Deiva Oswin Stanley, 2011. The Atlas and Guidelines for Mangrove Management in Wunbaik Reserved Forest, Myanmar

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FAO-UN, Myanmar Publicaon 2011/04

The Atlas and Guidelines for

Mangrove Management in

Wunbaik Reserved Forest

Deiva Oswin StanleyTCDC Consultant to FAO, Mangrove Management Specialist

Jeremy BroadheadBackstopping Ocer, RAPO, Bangkok

&

Aung Aung MyintForest Department

Forest Department, MOECAF

Union of Myanmar

Food and Agriculture Organizaon of the United Naons

Yangon, Myanmar


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The designaons employed and the presentaon of the material in this publicaon do not imply

the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organizaon of

the United Naons concerning the delimitaon of its froners or boundaries

The opinions expressed in this publicaon are those of the authors alone and do not imply any

opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO

First Edion: 2011

FAO-UN Myanmar

Cover Design & Photos : Dr. Deiva Oswin Stanley

Maps: Aung Aung Myint

For Copies of the Book, write to:

FAO Representaon Oce

Seed Division Compound, Insein Road, Yangon, Myanmar

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 95-1-641772, 641673

Fax: 95-1- 641561


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In commemoration of theInternational Year of Forests 2011


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elinesforMangroveManagem

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The Atlas and Guidelines for Mangrove Management in

Wunbaik Reserved Forest

CONTENTS

Foreword

Acknowledgments

1 Introducon 1

2 General geographical descripon 2

3 Mangrove forest ulizaon paern 7

4 Biodiversity status of Wunbaik reserved mangrove forest 33

5 Mangrove forest structure 36

6 Mangrove management module of project TCP-MYA-3204 55

7 Guidelines for Wunbaik reserved mangrove forest management 72

8 Reference 85

Annexes 86

List of gures, tables and boxes 131

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Foreword

Mangroves of the Wunbaik Reserved Forest, Rakhine state is the most valuable forests and posing

major anthropogenic threats due to forest area conversion and reclamaon. Food and Agriculture

Organizaon of the United Naons, Myanmar jointly with the Forest Department of Myanmar

aempted to understand the mangrove land use paern in the Wunbaik Reserved Forests to

evolve with an Integrated Mangrove Management plan through the project entled Sustainable

Community-based Mangrove Management in Wunbaik Reserved Forest: TCP/MYA/3204. As

the mangroves oer innumerable services to the local community and to the country in terms ofshery, mber and wood for charcoal and fuel it is inevitable to protect the forest intact and allow

raonal ulity oers for sustainable food security.

Integrated Mangrove Management Specialist from India, the TCDC Consultant to FAO-UN, Myanmar

and Naonal Consultant from the Forest Department worked together, studied the status of the

reserved forest using the RS - GIS maps; have brought out the facts and validated through data

generated during the ground truth analysis carried out in random 10 survey sites inside Wunbaik.

The study conrms that the wood cungs, mangrove area reclamaon for paddy and shrimp farm

expansions are extremely beyond the carrying capacity of the forest. Out of 84 compartments, noone compartment in the reserve remains un-degraded in some way; The reserved forest has lost

25 % of the mangroves for paddy and shrimp farming and another 17% for illicit commercial wood

extracon and remains degraded. The quality of the trees in the rest of the forest is also of feeble

quality as all the mature stands have been cut down. The secondary growth remains as dense

patch of mangroves in Wunbaik which needs immediate aenon from the government.

The Atlas and Guidelines for Mangrove Management in Wunbaik Reserved Forest would be a

useful publicaon for the administrators, policy planners and the natural resource management

personals. We are happy to appreciate the eorts of the team and especially Dr. Deiva Oswin

Stanley, Dr. Jeremy Broadhead and Mr. Aung Aung Myint, for bringing out such a valuable piece of

work into being.

Ms. Bui Thi Lan

FAO Representave

Food and Agriculture Organizaon of the UnitedNaons, Yangon, Myanmar

U Aye Myint Maung

Director General Forest Department

Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar

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Acknowledgements

Our honor and thanks are due to the Western Commander, Brigadier General U Soe Thein for

permission to study the mangroves in Wunbaik Reserved Forest, Rakhine State

We are pleased to express our hearelt thanks to His Excellency U Win Tun, Union Minister,

Ministry of Environment Conservaon and Forestry and His Excellency U Hla Maung Tin, State

Chief Minister, Government of Rakhine State.

Our special thanks are due to U Aye Myint Maung, Director General, Forest Department, U Sann

Lwin, Director General, Planning and Stascs Department, Dr. Nyi Nyi Kyaw, Deputy Director

General, Forest Department U Zaw Win, Director, Planning and Stascs Division, U Kyaw Soe Khine,

Director, Forest Department, Rakhine State, U Win Myint, Assistant Director, Forest Department,

KyaukPyu District and the senior level ocers for rendering cooperaon and valuable suggesons

during project implementaon

Our thanks are due to Ms. Bui Thi Lan, FAO Resident Representave in Myanmar and Dr. Shin Imai,

ex-FAO Representave for constant support.

Our special thanks are due to Mr. Giuseppe Romalli, Chief Technical Advisor of ESFSP project, Dr.

Aung Swe, Assistant FAOR Programme, Ms. Tha Nwai Law, Assistant FAOR Administraon, Mr. Thu

Kha, Ms. Sanda Saing, Ms. Aye Aye Thet, Ms. Myat New, Ms. Aye Myint Khine, U. Than Hke Zin,

Ms. Phyo May Win, Ms. Thida Chaw Hlaing, Ms. Rachelle Yi Yi Wynn, U Maung Maung, Librarian

and Ms. Phyu Phyu Htwe for their ever smiling assistance.

Our special thanks are due to the ocers from line departments and agencies including Myanmar

Agriculture Service, Department of Fisheries, Selement and Land Record Department. We would

like to thank the responsible ocers from all levels of The Peace and Development Councils

of Rakhine State, Kyauk Phyu and Thandwe Districts, and Kyauk Phyu, Yambye, and Thandwe

Townships. Thanks are due to the naonal consultants of the project: U Win Myint, U Khim MaungSoe, Ms. Khin Hnin Myint, U San Win and U Than Hke Oo . We wish to express our thanks to the

Naonal Project Coordinators of the project: U Hla Maung Thein, U Aung Khin, U Myo Htun and

those who have contributed to the preparaon of the document.

iii

U Aung Aung Myint

Consultant to FAO

Forest Department

[email protected]

Dr. Jeremy Broadhead

Backstopping Ocer,

RAPO, Bangkok

[email protected]

Dr. Deiva Oswin Stanley

TCDC Consultant to FAO

Mangrove Management Specialist

[email protected]


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The Atlas and Guidelines for Mangrove Management

in Wunbaik Reserved Forest

1. Introducon

Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest provides economical, ecological and social benets for Rakhine

State and Myanmars economy. Wunbaik mangroves are indispensible to coastal communies in

the area, being the base for livelihood subsistence and cyclone protecon. Around eighty percent

of the rural populaon of Rakhine is involved in farming acvies, small-scale entrepreneurship

and collecon or harvest of forest products such as sh, crabs, clams, mber, fuelwood, honey,

bamboo, mangrove wood and bark. A considerable share of the forest products are derived from

the Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest. The status of the Wunbaik mangroves as reservedhas not, however, provided sucient protecon against resource degradaon and loss of forest

biodiversity. The current ulizaon of mangroves and coastal wetlands in the Wunbaik area is

irraonal and unsustainable and is endangering the survival of one of the most important mangrove

ecosystems in Myanmar.

