Single Photo by Chan Nandar 2022

Shifting cultivation practiced by the local communities leads to deforestation in Myanmar

The picture was taken in Myanmar, Shan State (East), Mong Khart Township, Inn Kho Lone Village. Local communities in this area are the Enn Highlander, one of the most traditional ethnic groups and indigenous people. Their villages are generally located on mountain slopes and consist of wood and bamboo stilt houses with shifting cultivation (slash and burn) practiced on hillsides and rice cultivated on any available valley floors for their livelihood. This results in the depletion of the original forest cover, not replaced by a second growth of scrub forest until now.