Contemporary changes in open water surface area of Lake Inle, Myanmar |
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Authors: | Roy C Sidle Alan D Ziegler John B Vogler |
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Institution: | (1) Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Geohazards Division, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan;(2) Geography Department, University of Hawaii, 2424 Maile Way, 445 Saunders, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA;(3) Program on Environmental Change, Vulnerability and Governance, East-West Center, 1601 East-West Rd, Honolulu, HI 96848, USA |
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Abstract: | From 1935 to 2000, the net open water area of Inle Lake in Central Shan State, Myanmar decreased from 69.10 to 46.69 km2, a loss of 32.4% during this 65-year period. Local beliefs are that losses in lake area have been even greater within the
last 100–200 years. Various activities, including timber removal, shifting agriculture in the uplands by various ethnic groups,
and unsustainable cultivation practices on the low- and mid-level hillslopes around the lake, have been blamed for both historical
and ongoing sedimentation. We take issue with attributing loss of lake area to these activities, and propose instead that
ongoing “in-lake” and “near-lake” agricultural practices are the main sources of contemporary sediment and loss of open water
area. About 93% (i.e., 20.84 km2) of the recent loss in open water area of the lake is due to the development of floating garden agriculture, largely along
the west side of the lake. Direct environmental impacts associated with this practice and with other agriculture activities
within the wetlands and margins of the lake include sedimentation, eutrophication, and pollution. Whilst the sustainability
of hillslope agriculture and past forestry practices can indeed be questioned, a more urgent need is to address these "in-lake"
and "near-lake" practices. |
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Keywords: | Sedimentation Erosion Floating gardens Shifting cultivation Deforestation Tourism |
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