This publicaon is an output of Sustainable Community-based Mangrove Management in

Wunbaik Reserved Forest: TCP/MYA/3204, a project inaugurated by the Government of Myanmar

and supported by the Food and Agriculture Organizaon of the United Naons and the Forest

Department of Myanmar to conserve the Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest. The project aimed

to develop an integrated mangrove management plan by assessing the status of forest and sheries

resources and trends in the socio-economic situaon of surrounding villages. Analysis of satellite

imagery conrmed detrimental paerns of land ulizaon in Wunbaik and the crically endangered

situaon of the reserved mangroves. An overview of the causes and eects of mangrove degradaon

in Wunbaik and the strategy to achieve mangrove conservaon for development of sustainable

livelihoods are shown in Figure 1 and 2 respecvely.

It is hoped that this publicaon and the data generated during the project will be valuable to

government and other agencies involved in developing environmental management and resource

ulizaon plans for Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest and adjacent ecosystems.


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Problem

Causes

Effects

Wun Baik Reserved Forest :

Mangrove Habitat CONVERSION

for Agriculture & Aquaculture

Population

Growth

Damaging farming

practices & Poisoning

the ecosystem

Extensive Bund

Construction-

Hydrology disruption

Selective Mangrove

Tree Felling for

fuel & charcoal

Soil Acidification

Less productive

paddy & shrimp

Management

Difficulties &

Limited facilities

Lack of Law enforcement

for Forest protection

and Conservation

Irreversible

Natural Biodiversity

Loss

Fishery Resource

Depletion

(Present & Future)

Mangrove

Ecosystem

Destruction

Limited Livelihood

Options Known /

Practiced

Agriculture/Fishery

promotion Policies

Lack of Mangrove Ecosystem Awareness

among Stakeholders/

Attitude towards Resource Conservation

Permanent Loss

of Protective

Green Belt

Permanent Loss

of Ecological and

Economic Services

Figure 1. Cause and eects of mangrove degradaon in Wunbaik

Reserved Mangrove Forest


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Wunbaik Forest Reserve

Can Serve Global Livelihood Security

Problem Identification

in Wunbaik Reserved

Mangrove Forest

Sorting Solutionsfor

Ecosystem Revival

Rectification and

Regulation of

Resource Utilization

Conservation Law

and Order

Enforcement

Responsible Management

of mangrove EcosystemBenefit the Productive

Ecosystem Services

Enjoy Local and

Global Livelihood

Security

Figure 2. Strategy for mangrove ecosystem conservaon to achieve sustainable livelihoods


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Note on the Atlas

The maps in the Atlas are displayed at a common scale of approximately 1: 80,000.

The demographic stascs used in the maps are dated 2009, RS-GIS data are from 1990, 2000,

2009 and 2011 and the environment scan data from the eld is of 2009-2011. The climac data

discussed is for the year 2011.

2. General geographical descripon

Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest lies between latudes 19 08' 10" & 19 23' 40" North and

Longitudes 93 54' 35" & 94 02' 10" East; and is situated in Yambye Township, Kyauk Phyu District.

The total reserved area is about 56 633 acres (22 919 ha) divided into eighty four compartments

(Figure 3). It was declared a reserve by order No. 343 in February 15 1931 by the Brish Government

with the basic objecve to supply rewood to salt factories and inland steam vessels. An adjacent

area (10 080 acres) has been noed as Mingyaung Public Protected Forest by the Ministry of

Forestry in 16 June, 2009.

The topography of Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest is almost at except on the western

adjacent island of Kathaung Taung Kyun where a small hill rises. In the same area coral reefs are

found within the reserved forest boundary. Inland from Wunbaik the land is hilly and undulang

with many water bodies. In Yambye Township, the highest point, Zikha Taung, is 1 311 feet in

elevaon while the lowest place is only 6 feet above sea level(Forest Management Plan, Kyauk

Phyu District from 2006-07 to 2015-2016, revised edion).

Broadly the climate is divided into summer, monsoon and winter seasons. In general the area

experiences torrenal rains and humidity levels of up to 94% during the monsoon months from

May unl October. Annual rainfall recorded for 2011 was 5 362 mm. Maximum temperatures of

up to 34.5C were observed during April to October of 2011. Colder weather begins in November

and ends in February. January and February were the coldest months in 2011 with minimum

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Table 1. Average rainfall, temperature and humidity recorded at Kyauk Phyu District in 2011

Months Average Rainfall Average Highest Lowest Humidity

(mm) Temp (C) Temp (C) Temp (C) (%)

January 93 22.2 30.5 15.0 76.0

February 0.5 23.7 30.5 16.0 77.0

March 9.9 25.8 32.0 18.5 79.0

April 68.1 28.3 34.0 22.3 81.0

May 409.4 28.9 34.5 23.5 83.0

June 1032.8 27.4 33.3 23.4 94.0

July 976.9 27.7 33.8 24.0 91.0

August 1265.2 28.2 32.3 24.5 92.0

September 1029.2 27.3 29.6 25.9 91.0

October 477.3 28.9 31.4 25.2 79.0

November - 25.8 29.5 22.5 73.5

December - - - - -

Source: Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, Kyauk Phyu

Figure 3. Locaon of Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest


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The soil in Wunbaik consists of very ne mud over a sub-soil of clay with varying proporons of

sand. In elevated areas where dal inundaon is infrequent the soil is more saline and harder.

Paddy and shrimp farming has degraded around 25% of the forest land in Wunbaik and the soils

are acidied, harder, less producve and generally barren. Yambye Township has mainly sandy soils

in the landward area while clay and sand is prevalent in the coastal belts. There are many privately

owned oil wells, where oil is extracted tradional methods.

Neighboring Wunbaik mangroves are 30 712 households in Kyauk Phyu Township with a total

populaon of 195 420 and 21 256 households in Yambye Township with a populaon of 100 769.

The populaon of Kyauk Phyu Township grew from 185 550 in 2005; whereas, the populaon of

Yambye township declined from 139 850 in 2005. The overall populaon of Kyauk Phyu District

has declined in recent years due to migraon from Rakhine State to Yangon and other areas. The

developments in the new capital city, Nay Pyi Taw, have also aracted a considerable number of

migrants. The overall rural populaon in Kyauk Phyu District exceeds the rural populaon (Table 2).

Table 2. Populaon of Kyauk Phyu District in 2010-11

Township Household Male Female Total Urban Rural

Kyauk Phyu 30 712 94 770 100 650 195 420 31 282 164 138

Yambye 21 256 47 520 53 249 100 769 9 916 90 853

Manaung 14 015 47 608 51 622 99 230 7 132 92 098

Ann 22 056 52 565 52 158 104 723 6 298 98 425

District Total 88 039 242 463 257 679 500 142 54 628 445 514

Source: District Peace and Development Council, Kyauk Phyu


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3. Mangrove forest ulizaon paern

The Wunbaik mangrove forest was reserved for sustainable producon, conservaon and

protecon as per the reserved forest laws and regulaons. However, the mangroves of Wunbaikhave been heavily degraded for several reasons including thorough clearance for paddy and shrimp

farming. The loss of mangrove density, diversity and water holding capacity has been signicant.

In some areas, the forest has been damaged to such an extent that recovery is only achievable

through concerted eort. The forest cover change matrix demonstrates the impact of destrucve

and unsustainable pracces within the reserved forest boundary (Table 3).

