Decreasing of Mangrove forests in Arakan coastal region

Mangrove forest is life of Arakan coastal ecosystem in western of Burma. There are 414477.86 acres of mangrove forests in Arakan. A mangrove forest is third biggest forest in Arakan state. At the present, mangrove forests are decreased by shrimp farming production and firewood production for urban population. One of main reason is shrimp farming production it's made to deforest to mangrove trees in Arakan.

The traditional shrimp farming culture system is popular in Arakan. There was dominated by 97% of culture area. Shrimp farming system in Arakan state used huge area of mangrove forests. The shrimp farming were cut down a lot of mangrove trees in Myebon Township in Arakan state.

Most of people are interested to do shrimp farming production. They have been built the ponds in the mangrove forests area in Arakan it was increasing rapidly. According to local shrimp farmer estimate that the shrimp farming area in Arakan is 160,000 acres in 2004-2005. The government limited 120,000 acres for shrimp farming production when the government started to policy of shrimp farming in Arakan since 1994-95. The government couldn't control to increasing of shrimp farming.

Myebon Township in Arakan has been covered by shrimp farming to mangrove forests with 14000 acres. Decreasing of mangrove forests is negative impact on mangrove ecosystem and livelihood of local people because there are depending on the mangrove forests.

In Myebon township majority local people are farmers and fishermen. They depend on mangrove forests and creek and rivers for their survival. 8300 acres of farmland area are changed by shrimp ponds illegally. There is big problem between shrimp farmers and agricultural farmers for using land. If shrimp farmers argued for land using with farmers, army or authorities of township level keep the ponds or farmlands by force. There is one of example in Myebon Township.

By Khaing Win Shwe