M Ownership 1985-
1989

GOM. 2001 Statistical

Year Book 2001
M Ownership

1990-
1996

GOM. 2002. Statistical
Year Book 2002
M Ownership

1997-
2001

GOM. 2003. Forest
Department, Planning and
Statistics Div.
M Ownership

2002-
2003
GOM. 2004. Forest
Department, Planning and
Statistics Div.
M Ownership

2003-
2004

GOM. 2005. Forest
Department, Planning and

Statistics Div.
M Ownership

2004-
2005


2.2.2 Classification and definitions

National class Definition
Reserved Forest means land constituted as "reserved forest" under Forest Law (1992) which is
property of Government.
Protected Public Forest means land constituted as "protected public forest" under Forest Rules (1992)
which is property of Government.
Un-classed Forests Any forest land or waste land or any other land "recorded" in land records as
forest land but not notified in government gazette as "reserved" or "protected
public forest" under Forest Law (1992) and Forest Rules (1995).


2.2.3 Original data
In Myanmar Reserved Forests, Protected Public Forests, and un-classed forests are three
major legal classes. A legal notification in the government gazette under Myanmar Forest Act
(1992) creates or defines the boundaries of Reserved Forests and Protected Public Forests.
All the three categories of forests are owned by the “State”.

All forest area, whether notified as reserved and protected under forest act or not notified and
categorised as un-classed forests belong to the “State”. However, there are some forest areas
(34000 ha in 2003 and 35000 ha in 2004 and 41000 ha in 2005) that are not under “state
ownership”. These are the area brought under community forests owned by the local people
with long-term lease permission of the government.


FRA 2010 – Country Report, Myanmar


11

2.3 Analysis and processing of national data
2.3.1 Reclassification into FRA 2010 categories
All the forests have been considered as publicly owned in 1990 and 2000.In 2005 the 41 000
ha under community forest have been reclassified as private ownership of which by local
communities.

2.4 Data for Table T2

Table 2a - Forest ownership

Forest area (1000 hectares)
FRA 2010 Categories
1990 2000 2005
Public ownership 39 218 34 868 33 280
Private ownership 0 0 41
of which owned by individuals 0 0 0
of which owned by private business entities and institutions 0 0 0
of which owned by local communities 0 0 41
of which owned by indigenous / tribal communities 0 0 0
Other types of ownership 0 0 0
TOTAL
39 218 34 868 33 321
Note: If other types of ownership is reported, please specify details in comment to the table.



Yes Does ownership of trees coincide with ownership of the
land on which they are situated?
No
If No above, please describe below how the two differ:
There is no land ownership. All the land are owned by State and individual citizen
only have the right use the land. Tree tenure is granted on usufruct basis.


Table 2b - Holder of management rights of public forests

Forest area (1000 hectares)
FRA 2010 Categories
1990 2000 2005
Public Administration n.a. n.a.

n.a.

Individuals n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

Private corporations and institutions n.a.

n.a.

n.a.


Communities n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

Other n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

TOTAL
n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

FRA 2010 – Country Report, Myanmar


12

2.5 Comments to Table T2

Variable /
category
Comments related to data, definitions,
etc.

Comments on the reported trend
Public ownership
Private
ownership

Other types of
ownership

Management
rights


Other general comments to the table


FRA 2010 – Country Report, Myanmar


13

3 Table T3 – Forest designation and management

3.1 FRA 2010 Categories and definitions

Term Definition
Primary designated function The primary function or management objective assigned to a management unit
either by legal prescription, documented decision of the landowner/manager, or
evidence provided by documented studies of forest management practices and
customary use.
Protected areas Areas especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological

diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through
legal or other effective means.
Categories of primary designated functions
Production Forest area designated primarily for production of wood, fibre, bio-energy
and/or non-wood forest products.
Protection of soil and water Forest area designated primarily for protection of soil and water.
Conservation of
biodiversity
Forest area designated primarily for conservation of biological diversity.
Includes but is not limited to areas designated for biodiversity conservation
within the protected areas.
Social services Forest area designated primarily for social services.
Multiple use Forest area designated primarily for more than one purpose and where none of
these alone is considered as the predominant designated function.
Other
Forest areas designated primarily for a function other than production,
protection, conservation, social services or multiple use.
No / unknown No or unknown designation.
Special designation and management categories
Area of permanent forest
estate (PFE)
Forest area that is designated to be retained as forest and may not be converted
to other land use.
Forest area within
protected areas
Forest area within formally established protected areas independently of the
purpose for which the protected areas were established.
Forest area under sustain-
able forest management
To be defined and documented by the country.

