Burmese Forests Vanishing

The pressure on forests in southeast Asia is increasing as a Western lifestyle is adopted and the demand for consumer goods and wood-frame houses increases. Particularly devastating is the condition of forests in Burma (Myanmar). As the current military government is shunned by most international trading partners, Burma only attracts foreign dollars by selling off its natural resources to its neighbours.

To learn more:

Burmese forests vanishing via The Guardian
Global Witness - The Uncertain Future of Burmese Forests - the report that The Guardian used to create their story. It contains a detailed analysis of the socio-politico-economical issues in the region which has led to the high rate of deforestation.

Peter Wharton, Curator of the David C. Lam Asian Garden and plant explorer, has "botanized" only a few miles from the Chinese-Burmese border. He has written an account of this expedition in Davidsonia: Botanical Exploration on the Yunnan-Myanmar (Burma) Border.

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 9:17 PM on October 26, 2003