3.1 Status of mangroves in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest during 1990, 2000, 2009 & 2011

In 1990, dense mangroves covered 43 628 acres in Wunbaik while degraded mangrove covered

8 487 acres. Between 1990 and 2011, the area of dense mangroves fell to 30 670 acres while the

degraded area increased to 9 673 acres (Figure 4). The water area has reduced to 50% within the

past ten years and agriculture and aquaculture has expanded.

Table 3. Status and forest cover change in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest

Status of forest during 1990-2011 (acres)

Mangrove Forest Cover change (acres)

10 years 9 years 2 years 20 years 10 years

1990 2000 2009 2011 1990-2000 2000-2009 2009-2011 1990-2011 2000-2011

Water 4000 3796 3518 2105 786 -277 -1413 -905 -1691

Mangroves 43628 35250 31326 30670 -8379 -3923 -657 -12959 -4580

Degraded

Mangroves8487 8778 10533 9673 291 1755 -860 1186. 896

Agriculture 858 7196 8190 12314 6337 995 4124 11456 5119

Scrub jungle 0 81 0 0 81 -81 0 0 -81

Road 0 219 135 238 219 -84 103 238 19

Swamp 0 174 24 0 1734 -150 -24 0 -174

Aquaculture 650 1141 2907 1633 491 1765 -1274 983 491


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Figure 4 (i). Status of mangroves in Wunbaik Reserved Forest in 1990


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Figure 4 (ii). Status of mangroves in Wunbaik Reserved Forest in 2000


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Figure 4 (iii). Status of mangroves in Wunbaik Reserved Forest in 2009


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Figure 4 (iv). Status of mangroves in Wunbaik Reserved Forest in 2011


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3.2 Water holding areas inside the reserved forest boundary

Mangrove ecosystems are dependent on dal ushing and the health of mangroves is therefore

directly linked to the water holding capacity of the ecosystem. Decrease in the area of water has

major implicaons for sheries resources and related biota within the ecosystem. Mangrove waters

are nursery grounds for economically valuable n and shell sh and sheries resources both with

in and outside mangrove areas are dependent on this funcon. The 1691 acres reducon in the

area of water between 2000 and 2011 and the rapid reducon of 1413 acres between 2009 and

2011 have had severe impacts on the mangrove vegetaon and the funconing of Wunbaik as a

reserved forest (Figure 5). Almost 45 % of the water holding capacity has been lost during these

years due to bund construcon and creek blockage associated with illegal farming.

The increase in the area of water between 1990 and 2000 was possibly related to the major cyclone

from May 16-19, 1992 which hit the Rakhine mangroves directly. Cyclone Giri in 2010 did not a

impact upon Wunbaik mangroves, only on the upper areas of Kyauk Phyu District.

3.3. Anthropogenic pressures

Despite the fact that Wunbaik is a reserved forest, trespassing and restricted acvies inside the

reserved forest boundary are not restricted. Land encroachments for farming, tree felling and

human selement are common while illegal shing and crab exploitaon connue unabated.With agreement from Forest Department and other administraons, the Government of Myanmar

constructed a 20 mile long east-west geo-texle road from Kyauk Phyu to Ma-e which is serving

as part of the Kyauk Phyu to Yangon high way. It occupies 0.4 % (238 acres) of the total mangrove

area of Wunbaik. The bridges constructed along the road are well designed and cross the various

creeks and water ways without disrupng the dal ow. Damage done to the mangroves during

construcon of the road such as loss of forest land and formaon of swamps and degraded patches

has mostly been reced through natural regeneraon. On a posive note, the Kyauk Phyu to Ma-e

road has provided an opportunity for the administraon to understand the illicit acvies takingplace inside the reserved forest boundary and has brought about measures to beer conserve the

forest.


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Figure 5(i). Water holding areas of Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove forest in 2000


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Figure 5(ii). Water holding areas of Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove forest in 2011


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3.3.1 Encroachment for paddy farming

Conversion of mangroves to agriculture began between 1979 and 1985 during which me the

World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the Japanese Government provided funding for

reclamaon of land for paddy through construcon of earthen bunds in the country. This resulted

in channels inside the reserved forest being blocked and areas of mangroves being cleared.

Disrupon of natural hydrology connues to destroy large expanses of mangroves in Wunbaik and

in Rakhine State. The major conversion of around 7 196 acres of mangroves to paddy took place

between 1990 and 2000 since when the total area has increased to 12 314 acres (Figure 6).

According to the Forest Law 1992, agriculture development within reserved forest is forbidden but

reluctance exists to enforce this law due to:

naonal and provincial level agricultural expansion targets;

alleged promoon of deforestaon to reduce the possibility of forests providing hideouts

for insurgents;

possible collecon of revenues from agricultural producon by various line agencies and

administrave levels within government;

reluctance to relocate farmers and disrupt local livelihood systems at a polically sensive

me in Myanmar.

In the converted mangrove land, annual yields are commonly around 0.5 tonnes per acre (40baskets/13 sacs). This fetches 208 000 Kyats or around US$200. In producve inland areas suitable

for paddy culvaon, yields of 3-4 tonnes/ha can be achieved. In addion to low yields, converted

areas generally have to be abandoned aer three years due to soil acidicaon and compacon.

3.3.2 Encroachment for shrimp farming

Intrusion into the reserved forest for shrimp farming was iniated by the Department of Fisheries

in 1980 as part of a state shrimp farming expansion plan in spite of such expansion being illegalas per the reserved forest law. There was major conversion of mangroves to shrimp ponds during

the 1980s and up to 2009 with the total area reaching 2907 acres (Figure 7). As ponds were not

protable due to the poor sluice systems, inadequate drainage, water acidicaon and disease

outbreaks, converted areas were abandoned and connued to obstruct the natural hydrology and

limit the health of adjacent mangrove formaons. Currently, 56 % (1274 acres) of shrimp farms

have been abandoned and further areas connue to be abandoned.


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Figure 6(i). Mangrove forest area converted for agriculture in 1990


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Figure 6(ii). Mangrove forest area converted for agriculture in 2000


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Figure 6(iii). Mangrove forest area converted for agriculture in 2009


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Figure 6(iv). Mangrove forest area converted for agriculture in 2011


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Figure 7(i). Mangrove forest area converted for aquaculture in 2000


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Figure 7(ii). Mangrove forest area converted for aquaculture in 2009


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Figure 7(iii). Mangrove forest area converted for aquaculture in 2011


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3.3.3 Illegal human selement inside the reserved forest boundary

Illegal selements inside the reserved forest boundary are common. Selements are constructed

for paddy farming, shrimp farming, wood cung, bark peeling and sheries resource collecon.

The paddy, sh or crab collecon unit owners are businessmen who support villagers to sele inside

the forest. There are several permanent units with jees allowing collecon and transportaon

of resources out of the reserved forest. These have, however, not aracted the aenon of the

administraon in relaon to possible law enforcement. The 22 major human selement spots

observed by the project team between November 2009 and November 2011 are ploed on the

map shown in Figure 8. Many other smaller selements are not shown on the map.

3.3.4 Illegal mangrove wood cung for mber and charcoal

Mangrove cung is a protable business and is conducted by community members in associaon

with or with the knowledge of the local administraon. Every stakeholder has the percepon

that mangroves can be felled freely as no informaon is disseminated in relaon to sustainable

management and protecon of the reserved forest. For charcoal producon, approximately 42

000 trees or around 30 feet in height are cut per kiln per annum to produce 22.5 tons of charcoal

and degrading approximately 104 acres of mangroves (42ha) per annum per kiln. The number of

both registered and unregistered charcoal kilns and the capacity of each kiln around Wunbaik is

unknown.