Forest area with
management plan
Forest area that has a long-term (ten years or more) documented management
plan, aiming at defined management goals, which is periodically revised.


3.2 National data
3.2.1 Data sources

References to sources of information Quality
(H/M/L)
Variable(s) Year(s) Additional
comments
GOM. 2000. Thirty Year Plan for
Forestry Sector of Myanmar. Forest
Department, Planning and Statistics
Div
M Designation
GOM. 1995. Forest Working plan
(1995-2005). Forest Department,
Planning and Statistics Div
M Designation
Thirty Years Plans for Forestry
Sector of Myanmar (2006-2016)
M Designation
FRA 2010 – Country Report, Myanmar


14




3.2.2 Classification and definitions
Forest Management Plans (1995-2005) classifies the forest area of the country into 7
categories of management purposes (known as working circle). These categories may be
treated as description of the classification based on designation of the forests.

National class Definition
Non Wood Forest Products working circle for meeting NWFP products
Production Working Circle for meeting timber requirements
Plantations Working Circle for meeting timber requirements through artificial
regeneration
Local Supply/Community Forestry W.C for meeting fuelwood and other minor forest products for
local community
Watershed Forests W.C For meeting conservation of soil and water resources
Mangrove Forests For utilising, and also conservation of coastal mangrove
forests
Protected Areas System W.C National Parks and Sanctuaries

The following table from old working plans (expired in 1970 but no updated till 1995)
provides the description of the designation of the Forests for year 1990.

National class Definition
Type of Working Circles Description
1 Teak Selection Working Circle for meeting teak timber requirements, it includes hardwood
supply working circle
2 Teak Eradication Working Circle for eradication of teak in unfavourable non forest areas (rice
fields etc.)
3 Hardwood supply working circle for meeting hardwood requirements, it is part of teak selection
working circle

4 Public Forest Working Circle for meeting timber needs from public forests (not forest
reserved areas)
5 Local Supply Working Circle for meeting fuelwood and other minor forest products for
local community
6 Cutch Working Circle for special manufacturing of cutch (acacia catechu)
7 Fuelwood Working Circle for meeting fuelwood products for local community
8 Tidal Forest Working Circle for meeting mangrove timber, fuelwood and charcoal
products
9 Special Working Circles for meeting special needs


3.2.3 Original data
The present data is extracted from Thirty Years Plans for Forestry Sector of Myanmar where
61 FMU (Forest management Units) data has been compiled.

This data is also available only for current working plan period (2006-2016).

A. Data for 1990

Working Circle Area of 36 Forest Divisions (expired at 1970 but not updated till 1995)

FRA 2010 – Country Report, Myanmar


15




Type of Working Circles Area in 000 hectares

1 Teak Selection Working Circle 2854
2 Teak Eradication Working Circle 239
3 Hardwood supply working circle 1178
4 Public Forest Working Circle 290
5 Local Supply Working Circle 101
6 Cutch Working Circle 87
7 Fuelwood Working Circle 50
8 Tidal Forest Working Circle 46
9 Special Working Circles 312
Total
5157

(Note: Teak Selection Working Circle area contains Hardwood supply working circles)

This information has been updated for 1990 as under with information on “Protected Areas
System”.

Type of Working Circles Area in 000 hectares
Teak Selection Working Circle 2854
Teak Eradication Working Circle 239
Hardwood supply working circle 1178
Public Forest Working Circle 290
Local Supply Working Circle 101
Cutch Working Circle 87
Fuelwood Working Circle 50
Tidal Forest Working Circle 46
Special Working Circles 312
Protected Areas Systems Area 720
Total Under management plans 5877
Forest area not under management plans 33625


B. Data for 2000 and 2005 and 2010

Working Circle Area of 61 Forest Management Units (1995-2005)

Type of Working Circles Area in 000 hectares
(2000)
1

Non Wood Forest Products W.C 5182

2

Production Working Circle 12017

3

Plantations Working Circle 651

4

Local Supply/ Community Forestry W.C 6749

5

Watershed Forests W.C 1499

6

Mangrove W.C 76


7

Protected Areas System W.C 964


The above data updated with data of Protected Area System for 2000 and actual area under
plantations in 2000.

