Contemporary changes in open water surface area of Lake Inle, Myanmar

Roy C Sidle; A D Ziegler; J B Vogler

doi:10.1007/s11625-006-0020-7

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Contemporary changes in open water surface area of Lake Inle, Myanmar

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Contemporary changes in open water surface area of Lake Inle, Myanmar

Roy C Sidle, A D Ziegler and J B Vogler

Sustainability Science, Vol.2(1), pp.55-65

2007

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-006-0020-7

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Abstract

sedimentation

erosion

floating gardens

shifting cultivation

deforestation

tourism

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. © Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science and Springer 2007.

Details

Title: Contemporary changes in open water surface area of Lake Inle, Myanmar
Authors: Roy C Sidle (Author) - Kyoto University
A D Ziegler (Author) - University of Hawaii, United States
J B Vogler (Author) - East-West Centre, United States
Publication details: Sustainability Science, Vol.2(1), pp.55-65
Publisher: Springer Japan KK
Date published: 2007
DOI: 10.1007/s11625-006-0020-7
ISSN: 1862-4065
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449221902621
Output Type: Journal article

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