Fellings for mber for commercial and household use account for around 250 000 trees of around

30 feet in height per annum. At site, each tree is worth less than US $ 4 and approximately 250

hectares of mangrove are degraded in this way per annum. Dealers from surrounding towns

generally send boats to Wunbaik to hide in narrow creeks for a month or so while smaller boats go

on forays for wood unl the mother boat is full. The smaller boats are manned by local villagers

who cut wood and collect bark. There are also several village groups involved in wood cung who

sell wood or bark to dealers on the mother boats. The 12 hotspots observed by the project teamfor tree felling and or hiding mother boats are marked on the map shown in Figure 9.


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Figure 8. Illegal human selement inside the Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest


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Figure 9. Hotspots of illegal wood cung in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest


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Figure 10. Hotspots of debarking and tree cung in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest


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3.3.5 Selecve tree felling for bark peeling

Bark peeling takes place between September and May. Rhizophora apiculata and R. mucronata are

the target species. Bark is mostly desned for Mandalay, Ma-ei and Taungok markets. The trees

are mostly peeled while standing and allowed to die and dry for fuel but are also at mes felled

and peeled. Villagers in groups of three or four come in small canoes and generally collect bark for

15 days using canoes of 24 feet in length. The villagers sell the bark to merchants from Taungok

who generally bring a mothercra with support canoes and workers for a period of one month. A

number of narrow creeks on the eastern side of the reserved forest are used for anchoring and as

hideouts. Trees of around 30 feet in height, and girth of 25 to 30 cm (i.e. the larger exisng trees)

are targeted and peeled with axes. One tree provides 48 kg of bark and sale price is 100 kyats per

kilogram on site. Boats carry around 16 tonnes in total.

The bark is used to make natural dye for the Buddhist monks clothing and also exported to china.

Approximately 105 000 trees of around 30 feet trees are felled per annum for bark extracon inside

Wunbaik which degrades around 105 hectares of mangroves. The map shows the 14 hotspots for

selecve tree felling and debarking inside the reserved forest boundary (Figure 10).

3.4 Mangrove cover change between 1990, 2000, 2009 and 2011

The change detecon map shows reducons in mangrove cover between 1990 and 2011 (Figure

11). As the mangroves have been converted to dierent man-made ecosystems, mangrove diversity

had been lost and in many cases a great deal of eort will be required to reverse the situaon.

Unless checked immediately a proporon of the mangrove ecosystem in Wunbaik reserved forest

is likely to be lost forever. The maps shown in Figure 11 illustrate change detected in the Wunbaik

Reserved Mangrove Forest while Figure 12 shows percentage forest cover during in 2000 and 2011.


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Figure 11(i). Mangroves cover change in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest between

1990 and 2000


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Figure 11(ii). Mangroves cover change in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest between 1990,

2000 and 2009.


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Figure 11(iii). Mangroves cover change in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest between

2009 and 2011.


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Figure 12. Land cover in 2000 and 2011


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Figure 13. Elevaon map of Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest


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4. Biodiversity status of Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest

The Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest is endowed with a high level of biodiversity. Seventy

owering plants species have been idened inside the reserved forest boundary including thirtyfour mangrove species and thirty six salt tolerant mangrove associates (Win Myint and Deiva Oswin

Stanley, 2011; Annex 1). Seventy two sh and crustacean species and one-hundred and four bird

species have also been idened (Khin Maung Soe and Deiva Oswin Stanley, 2011; Annex 2 and

Deiva Oswin Stanley, 2011, Personal communicaon; Annex 3).

4.1 Flora

The ora of Wunbaik includes mangroves and associated salt tolerant species. There are also

several non-mangrove species which are not included in the lists created by the project. The

number of terrestrial associate species has risen as a result of human acvies in the area, including

agriculture and shrimp farming. In areas around farmed land, mangroves are oen degraded and

weeds associated with agriculture dominate. Larger trees are very rare and the majority of areas

comprise secondary growth vegetaon and immature forest stands. Single rows of tall, mature

trees ofSonneraa apetela exist in a few creeks, including Thazintan wa, Than Tha Ma She river,

mouth of Awele Byin river, Di Dok Bauk chaung, Daing Khun chaung, Kyauk Bok chaung, crossing

creek from Paung Daung chaung to Za Reik chaung, mouth of Ze Reik chaung and around Kathaung

Taung Kyun area but they are unlikely to be replaced as the areas behind these single tree rows are

occupied by paddy farming.

4.2 Fisheries

A total of 62 species of n sh, 5 species of crustacean and 5 species of mollusk have been idened

in the reserved forest area and there are likely to be many others sll to be recorded. Surveys

conducted by the project revealed the small size of individual sh and of sh populaons in the

waterways surrounding the reserved forest. These characteriscs result from connuing over-

shing and numerous other impacts:

encroachment into mangrove areas for paddy and shrimp farming and related hydrological

disrupon from the construcon of embankments and bunds which block and reduce the

water holding capacity in the area;

use of chemicals and pescides for farming purposes, resulng in the killing of juvenile sh

populaons;

stagnaon, acidicaon and putrefacon of enclosed areas of water due to poorly designed

sluices;

use of poison and explosives for shing;

fence net shing at river mouths;


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the use of shing nets with very small mesh size;

catching of gravid sh and crabs (brooders) and trapping of juvenile crabs.

These issues all need to be managed for shery resources replenishment within the reserved forest

boundary.

4.3 Avifauna

Including both migrants and residents, one-hundred and four bird species were recorded in

Wunbaik during the project period. However, the area is not as well populated as beer protected

mangrove areas in the region. Thirty-seven shore birds were recorded and parakeets and doves are

abundant in the reserved forest, especially around the paddy elds. Destrucon of mangroves and

hunng of arboreal and shore birds connues, however, at a comparavely high rate in Wunbaik

and this contributes to the low bird populaon. Bird shoong during the hunng season also

disrupts roosng, and many birds that are shot are not collected by hunters. Hunng of birds and

other animals is a regular acvity in Wunbaik.

4.4 Herpetofauna

Although no specic study on the herpetofauna of Wunbaik was carried out, the populaon of

amphibians and reples in the area is considerable. Snakes are common and prominent species

include Naja naja (Cobra), Naja hannah, (King Cobra), Elaphe radiata (copperhead rat snake),Bungarus fasciatus (banded krait) and Boa constrictor(boa snake). Threats to snake populaons

include hunng and sale of meat in local markets and increasing local consumpon.

Other amphibians and reples include Varanus spp (monitor lizard), which is common in open

mangrove areas and there are also many species of geckos, skinks, crested lizards, toads and frogs.

In recent years, Batagur baska (river terrapin) has become a rare species and Crocodylus porosus

(Crocodile) are exnct in the reserved area and in Rakhine state as a result of hunng for skin and

meat and associated trade.

4.5 Mammals

Mammals including Oers (Lutra lutra and Lutra spp) are common around the River Kadet and

crab-eang macaque (Macaca fascicularis) were observed near Nganapyagyi River and the mouth

of River Dipataik. The Indian ying fox (Pteropus giganteus), short-nosed or common fruit bat

(Cynopterus brachyos) and bamboo bats(Tylonycteris pachypus and Tylonycteris robustula) occur

in a range of habitats from terrestrial primary and secondary forests to mangroves and culvated

areas. Wild dog (Cuon apinus), sambar (Cervus unicolor), hog deer (Cervus porcinus), mouse deer(Tragulus javanicus), barking deer (Munacus muntjak), buck deer (Cervinae capreolinae), wild


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boar (Sus scrofa), shing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), jungle cat (Felis chaus) and wild cat (Felis

silvestris) are rare in the reserve nowadays. Elephants (Elephas maximus), ger (Panthera gris)

and leopard (Panthera pardus) were once common in the mangroves of Rakhine State but are now

exnct.