Type of Working Circles

Area in 000 hectares
(2000)
FRA 2010 – Country Report, Myanmar


16

Non Wood Forest Products W.C
5182

Production Working Circle
12017

Plantations Working Circle
696

Local Supply/ Community Forestry W.C
6749


Watershed Forests W.C
1499

Mangrove W.C
76

Protected Areas System WC
1220

Total Area under management plans
27439

Forest area not under management plan
7683



Similarly information updated for 2005 with the help of Protection Area System for 2004 and
plantation area in 2005 (planned).

Type of Working Circles

Area in 000 hectares
(2005)
Non Wood Forest Products W.C 5182
Production Working Circle 12017
Plantations Working Circle 849
Local Supply/ Community Forestry W.C 6749
Watershed Forests W.C 1499
Mangrove W.C 76

Protected Areas System WC 4901
Total Area under management plans 31273
Forest area not under management plan 2936

Year
2010 Working Circle 000 hectares
1

Non Wood Forest Products W.C 942

2

Production Working Circle 11075

3

Plantations Working Circle 545

4

Local Supply/ Community Forestry
W.C 7071

5

Watershed Forests W.C 1352

6

Mangrove W.C 50


7

Protected Areas System W.C* 2081

8

Forest area not included in WCs 8772

*
Updated with actual PAS area on working plan

3.3 Analysis and processing of national data
3.3.1 Estimation and forecasting
For 1990, 2000, 2005 and 2010 figures for Protection, production and conservation forest
have been taken from previous tables. The rest of the forest area has been considered as
multiple forest to make the total match with table 1.

3.3.2 Reclassification into FRA 2010 categories
For 1990
FRA 2010 – Country Report, Myanmar


17


Percentage of a National Class into a FRA 2005 classes National Category


Prod

F/OWL
Prot
F/OWL
Conservation of
Biodiversity
Social
function
Multiple
function
Unknown
function
Forests
Teak Selection WC
100
Teak Eradication WC
100
Hardwood supply WC
100
Public Forest WC
100
Local Supply WC
100
Cutch Working Circle
100
Fuelwood Working Circle
100
Tidal Forest Working Circle
100
Special Working Circles
100

Protected Areas Systems WC
100
Forest area not under
management plans
100

For 2000 2005 and 2010

Percentage of a National Class into a FRA 2005 classes -Primary
Function
National Category


Production Protection CBD Social Multiple

Unknown
Forest
Non Wood Forest Product WC
100
Production Working Circle
100
Plantations Working Circle
100
Local Supply/ Community Forestry W.C
100
Watershed Forests W.C
100
Mangrove W.C
100
Protected Areas System W.C

100
Forest area not under management plans
100

3.4 Data for Table T3

Table 3a – Primary designated function

Forest area (1000 hectares)
FRA 2010 Categories
1990 2000 2005 2010
Production
4 422 24 644 24 797
19 633
Protection of soil and water
312 1 499 1 499 1 352
Conservation of biodiversity
720 1220 4 901 2 081
Social services
0 0 0
0
Multiple use
33 764 7 505 2 124
8 707
Other (please specify in comments below the table)
0 0 0
0
No / unknown
0 0 0
0

TOTAL
39 218 34 868 33 321
31 773

FRA 2010 – Country Report, Myanmar


18


Table 3b – Special designation and management categories

Forest area (1000 hectares)
FRA 2010 Categories
1990 2000 2005 2010
Area of permanent forest estate n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

Forest area within protected areas 720 1220 4 901 2 081
Forest area under sustainable forest management n.a.

n.a.

n.a.


n.a.

Forest area with management plan 5877 27439 31273 31273


3.5 Comments to Table T3

Variable /
category
Comments related to data, definitions, etc. Comments on the reported trend
Production
Protection of soil
and water

Conservation of
biodiversity

Social services
Multiple use
Other
No / unknown
designation

Area of permanent
forest estate
ITTO gives a figure of PFE 13710 (000) ha
(International Tropical Timber Organization
(ITTO). 2005. Status of tropical forest
management 2005)


Forest area within
protected areas

Forest area under
sustainable forest
management

Forest area with
management plan

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Other general comments to the table
Forest Management Plans of Myanmar Forest Department classifies the forest area of the country into 7
categories for management purposes (known as working circles). Some other wooded lands may be included in
these working circle areas. Working circle can also overlap (NWFP with production working circle) each other.
The following data is extracted from Thirty Years Plans for Forestry Sector of Myanmar where 61 FMU
(Forest management Units) data has been compiled. This data is also available only for current working plan
period (1995-2005). The old working plans that expired in 1970but not updated till 1995 provide similar
classification for 1990.
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4 Table T4 – Forest characteristics


