Research Article
Chaw Chaw Sein, Thaung Naing O
Abstract
In Ayeyarwady region, Pyapon Township, mangroves are unfortunately being degraded and destroyed on a large scale through overexploitation of mangrove products, and through habitat destruction by conversion to other land uses. To sustainably manage the sustainability of mangrove’s services which all can meet the needs of social, environmental, and economical conditions, assessment on the different land use pattern and livelihoods of the local people is necessary. The main objective of this study was to assess the different land use pattern and livelihoods of the local people in the Pyapon Township to sustainably manage the mangrove’s services which can meet the needs of social, environmental and economical conditions. An extensive field survey was performed throughout the study area using Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment. GIS analysis was also carried out in each village using the digital data of Landsat 7 satellite imagery for land use mapping for the year 2014. Simple random sampling with sampling intensity of 50% in War Kon village which has a total of 95 households, 25% in Kanyin Kon village which has 198 households and 50% in Padauk PinSeik which has 49 households, was carried out in order to focus on the different land use pattern and livelihood of local people. This study describes the study area is plagued by Agriculture followed by Mangrove plantation and Fish Pond. The main livelihood patterns of the three villages in the study area are almost the same; community forest plantation, Nipa plantation, home garden, fishery as they have shrimp and fish ponds and fuel-wood collection. For that reasons, awareness raising programs in reforestation, rehabilitation and conservation of the mangrove forests are paramount essential for the local people. At the same time, the technical support of a proper management system based upon ecological knowledge is mandatory in order to secure sustained yield of coastal resources.