Under Myanmar's Protecon of Wild Life and Wild Plants and Conservaon of Natural Areas Law

(State Law and Order Restoraon Council Law No.583/94.1994) only ve of eight species of nave

wild cats are protected. In relaon, on the road to Wunbaik in Taungkok township, many restaurants

serve wild meat and an early morning daily public market sells wild meat from cats, jungle fowl,

deer, monkeys, langurs, wild boars and monitor lizards. There has been a drasc reducon in

mammal populaons and species diversity in the Wunbaik area and many species once known by

the community are now rare or exnct due to the high levels of hunng for meat. The remaining

mammal populaons are also severely threatened by habitat loss.

4.6 Insects

Insects perform a major role in the pollinaon of Wunbaiks mangrove species including Aegiceros

corniculatum, Soneraa apetala, Soneraa grithii, Soneraa alba, Xylocarpus spp, Bruguiera

cylindrica, Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Bruguiera parviora, Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora

mucronata, Avicennia alba and Avicennia ocinalis, Heriera formes, Kandelia candel, Ceriops

tagaland many others. Honey produced has medicinal value and a high demand. The cost of one

litre ofAegiceros corniculatum honey is around US$ 3 4 in local villages but higher in city markets.

Honey collecon takes place from aer the monsoon unl cold weather begins. Species including

Apis dorsata,Apis orea and Apis indica play a major role in honey producon. In one of the eld

sites in the reserve (B2), large bee hives measuring 1 x 1.5 m are common. Weaver ants are common

inside the mangroves and oen weave nests in Rhizophora spp and Bruguiera gymnorhiza trees.

Firey (Pteroptyxsp.) is also common in Wunbaik. TheAedes aegypmosquito is widespread in

coastal villages in the Wunbaik area and although they do not breed in estuarine habitats, monsoon

water collected in areas converted for paddy farming provides a suitable habitat .


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5. Mangrove forest structure

Mangroves are tropical species, occurring where annual temperature minimums exceed 66F

(19C) and not tolerang temperature uctuaons greater than 18F (10C) or temperatures belowfreezing for any length of me. Temperature recorded in the Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest

in 2011 was between 23.2C and 30.3C (Table 1).Tidal uctuaons and related salinity levels play

an important role in maintaining mangrove zonaon paerns. In the Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove

Forest area dal inundaon was observed to be between 0.5 and 4 meters and water salinity levels

of between 0 parts per thousand (ppt) and 28 ppt were recorded (Table 4).

Table: 4. Ranges of salinity and dal height observed at the eld survey sites in Wunbaik

Reserved Mangrove Forest

Survey site Range of salinity (ppt) Range of dal height (m)

A1 5-10 0.3-1.5

A2 5-28 0.3-4.2

B1 5-18 0.3-3.6

B2 5-23 0.3-3.5

C1 5-15 0.3-3.2

C2 5-24 0.5- 4

D1 5-25 0.5-3.9

D2 5-26 0.5-3.5

E1 5-28 0.3-3.2

E2 5-15 0.3-3

A forest inventory was carried out to assess the structure and composion of the Wunbaik mangroves

and the impact of anthropogenic acvies in the reserved area. Informaon on species name, tree

height, diameter at breast height, number of trees, and number of recruits and seedlings wasrecorded during the inventory. Land elevaon was also recorded and a digital elevaon model

showing the elevaon of the mangroves in meters was created. (Figure 13).

5.1 Status of forest in the survey sites

Using topographic maps and satellite images, ten survey sites of 10 x 500m were chosen randomly

in dierent areas of the reserve (Figure 14). The sites were named as A1 (Compartment 69),

A2 (Compartment 81), B1 (Compartment 55), B2 (Compartment 19), C1 (Compartment 69),C2 (Compartment 25), D1 (Compartment 8), D2 (Compartment 7), E1 (Compartment 48), E2

(Compartment 39).


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Figure 14. Field survey sites


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Table 5. Details of the eld survey sites

Survey site Coordinates Remarks

A1 N 19 11 02.5 E 93 58 03.4 Area encroched for paddy farming

A2 N 19 12 11.9 E 93 56 37.9

Degraded mangroves. Only the survey area has dense

mangroves with 15 species included, dominated by

Ceriops tagal.

B1 N 19 14 14.1 E 94 00 23.7



Ceriops tagal.

B2 N 19 15 10.0 E 93 58 55.1

Dense mangrove area with 16 mangrove species

dominated by Ceriops tagaland Bruguiera

gymnorhizaC1 N 19 18 28.5 E 94 00 21.2 Area encroched for paddy farming

C2 N 19 17 55.2 E 93 58 16.3



Ceriops tagaland Aegialis rotandifolia.

D1 N 19 20 13.5 E 93 59 18.7

Survey area has dense mangroves while other areas

have been encroached for paddy and shrimp farming.

Mangrove area has 15 species dominated by Ceriops

tagaland Aegialis rotandifolia

D2 N 19 20 39.1 E 94 00 23.9

Survey plot area has dense mangroves with 14

species dominated by Ceriops tagaland Aegialis

rotandifolia

E1 N 19 17 50.2 E 93 55 56.6

Survey area has dense mangroves with 18 species

dominated by Bruguiera gymnorhiza and Rhizophora

apiculata

E2 N 19 14 20.4 E 93 57 36.0

Survey area has dense mangroves with 18 species

dominated by Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Nypa frucans

and Rhizophora mucronata

Survey site descripons:

Site A1

Site A1 is in compartment 69 and is an area which has been encroached upon for paddy

farming. The land is enclosed by earthen bunds and mangroves have been totally cleared.

Paddy farming is pracced in most of the enclosed land area by Letpan and Yantheshe villagers.

The southern poron of forest compartment 69 has been totally deforested and converted

while in compartments 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79 around 50 to 90% of the land is

converted to paddy or shrimp farms.


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Site A2

Site A2 is in compartment 81 and the surveyed area is dense forest with 15 mangrove species

dominated by Ceriops tagal, however, the other porons of compartment 81 and compartments

82, 83, 84, 65, 66, 67 are highly degraded due to recent encroachments. More than 40 % of the

area of compartment 66 has been converted for paddy farming.

Site B1

Site B1 is in compartment 55 and is a degraded patch of mangroves. The survey plot contains

dense mangroves with 15 species present, dominated by Ceriops tagal. Compartments 52, 53,

54 and 56 though not encroached show impacts of illegal logging and minor degradaon and

compartments 55, 57, 58. 59, 60, 61, 62 and 63 are 15-95 % converted for paddy or shrimp

farming.

Site B2

Site B2 is in compartment 34 and is a dense mangrove area with 16 mangrove species dominated

by Ceriops tagal and Bruguiera gymnorhiza. Compartment 31 is comparively intact but

compartment 33 is being degraded due to logging. Compartments 32 and 40 are around 90%

degraded.

Site C1

Site C1 is in compartment 19 which has been completely encroched for paddy farming. In someareas, mangroves have been cleared with earthen bunds created for iniaon of paddy farming.

Site C2

Site C2 is in compartment 25 and the survey area alone contains dense mangroves while other

areas are degraded. In the dense mangroves, 15 species are present, dominated by Ceriops

tagal and Aegialis rotandifolia. Compartments 16, 17, 23, 24, 26, 27 are more than 50%

degraded due to logging and bark peeling.