4.1 FRA 2010 Categories and definitions

Term / category Definition
Naturally regenerated forest Forest predominantly composed of trees established through natural
regeneration.
Introduced species A species, subspecies or lower taxon, occurring outside its natural range
(past or present) and dispersal potential (i.e. outside the range it occupies
naturally or could occupy without direct or indirect introduction or care
by humans).
Characteristics categories
Primary forest Naturally regenerated forest of native species, where there are no clearly
visible indications of human activities and the ecological processes are
not significantly disturbed.
Other naturally regenerated forest Naturally regenerated forest where there are clearly visible indications of
human activities.
Other naturally regenerated forest
of introduced species
(sub-category)
Other naturally regenerated forest where the trees are predominantly of
introduced species.
Planted forest Forest predominantly composed of trees established through planting
and/or deliberate seeding.
Planted forest of introduced species
(sub-category)
Planted forest, where the planted/seeded trees are predominantly of
introduced species.
Special categories
Rubber plantations Forest area with rubber tree plantations.


Mangroves Area of forest and other wooded land with mangrove vegetation.

Bamboo Area of forest and other wooded land with predominant bamboo
vegetation.

4.2 National data
4.2.1 Data sources

References to sources of
information
Quality
(H/M/L)
Variable(s) Year(s) Additional comments
GOM. 2004. Plantation database
(unpublished). Forest Department,
Planning and Statistics Div
M Plantation area Till 2004

FAO.2007. Mangroves of Asia,
working paper 137
Mangroves Secondary source
FAO.2007. World Bamboo
resources, FRA 2005 thematic study
working paper 126
Bamboo Secondary source

4.2.2 Classification and definitions

National class Definition
No relevant national classification and definitions are available for this table.

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4.2.3 Original data
Following table presents forest area under plantation from plantation database of Forest
Department. The figures for 1990, 2000, 2003 data are actual figures and that for 2005 data is
based on target set for 2005 by the Forest Department.

Year
Forest Area under Plantations
(000 hectares)
1990 394
2000 696
2003 788
2005 849

Following table is plantation database of Forest Department. 1990, 2000, 2003,2005-2009 data are
actual figures and 2010 data is the figure of target set for 2010 by the Forest Department.

Year
000
hectares
2006

857.208

2007


892.640

2008

924.855

2009

957.471

2010

988.533


There are no national figures on primary forest. WCMC reports a total protected areas of
3.192 million hectares and it is assumed that this area can be a quite reliable proxy to estimate
primary forest.

The difference between total forest as from table 1 and the planted forest and primary forest
has been considered as other naturally regenerated forest.

The FAO study on Mangroves reports the following figures for mangroves for 1972:
Mangroves area ha 1972
Area ha 571 071
Original source 1972:
Hthay, U. T. and U.S. Han. 1984.Mangrove forests of Burma. In:proceedings of the Asian
Symposium on Mangrove
Environment Research and Management, Kuala Lumpur, August 25-29, 1980. p. 82-85 Edited

by E. Soepadmo, A.N. Rao and D.J. MacIntosh. 1984

Other data on mangrove comes from the following sources:
Sr.
No.

State /Division Year Hectares Source
1 Rakhine State 1996 157992

Japan Forest Technical Association
(JAFTA) Data
2 Ayeyarwady
Division
2003 90387

Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA)
3 Tanintharyi
Division
2000 237866

Technical paper, FD FAO

Total 486 245


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Source - Forest Department (2004): FRA 2005

EXTENT OF MANGROVE FOREST at 2005 and 2007
Sr.
No.

State /Division Year Hectares Source
1 Rakhine State 2005 178158

Coastal, 2005 landsat TM
classification
2 Ayeyarwady
Division
2005 83393

Coastal and delta, 2005 landsat TM
classification
3 Tanintharyi
Division
2007 176380

Coastal, 2007 landsat 7 ETM+ and
other sources

Total 437 931


Source - Forest Department (2009): Preparation for FRA 2010 by digital classification using 2007
Landsat 7 ETM+ scenes combined with other Landsat 5 scenes and Aster scenes.


UNEP-WCMC database on protected areas gives a total of 3.192 million hectares of protected
areas in IUCN categories I – IV. It could be used as a proxy to estimate the area of primary
forest.

