regional wood energy development programme in asia ... - CES (IISc)

In order to prevent further forest degradation and soil erosion, the Forest Department has
introduced a selective system for fuelwood extraction. They have drawn up a list of fuelwood
species in order of suitability. When a permit is issued for fuelwood extraction they mark these
species for felling within the overall limit set for a particular area. Within the study area 23 species,
shown in Annex 1, have so far been listed for use as fuelwood. The species, most preferred by
traders and consumers, in descending order, are: than, dahat, kyun-gauk-nwe (Vitex limonifolia),
bebya (Crotoxylon neriifolium), zibyu (Emblica officinalis), thitni (Amoora rohitaka), te (Diospros
burmanica), gyo (Schleichera oleosa) and pyaukseik (Holoptelea integrifolia). The preference is
not only based on heating and combustion characteristics, but on other factors such as emitting
little or no smoke, ease of ignition, ease of splitting, good yield when converted to charcoal, etc.
Besides fuelwood from the forests, a considerable amount is derived from the dry zone itself
in the form of stems, branches, uprooted stumps, etc. The mesquite tree (Prosorpis juliflora) which
was introduced around 1950 with the objective of rapidly providing a ground cover and a source
of fuel, has now become very pervasive on most lands. Although harmful with prickly thorns, it is
increasingly used in evaporated milk production units, pottery production, jaggery boiling and yarn
dyeing.
3.2 Bamboo
Figure 3.2 Bamboo gathering by young people, many of them women
Out of the 75 species of bamboos found in Myanmar, the species most widely used in the
study area is hmyin (Dendrocalmus strictus). Yupadaung, Yinmabin and Yebokson reserves
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