Site D1

Site D1 is in compartment 8 and while the survey area contains dense mangroves; other

areas have been encroached upon for paddy and shrimp farming. Fieen mangrove species

dominated by Ceriops tagaland Aegialis rotandifolia were recorded. Compartments 1, 2, 3,

4, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 have been encroached upon for paddy and shrimp farming. In

parcular, around 50% of compartments 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12 have been encroached upon for

shrimp farming.


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Site D2

Site D2 is in compartment 7 and is a dense mangrove area with 14 mangrove species, dominated

by Ceriops tagaland Aegialis rotandifolia. Compartments 5, 6, 7, 18, 20 and 21 are parally

degraded and in compartment 5 around 40% is encroached for shrimp farming. In compartments

9 and 18 illegal logging is obvious and debarking was prominant in compartment 21.

Site E1

Site E1 is in compartment 48 and covers a dense mangrove area with 18 mangrove species

dominated by Bruguiera gymnorhiza and Rhizophora apiculata. Though the survey area has

dense crown cover, adjacent areas have been severely degraded with only 40% crown cover

remaining. Within compartment 18, larger trees have been felled and bushy secondary

vegetaon accounts for the compartment being included in the dense forest category.

Site E2

Site E2 is in compartment 39 and the survey plot contains a dense patch of mangroves while

other areas are considerably degraded. Eighteen mangrove species dominated by Bruguiera

gymnorhiza, Nypa frucans and Rhizophora mucronata are represented. Compartments 35,

36, 37, 38, 65 are heavily degarded due to logging and bark peeling.

5.2 General forest structure in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest

The mangrove forests of Wunbaik are undergoing connual change, proceeding through a series of

successional stages of diering species composion. The ground beneath the mangroves is seldom

blanketed with detritus due to the ooding and ushing of des. In places where the dal ushing

is meagre, there is greater accumulaon of detritus such as decaying leaves, twigs, fallen trees,

animal scat and moss. In general the oor is spread with mangrove pneumatophores, knee roots,

planks and prop roots (Figure 15). Numerous species of ora and fauna subsist on the detritus and

thereby support the recycling of organic maer.

The herb layer in the mangroves is dominated by shade tolerant, so-stemmed species, generally

herbaceous plants such as colonising salt tolerant grasses (Figure 16), mangrove associated ferns

such as Acroschum spp., and others such as Sesuvium sp. Above the herb layer, a shrub layer

includes woody species such as Acanthus sp.,Aegiceras sp., Dalbergia sp.

The under storey comprises immature trees including Aegialis sp., Aegiceras sp., Ceriops sp.,

Kandelia sp., Rhizophora spp., and other small trees (Figure 17). In canopy gaps, these species

generally grow to ll the space and may also act as colonizers in open and degraded areas of the

forest.


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Figure 15. Mangrove oor of Wunbaik Reserved Forest


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Figure 16. Herb and shrub layers in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest


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Figure 17. The under storey in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest


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The major canopy includes species such as Rhizophora mucronata,R. apiculata, Soneraa apetella

and S. alba in the mature stands and Ceriops tagal, Aegialis rotundifolia, Aegiceras corniculatum

in secondary formaons where the crowns meet and form a thick layer (Figure 18).

In some areas Soneraa apetella,Avicennia alba, Heriera spp and Bruguiera parviora crowns

grow as emergent vegetaon, reaching heights greater than the surrounding canopy (Figure 19).

Mangrove species informaon from the eld assessment was used to idenfy corresponding

colour bands on 2011 satellite imagery and delineate areas of dominant or single species stand in

the reserved forest. (Figure 20)

Tree densies in Wunbaik are generally between 1648 and 15 864 stems per hectare. The densest

populaons were found in areas where the species such as Ceriops tagal, Aegialis rotundifolia and

Aegiceros corniculatum colonized as mono-generic formaons. Such formaons are especially

common in areas disturbed by anthropogenic pressures or where mangroves are primary colonizers

(Figure 21 and Figure 22).

Diameter at breast height (DBH) was measured for major species with DBH above 6cm. Trees with

DBH above 50cm include Soneraa apetala, Xylocarpus spp, Soneraa alba, Bruguiera cylindrica,

Rhizophora apiculata followed by Soneraa grithii, Avicennia alba and Avicennia ocinalis

with DBH above 40cm and Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Bruguiera parviora, Rhizophora mucronata,Heriera formes, Ceriops tagal and Aegiceros corniculatum with DBH below 40cm. The DBH range

of dominant species in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest is shown in Table as below:

Table 6: Maximum diameter at breast height (DBH) for major species found in Wunbaik Reserved

Mangrove Forest

Species Maximum DBH

Rhizophora mucronata 36

Rhizophora apiculata 51

Avicennia ocinalis 43

Avicennia alba 44

Ceriops tagal 26

Heriera formes 34

Bruguiera gymnorhiza 37

Bruguiera parviora 36

Bruguiera cylindrica 53

Xylocarpus spp 61

Soneraa alba 58

Soneraa grithii 47

Soneraa apetala 72Aegiceros corniculatum 20


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Figure 18. The major canopy in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest


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Figure 19. Emergent vegetaon in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest


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Figure 20. Mangrove species composion in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest


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Figure 21. Monogeneric vegetaon in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest


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Figure 22. Relave frequency and dominance of mangrove species in Wunbaik Reserved

Mangrove Forest


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With respect to crown size, Soneraa alba have the largest canopies of up to 15m diameter while

Rhizophora mucronata are up to 10m, Rhizophora apiculata up to 8m, Bruguiera spp.up to 7m,

Xylocarpus spp.up to 5m, Avicennia ocianalis up to 5m, Heriera spp. up to 5m, Ceriops tagalup

to 5m.

5.3Forest recovery capacity

The capacity of Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest to recover from degradaon is extremely

good where the natural hydrology remains intact. Areas, in which the hydrology has been altered,

however, suer connued degradaon. Mangroves seed producon is abundant and seedlings

germinaon rates are high where the microclimac condions are appropriate (Table 8).

Table 7: Species wise seed producon in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest

Species Tree height (m) Canopy diameter (m)

Approximate seed

producon

per tree per season

Rhizophora mucronata 10 5 4 822

Rhizophora apiculata 7 5 4 273

Avicennia ocinalis 6 5 184 536

Avicennia alba 5 3 152 341

Ceriops tagal 5 3 2 011Heriera formes 5 3 1 522

Bruguiera gymnorhiza 5 5 6 501

Bruguiera parviora 5 3 3 032

Bruguiera cylindrica 5 3 4 504

Xylocarpus spp 6 5 209

Soneraa alba 5 5 18 021

Soneraa grithii 5 3 15 032

Soneraa apetala 10 8 20 041Aegiceros corniculatum 5 3 150 112

Aegialis rotandifolia 3 2 10 032

In many areas the rao of seedlings reaching the recruitment stage is high. The number of recruits

reaching the tree stage has, however, been reduced by cung and encroachment. Survey data

shows that the density of seedlings below 1 m in height reached 123 per square meter, while for

seedlings below 2 m densies reached a maximum of 7 per square meter and for seedling above 3

m in height there were up to 9 per square meter. The greater number of seedlings between 2-3 m

resulted from dense formaons ofCeriops taga,Aegiceros corniculatum andAegialis rotandifolia.Figure 23 shows the density of seedlings in the survey sites.


