Problem overview:

     Awareness and visions: Both natural and man-made events cause the land degradation in Myanmar, particularly the dry zone. In order to prevent desertification and drought in the future, Myanmar has established a supporting mechanism that enable to create green environment and to encounter desertification in the country. It is mainly undertaken by the Government with its own limited resources, which is, the purpose of "Greening the Dry Zone".

     Policies and measures: The most significant efforts by the government on preventing land degradation and combating desertification in recent years is the rural area development programme envisaged in the current Third Short-Term Five-Year Plan (2001-2002 to 2005-2006) which includes - Ensuring smooth transport; Supplying sufficient water; Promoting education; Enhancing health care; Ensuring economic development.

Background in summary:

     Dry zone in Myanmar: As a result of increased population, shifting cultivation, fuelwood extraction and other human activities, very little of original natural vegetation remains and a degraded form of trees were found in many places in Myanmar. The absence of forest cover on the watersheds pose risks of severe floods.

     According to the rainfall pattern the Dry Zone has an area of about 21,000 square miles (54,390 square kilometers) or about 10 per cent of the country. It comprises Lower Sagaing, Mandalay and Magway Divisions, where about 34% of the total population live. Poorer farm families and agricultural labourers supplement their incomes by cutting fuelwood or making jaggery which contributed to overexploitation of forest resources and deforestation.

     Greening Project for the dry zone: As a part of the government's effort to prevent land degradation and to combat desertification, in 1994 the Ministry of Forestry (MOF) launched a 3-year "Greening Project for the Nine Critical Districts" of Sagaing, Magway and Mandalay Divisions in the Dry Zone. It was later extended to 13 districts with the creation of new department, the Dry Zone Greening Department (DZGD) in 1997.

     International cooperation: UNDP/FAO project entitled "Environmentally Sustainable Food Security and Micro-income Opportunities in the Dry Zone" has been successfully implemented in the three townships of the Dry Zone namely, Chaung-U, Magway and Kyaukpadaung townships with community participation.

     Institutional measures: The National Commission for Environmental Affairs (NCEA) was established in February 1990 to act as the focal point for environmental affairs. It is the National Coordinating Body (NCB) for implementing the United Nations Convention to Desertification (UNCCD). DZGD together with various line ministries and departments act as the principle agencies for implementing UNCCD.

     Implemented activities by DZGD:

• Establishment of forest plantation
  
  
• Promotion and distribution of fuel briquette
  
  
• Utilization of agriculture residues
  
  

     National budget allocation : Annual budget of DZGD has increased from 181.064 million kyats in 1997-98 to 544.860 in 2001-02.

     Dry zone water supply programmes:

     Water Supply Works: From the 1997-1998 to 2001-2002, the department had been able to construct 702 ponds, 26 tube wells and 429 check dams in Sagaing, Magway and Mandalay Divisions.

     Drinking Water Supply: To address the problem of the shortage of drinking water supply, the Water Resources Utilization Department has installed the drinking water supply facilities in Sagaing, Magway and Mandalay Division till late 2000 to promote the socio-economic status of rural communities.

     Irrigation Water Supply: The Irrigation Department has been implementing the construction of new dams, weirs and flood protection works showing Government's committed priority to agriculture and rural development.

     River Pumping Irrigation: Water Resources Utilization Department has been implementing pump irrigation water supply programmme using high discharge capacity pumps since 1995. A tangible achievement of irrigating 153266 acres of croplands from 162 river pumping stations has been recorded by the end of 2001 in this region.

     Groundwater Irrigation: The deep tube wells and irrigation water supply facilities have also been installed in places where the groundwater potential has existing access for exploitation and worthy for commercial production. These have benefited 71553 acres of croplands to date.

     Sustainable Management:

     Natural regeneration method: During 2001-2002, 20,000 acres were regenerated. It is scheduled to implement natural regeneration method on 20,000 acres in 2002-2003, 20,000 acres in 2003-2004, 20,000 acres in 2004-2005 and 20,000 acres in 2005-2006.

     Promotion of Fuel wood Substitute Utilization: Total number of efficient stoves scheduled to be distributed from 2001-2002 to 2005-2006 will be 15,0000.

     Development of Water Resources: It is scheduled to construct about 700 ponds, 680 small check dams and dig 40 artesian wells from the year 2002-2003 to 2005-2006.

     Monitoring System: Environmental monitoring of the Dry Zone has been done by the Remote Sensing and GIS Section of Forest Department. Deforestation rates for Myanmar have been compiled by the Forest Department.

Peer Review Committee Good practice rating: (1 for the best, 5 for the lowest score)
Sustainability		Efficiency
3	Improvement in either the environment of economic condition with no harm to the other.	3	Cost efficient.
3	Sustainable over time (not one-off)	Process
Adaptability		2	Participation of the community
3	Location adaptability (can the project be done in other places?)	2	Participation of resource owners/users
3	Socio-cultural adaptability.	2	Partnerships between various actors (Governments, NGO, Academia, Private)
2	Level of development adaptability.	1	Degree of coordination and cooperation between government departments.
3	Style of government adaptability.	2	Ability to attract political interest/support
2	Degree of decentralization adaptability.	2	Procedures for feedback and review.
Comments on this example:      Study on deforestation rate for the Dry Zone is yet to be carried out. Scientific studies and monitoring relating to climate change, the degradation of water quality and quantity, the degradation of arable soils is yet to be undertaken.      In order to reduce the impact of desertification on the dry zone, Myanmar is aiming at reducing its dependency on fuel wood and switching to other alternate energy sources. The Government increases the usage of alternate energy sources and energy efficient stoves for cooking which is believed to leave the dry zone greener in the future. Sustainability of the project:   Adaptability of the project to other situations:   Process of decision making and implementation:      Although there are not yet concrete evidence statistics to prove the benefit from this greening mission, it could be visually surveyed and also observed from the local people that especially Magway division becomes greener and improving in climate and rainfall. Cost efficiency: