Conservation
Atlas: Landcover
Change Study of MyanmarComprehensive Landcover Change Study of Myanmar
 Satellite
Image of BurmaRollover: Landcover Change (Green: Forest, Red: Deforested) |
Burma (Myanmar) has over half of the remaining closed-canopy forest in mainland Southeast Asia. With a wide range of habitats and ecosystems, it has one of the highest biodiversity values in Asia. The large undisturbed forested patches in Burma are important for the survival of several endangered species including tiger, elephant and Eld’s deer.
Recent reports suggest that deforestation rates in Burma have increased dramatically in recent years. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization released a report in 2001 that suggests Burma is among the 10 Asian countries with the highest tropical deforestation rates. Although these reports are alarming, no detailed landcover change map has ever been produced for the entire country to verify these estimates.
Scientists at the Zoo’s Conservation
and Research Center are using high-resolution satellite
imagery
to map landcover change in Burma. Using Landsat TM and ETM+
imagery from multiple dates (from the 1990s to the current decade), they assessed current landcover and deforestation patterns
in Burma
over the past ten years.
The results of the landcover change
map will provide scientists and policy makers with current
information on the status
of
Burma’s forests and the threats they face. It will
also be used to map remaining habitat for endangered species
such
as the Asian elephant; and to assess the effectiveness of
Burma’s protected area system.
 |
Conservation
Atlas:
Comprehensive Landcover Change Study of Myanmar This map derived from satellite imagery shows current landcover of Myanmar and changes from the past ten years. |