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Seedling density in survey sites : seedling height below 1 m

Seedling density in survey sites : seedling height below 2 m

Recruit stage plant density in survey sites : plant height below 3m

Figure 23. Density of seedlings in the eld survey sites in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest


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The Forest Department Working Plan 1958-70 states that yield from Wunbaik mangroves is 1.68

tons per acre per annum from annual coupes covering 33 280 acres. Producon was, however,

xed conservavely at 50 000 per tons per annum. In Ayeyarwady Delta, where an average density

of 11.7 trees per acre of above 2 inches diameter was recorded, yields were esmated at 4.42 tons

per acre. In the mangroves of Rakhine State, yields were lower due to tree densies of only 9.5

trees per acre.

Currently,the tree class composion in Wunbaik follows an unhealthy declining exponenal curve

rather than the bell shaped curve expected for a healthy forest. In all survey sites except E2, the

curves decline and exhibit dominance of size classes below 6 cm. In site E2 there are a considerable

number of mature trees ofRhizophora mucronata, Rhizophora apiculata, Xylocarpus granatum,

Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Bruguiera parviora, Ceriops tagalandAegiceros corniculatum. Figure 24

shows the size class distribuon across all survey sites in Wunbaik.

There are 84 compartments in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest. As per the 0.5 meter

panchromac (black and white) and 1.65 meter mulspectral resoluon GeoEye-1 , the protecon,

conservaon and management of Wunbaik mangroves is severely threatened. For example, there

is no single compartment that can be categorized as dense mangrove vegetaon, or undegraded;

all compartments have either been encroached upon or are degraded. Of 84 compartments, 33

compartments (39%) are highly degraded, 13 compartments (16 %) are parally degraded and 38

compartments (45 %) are exclusively under farming or have been encroached upon (Figure 25).

Full mangrove recovery will only be possible if all human acvies cease or are signicantly curtailed.

If roune encroachment prevails there will be no healthy mangroves remaining in Wunbaik in

10-15 years, similar to the current situaon in Ayeyarwady delta. Eradicaon of mangroves from

Wunbaik would expose Rakhine and its inhabitants to coastal disasters including annual cyclones

and storms, monsoonal ooding and possible tsunamis.

If the decision is taken to aid mangrove recovery, the appropriate soluon is to allow NATURALRECOVERY. Gardening approach of planng seedlings raised in nurseries may not serve in

restoraon of degraded mangroves in Wunabik, ecological restoraon is the raonal approach.

Some facilitaon may be required by demolishing embankments, bunds and creek blockages to

restore the natural hydrology. The me required for natural recovery is likely to be in the order of

5 to 10 years.


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Survery Site A1 Survery Site A2

Survery Site B1 Survery Site B2

Survery Site C1 Survery Site C2

Survery Site D1 Survery Site D2

Survery Site E1 Survery Site E2

Figure 24. Tree size class distribuon in the survey sites in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest


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Figure 25. Compartment wise mangrove degradaon and encroachment in Wunbaik Reserved

Mangrove Forest


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6. Mangrove management module of project TCP-MYA-3204

6.1 Baseline data assessment

Scienc and parcipatory assessments were carried out to assess biodiversity, forest ulisaon

paerns, change in mangrove cover since 1900, alternave livelihood opons for Wunbaik

users and alternave opons for mangrove usage. Floral and sheries diversity of Wunbaik was

documented in books entled The Mangrove Vegetaon of Wunbaik Reserved Forest and The

Fishery Resources of Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest (Figure 26). Parcipatory assessments

were conducted in the villages in the Wunbaik area and reports produced on their socio-economic

situaon and possible livelihood prototypes that could be adopted.

6.2 Awareness, training and skill development

Training courses covering many subjects were held by the project: forest surveying, mangrove

species idencaon, mapping, remote sensing and GIS, sheries management, rapid assessment

of mangrove vegetaon and forest structure, teak nursery management, parcipatory forest

management, community forestry, tree graing and hybridizaon, triple and double rack home

gardening, mber and fuel species tree nursery development, plantaon management, forest

management plans and monitoring, community organizaon and management, product markeng

and Ecological Mangrove Restoraon (EMR). Parcipatory management skill development

programs were also run, covering topics including: awareness on linkages between livelihoods

and mangrove conservaon, management of Wunbaik mangroves, mangrove awareness for

the user communies and management of Wunbaik sheries Resources. In addion, training

in entrepreneurship skill development training was provided to mangrove dependent local

communies and line departments on fuel ecient stoves and hygienic drier construcon and

commercial graed seedling producon (Figure 27).

6.3 Livelihood support opons

7.3.1 Commercial community nurseries and market linkages

Two commercial community nurseries of 18 x 12 m were set up in Letpan and Yantheshe villages.

The gender composion of the management commiee is 7:3 women to men and the women lead

nursery management and linking with markets. The nursery acvies form an alternave income

source for the community groups and villagers (Figure 28).


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Figure 26(i). Mangrove vegetaon in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest


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Figure 26(ii). Fishery resources in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest


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Figure 27. Awareness and skill development programs in Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest


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Figure 28. Commercial community nursery and the management commiee

from the beneciary village


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6.3.2 Fuel ecient stove producon

Following training conducted by the project, the community management groups and many

individual women are producing fuel ecient stoves in a variety of sizes to suit dierent family sizes,

and selling them in local markets. The moulds used for construcon of the stoves were provided bythe project. As stove producon was found to be economically benecial for involved womenfolk, a

producon unit 3 x 12 m was established, adjacent to the community nursery to enable women to

gather in one place to produce, store and market products. The cost of stove producon is solely in

terms of labour requirements as raw material is available free of charge in the area. A single stove

unit is sold for 1500 kyats (nearly US$ 2) in local markets and 2000 kyats (nearly US$ 2.5) in Yambye

market. The stoves reduce daily fuel wood usage by 40 percent (Figure 29).

6.3.3 Village pond restoraon

Water is in high demand in the villages during summer. To help supply the village plantaons and

gardens, which provide an important alternave income source for Wunbaik communies, the

project supported restoraon of the fresh water ponds in Letpan and Yantheshe villages (Figure

30).

6.3.4 Double rack backyard vegetable garden

To support the landless and those with limited income and land holdings, triple rack home gardens

were introduced and were well accepted by community members. Because of their greater

portability villagers preferred double racks and the triple rack model was therefore redesigned as

Double Rack Backyard Vegetable Garden. Around 40 families in Letpan village and 30 families in

Yantheshe village now own Double Rack Backyard Vegetable Gardens which provide considerable

income: monthly benets from each unit are esmated at 15000-20000 Kyats (nearly US $ 25)

(Figure 31)

6.4 Mangrove ulity migaon

6.4.1 Fuel and mber tree plantaons

The dependency on mangroves for fuel and mber is high in the Wunbaik area and to reduce

demand and help conserve the mangrove resources, terrestrial trees were planted in the villages to

yield fuel and, preferably, mber (Figure 32). The community groups manage the tree plantaons

but in some cases the project also supported tree planng in private lands under the agreement

that benets would be shared 75:25 between the land owner and the community. The village

heads, community management groups and the land owners have signed wrien agreements in

relaon to benet sharing.


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Figure 29. Fuel ecient stove producon at the beneciary village


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Figure 30. Pond restoraon acvies at the beneciary villages


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Figure 31. Double Rack Backyard Vegetable Garden in the beneciary villages


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Figure 32. Alternave fuel and mber plantaon in the beneciary villages


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6.4.2 Alternave bio-energy opons

The major cause of mangrove degradaon in Wunbaik has been collecon of wood for energy

producon both for local communies and for the country as a whole. Establishing alternave

energy sources for cooking, heang and lighng in Myanmar is a key challenge. Myanmar has oil

and gas reserves but the extent to which these resources will be consumed and shared, if at all, at

the naonal level remains unclear. As a result, there is no clear alternave and although ecient

stoves make a dierence, pressure on mangroves is likely to remain and considerable eort will be

needed to prevent further degradaon.

