Historical State of the Forests
Unfortunately, the coastal mangrove forests of Burma are some of the most degraded or destroyed mangrove systems in the Indian-Pacific Ocean region. Over 250,000 hectares of forests in the Burma region existed in the 1920s, whereas less than 115,000 hectares existed by 2000, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the US. Moreover, overexploitation for timber sales and firewood are causing major degradation of the region. After Cyclone Nargis hit in May of 2008, less than 40,000 hectares of forests remained in the Irrawaddy Delta area (according to the Post Nargis Joint Assessment Report done by the UN, ASEAN, and the Burmese regime). (Post Nargis Joint Assessment Report 2008)
Furthermore, prawn and fish farms, deforestation in central Burma leading to soil erosion and sedimentation of the delta, conversion of mangroves to rice paddies, and over-harvesting of resources like firewood are causing further endangerment. Few places are directly protected, and even protected areas are not safe because of few resources and funding provided for law enforcement agencies to patrol the areas. (WRM 2002)
The destruction that has occurred in recent decades along with the detrimental Cyclone Nargis has heavily damaged the forests. Not only did the cyclone destroy 30% of the forests, causing industries like farming and fishing to struggle, but timber use as an income source has also created problems. (VTA Survey 2008)