Seminars/Symposia:FY 2004
April , 2004
- Special Seminars of CSEAS Visiting Research Fellows
-
- Date & Time：14:00-17:10, April 20 (Tues..), 2004
- Place：E207, East Building of CSEAS
- Coordinator：Isamu Yamada, Professor, CSEAS
- *A get-together is to be held after these seminars at Tonan-Tei (2nd Floor,
North Building of CSEAS).
- Seminar 1 :14:00-15:30
- Topic："A CASE FOR MANGROVE FOREST REHABILITATION"
- Speaker：Dr. Pipat Patanaponpaiboon, CSEAS Visiting Research Fellow
- Abstract：
Mangrove forests are occupied by a unique group of trees or shrubs growing
on the intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical estuaries, creeks where
the salt water reaches. Furthermore, as mangrove forests settle in the
estuaries where abundant sediments accumulate through upstream flows and
daily tides, they act as a nursery for juvenile aquatic animals. This diversity
of animals and the unique vegetation type gives mangrove forests the potential
for ecological tourism, further merit for their conservation. Therefore,
the mangrove forests are recognized as a valuable ecological and economic
resource. In the last few decades, mangrove forests in Southeast Asia have
been exploited by charcoal and timber production, tin mining, coastal industrialization
and urbanization, and coastal aquaculture like shrimp farming, which has
a significant impact on the decreasing forests.
Mangrove rehabilitation or restoration is an effective option that has
been initiated successfully in various destroyed areas of mangrove forest.
However, it is remarkable that the rehabilitation of mangrove forest is
not easy. Previous rehabilitation was mostly carried out by trial-and-error,
and the available information on rehabilitation is mostly available for
Rhizophora. Failed mangrove forest rehabilitation is probably due to inadequate
site assessment or an improper species of mangrove seedlings being planted
in the defined area. The soil elevation and flooding regime should be also
taken into consideration. Although mangrove rehabilitation appears to be
possible, restoring the complexity of animals and microbial components
is still questionable.
To deal with the problem of mangrove forest degradation, increasing public
awareness of the true value of this forest is recommended. At the same
time, the success of the mangrove rehabilitation depends upon closer cooperation
by local communities. It is suggested that an optimal-wide green belt of
mangrove forest along the shorelines should normally be present in a good
condition. The area behind the green belt can be provided for traditional
utilization in a sustainable and environment-friendly manner.
- Coffee Break：15:30-15:40
- Seminar 2：15:40-17:10
- Topics："Sustainable Tropical Forest Management: Myanmar Perspectives"
- Speaker：Dr. Aung Than, CSEAS Visiting Research Fellow
- Abstract：
The Bountiful and Successful Past
The successive development of scientific tropical forest management in
Myanmar in the past 150 years since its birth in 1856 has been recognized
by many and authoritatively by the FAO, in its January 2004 report 'The
State of the World's Forests 2003', the near perfect Myanmar Selection
System (MSS) as successful in managing the country's vast forest resources
on sustainable basis. Today, 52% of the country land area (353,000 km2)
is still covered with protective and roductive tropical forests. The per
capita forest area of Myanmar, 0.8 ha, is moderate compared to the Asian
average of 0.2 ha and Southeast Asian average of 0.5 ha. The nation's foreign
exchange earnings have been topped by the forestry sector for the last
two decades with the peak of as high as 43% of the nation's total in 1986-87.
The internal consumption needs of timber and other forest products of the
people including the subsistence needs of the forest dwellers also have
mostly been met in the past.
The Ugly and Difficult Present
The FAO, despite its optimism, is very concern of the deforestation rate
of Myanmar, which is alarming at 1.4% as indicated by satellite imagery
data on Myanmar forest cover for the last decade of 1990 -2000. It is significantly
high compared to the Asia's average of 0.05% and the world's average of
0.24% and is increasing compared to earlier estimates.
The main culprit of deforestation in Myanmar is truly observed as illegal
logging and over-logging together with the usual agricultural expansion
and shifting cultivation. The situation is rightfully put as the result
of complex political and socio-economic implication during the socialist
era and most significantly during the past two decades.
Despite the difficulties even to look seriously into the true situation
of the tropical forest management dilemma of Myanmar, it must be solved
by hook or by crook if the valuable tropical forests of South-east Asia
are to be preserved on sustainable basis for the sake of not only Myanmar
and her people but also for the people of the region. But How?
Agriculture and Forestry
Agriculture and forestry are in the same fate facing the same dilemma
if it comes to the concern of food security and survival of the people.
And the solution to the forestry problems could only be found outside of
the forests rather than inside. In view of this wisdom, forestry and agriculture
must work together towards the sustainable future.
- International Forum on Statesman or Manager? Image and Reality of Leadership
in SEA in cooperation with CSEAS, Bangkok Liaison Office and the Political
Economy Centre and Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University
-
- Date & Time：13:00-17:00, April 2 (Fri.), 2004
- Place：Chumbhor Pantip Conference Room, 4th Floor Prajadhipuk Rambkai, Barni Buiildig,
Chulalongkorn University
<<< To Archives | ▲Top of This Page
|