To help address the high demand on mangrove resources for energy producon, a study on the

feasibility of establishing a gas producon system based on rice husks and providing gas through

pipelines to Letpan village was carried out (Figure 33). The costs of equipment for conversion and

laying pipelines were assessed but due to fund constraints, the project was not able to connue

with the strategy of alternave energy provision to migate mangrove wood cung for fuel.

6.5 Mangrove management schemes and demonstraons

Various eorts were made by the project to assist management of mangrove in the Wunbaik area

including registraon of a community forest, demonstraon of Ecological Mangrove Restoraon

(EMR) and establishment of a Wunbaik users register.

6.5.1 Community forestry

As Wunbaik mangroves are in a reserved forest area that is distant from most selements in the

district, community management is not considered appropriate. In spite of this fact, a community

forestry demonstraon site was iniated in Hlang Kuang, which is situated in Mingyaung Public

Protected Forest, adjacent to Wunbaik, where the Forest Department allowed around 23 families

to sele. The status of mangroves near the selement is very poor and most mangrove areas havebeen converted to paddy farming (Figure 34). An area of 25 acres including degraded mangrove

areas has nonetheless been registered with the Forest Department as a community forest. The

community forest management commiee will iniate re-greening of the degraded forest area and

also protect the mangroves from further encroachment (Figure 35).

6.5.2 Ecological Mangrove Restoraon (EMR)

The area in Wunbaik in which mangroves have been cleared or are highly degraded amounts to 24

352 acres or 43 % of the total reserved mangrove forest. Restoraon of the ecosystem is unlikely

to be possible through direct planng of mangroves in such highly degraded areas and on such a


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large scale. Ecological Mangrove Restoraon (EMR) can, however, achieve excellent results in such

circumstances by facilitang return of natural hydrological paerns though removal of disrupve

factors while addressing the reasons for damage done in the past.

Figure 33. Stove fueled by gas generated from rice husk


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Figure 34. Mangrove area converted for paddy in Mingyaung Public Protected Forest,

near Hlang Kuang selement area


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Figure 35. Map showing the 25 acres registered as a community forest near Hlang Kuangselement in Mingyaung Public Protected Forest


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The Ecological Mangrove Restoraon (EMR) technique was used by the project to restore 4 acres

of abandoned paddy elds that were previously covered with mangroves in an area adjacent

to Hlang Kuang selement (Figure 36). The restoraon work principally involved facilitang the

natural hydrology with lile need for re-grading of land. There was no need for a mangrove nurseryor for planng of mangrove seedlings given the abundance of seedlings in the local waterways. The

natural regeneraon process assists long-term survival and replenishment of the forest ecosystem

by avoiding mistakes that are commonly made in selecng mangrove species for dierent heights

in the dal range.

Abandoned degraded areas of land in the Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest require similar

acon to restore the mangrove vegetaon as detailed in the Integrated Mangrove Management

Plan.

6.5.3 Wunbaik user register

Use of Wunbaik mangroves for acvies including paddy or shrimp farming and commercial

exploitaon of trees and shery resources is illegal. A Wunbaik User Register is suggested as a

means for the Forest Department to monitor and manage acvies in Wunbaik Reserved Forest.

All users, regardless of their intended mode of ulizaon should register to facilitate systemac

management of the area and to enable livelihood support to be provided as appropriate. As per

the Reserved Forest law, the Forest Department is not obliged to compensate the trespassing

pares. Indeed, as trespassers are in contravenon of the law, a penalty would more commonly be

applied. Line departments are, however, encouraging communies to encroach into the reserved

forest and are calling upon the local administraon to seek areas outside the reserved forest

for trespassing paddy and shrimp farmers to move to. The Forest Department is supporng the

process by idenfying lands outside the reserved forest boundary for the trespassers. To receive

the opon of moving to a new area, it is recommended that the details of all farmers are added to

the Wunbaik User Register. A preliminary Wunbaik User Register was developed during the project

period, which should be extended to all villages surrounding Wunbaik and to villagers entering

Wunbaik for resource extracon (Annex 4).


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Figure 36(i). Ecological Mangrove Restoraon (EMR) training.


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Figure 36(i). Ecological Mangrove Restoraon (EMR) demonstraon in four acres.


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7. Guidelines for Wunbaik Reserved Mangrove Forest management

Wunbaik Reserved Forest is one of the last great areas of mangroves in Myanmar and in all

Southeast Asia. The area has an extremely high potenal producvity in terms of both forestand sheries resources and provides a home for a wide range of fauna and ora. The forest also

provides storm and cyclone protecon and exhibits high levels of carbon storage and sequestraon.

Through careful management, the Wunbaik Reserved Forest can become more producve in terms

of wood and non-wood forest products, including sheries resources, and ecosystem services

including biodiversity conservaon and climate change migaon. In conserving and improving

the management of the area, local level benets for current and future generaons will also be

increased.

To respond to current issues and address demands in a sustainable and equitable way, much more

acve forms of management are required than are currently being implemented. Greater aenon

to sustainable management of the natural resources in the reserve area will benet both current

and future generaons and will also provide a model for eecve management of other mangrove

areas in Myanmar and the region as a whole.

To improve sustainable management of natural resources in and around the reserve, rights and

responsibilies must be distributed amongst stakeholders such that incenves are provided to

oset tendencies for short-term degradaon. For this an enabling regulatory environment and

eecve law enforcement and governance are necessary. As such, the Forest, Fisheries and Land

Planning Departments as key partners in managing the reserved forest must act in coordinaon

and in partnership with the local communies. To support collaboraon between agencies and

communies, instuonal strengthening at the local level will be parcularly important.

With respect to management and technical maers, educaon and awareness raising amongst

stakeholders at all levels is essenal, especially in relaon to the importance of mangrove forests and

the technical measures necessary to raise the eciency with which producon and conservaonobjecves are achieved. Alternave livelihood opons and income generang acvies for

local communies must also be provided in addion to training on forest and sheries resource

management.

The following secons address the issues summarised in Secon 2 and provide a set of measures

necessary to sustainably manage Wunbaik Reserved Forest for the producon of wood and

non-wood forest products and conservaon of natural resource for the benet of surrounding

communies and future generaons. The measures recommended have been derived fromcommunity level visits surveys and discussions, eld level implementaon of pilot level acvies,

naonal and local level consultaons and expert input.


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7.1 Agree on a policy for future management of Wunbaik Reserved Forest

A key area for discussion and consultaon during the project implementaon period was the issue

of encroached land within the Wunbaik Reserved Forest. Table 3 shows that approximately 5 644

hectares (13 947 acres) of land have been encroached upon for paddy and shrimp farming. Secon

1.4 outlines current legislaon governing reserved forests and the lack of provision for encroached

land within reserved forests.

In managing the reserved forest, a key decision therefore concerns the future use of areas of

encroached land. According to the forest law, agricultural and aquaculture land uses should not

be present within the reserve area and because of the isolaon of the farmed areas and need for

families to relocate during the growing season, alternave land closer to communies permanent

dwellings is preferred by many farmers and stakeholders as recorded during the IMMP consultaon

in Yambye (see Annex 7).

I

Documents

Deiva Oswin Stanley, 2011. The Atlas and Guidelines for Mangrove Management in Wunbaik Reserved Forest, Myanmar