4.3 Analysis and processing of national data

4.3.1 Estimation and forecasting

Figures from 1996, 2003 and 200o have been used for 2000 and figures from 2005 and 2007
for 2005. For 2010 due to lack of updated figures same figure as 2005 has been used. For
1990 linear interpolation for 1990 and 2000 figures has been used.

4.3.2 Reclassification into FRA 2010 categories
Forest area under plantation has been considered as planted forest.

4.4 Data for Table T4

Table 4a

Forest area (1000 hectares)
FRA 2010 Categories
1990 2000 2005 2010
Primary forest 3192
3192

3192

3192


Other naturally regenerated forest
35633 30980 29280 27593
of which of introduced species
Planted forest 394 696 849 988
of which of introduced species
TOTAL
39218 34868 33321 31773




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Table 4b

Area (1000 hectares)
FRA 2010 Categories
1990 2000 2005 2010
Rubber plantations (Forest) n.a. n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

Mangroves (Forest and OWL) 517 486 438 438
Bamboo (Forest and OWL) 963 895 859 859



4.5 Comments to Table T4

Variable /
category
Comments related to data, definitions, etc. Comments on the reported trend
Primary forest
Other naturally
regenerating
forest

Planted forest The forest department raises four types of forest
plantation (commercial, industrial, village supply and
watershed Plantation). The first three types are for
the purpose of production and the last (watershed
plantation) type is for the protection purpose.

Rubber
plantations

Mangroves
Bamboo

Other general comments to the table



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5 Table T5 – Forest establishment and reforestation

5.1 FRA 2010 Categories and definitions

Term Definition
Afforestation Establishment of forest through planting and/or deliberate seeding on
land that, until then, was not classified as forest.
Reforestation Re-establishment of forest through planting and/or deliberate seeding on
land classified as forest.
Natural expansion of forest Expansion of forests through natural succession on land that, until then,
was under another land use (e.g. forest succession on land previously
used for agriculture).

5.2 National data
5.2.1 Data sources

References to sources of
information
Quality
(H/M/L)
Variable(s) Year(s) Additional comments
Source: Planning &
Statistics Division, Forest
Department

Forest
plantations
up to

2007



5.2.2 Classification and definitions

National class Definition
Not available


5.2.3 Original data
Year Type of Plantation Total
Commercial Village Supply Industrial Watershed
1 2 3 4 5 6
1896-1941 38262 8907 0 0
47169
1948-1962 1230 692 0 0
1922
1963 444 297 0 0
741
1964 808 790 35 0
1633
1965 1749 944 23 0
2716
1966 1651 796 6 0
2453
1967 2557 876 45 0
3478
1968 3035 711 40 0
3786

1969 2112 716 51 0
2879
1970 1930 1234 45 0
3209
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1971 1634 1103 35 0
2772
1972 1053 2055 42 0
3150
1973 1506 1185 32 0
2723
1974 921 1612 33 0
2566
1975 1180 1870 24 0
3074
1976 1510 1591 24 0
3125
1977 2047 1534 40 0
3621
1978 2251 2033 20 0
4304
1979 3208 3252 210 61
6731
1980 8405 4409 228 453
13495
1981 11493 3654 283 1817

17247
1982 14666 3491 526 3553
22236
1983 16304 6235 769 4304
27612
1984 18517 6907 1433 3960
30817
1985 18627 10711 2776 4228
36342
1986 18918 7968 3446 2615
32947
1987 17323 6730 5540 2716
32309
1988 16382 5799 4958 2777
29916
1989 13812 1303 2448 1165
18728
1990 18313 6006 4573 1807
30699
1991 18255 7268 3905 1607
31035
1992 17335 7892 4128 2232
31587
1993 13406 11198 3244 3164
31012
1994 6309 12742 890 2641
22582
1995 11791 13470 2750 4089
32100
1996 13409 13729 2226 3399

32763
1997 13871 6803 2246 7264
30184
1998 16780 5981 2084 3905
28750
1999 17265 5247 1093 7111
30716
2000 16848 4335 2086 7451
30720
2001 15571 4543 3703 6941
30758
2002 15358 4695 3513 7831
31397
2003 15344 4413 3319 7366
30442
2004 16279 3656 3905 8134
31974
2005 17085 4219 2995 8903
33202
2006 17094 2600 1922 6712
28328
2007 12889 2125 1926 6961
23901
Total
496737

210327

73620


125167

905 851

5.3 Analysis and processing of national data
5.3.1 Calibration