Mapping Shifting Cultivation Fields in a Karen Area of the Bago Mountains, Myanmar

We conducted a field survey in S village, in a Karen Area of the Bago Mountains of Myanmar.Through GPS mapping, interviews, and observation, we examined the present state of shifting cultivation in this area by focusing on the vegetation in fallow lands and fallow period lengths.In , households HHs opened plots for shifting cultiva- tion.The village itself covered an area of ha A.The plots covered ha B, corresponding to an average plot size of ha.In , HHs opened plots for shifting cultivation, with an aggregate area of ha B and an average plot size of ha.In , HHs opened plots for shifting cultivation, with an aggregate area of ha B and an average plot size of ha.In , HHs opened plots for shifting cultivation, with an aggregate area of ha B and an average plot size of ha.In , HHs opened plots for shifting cultivation, with an aggregate area of ha B and an average plot size of ha.Based on these figures, the potential maximum numbers of fallow years were A/B for , A/B for , A/B for , A/B for , and A/B for .During the first fallow year, the land was covered with Chromolaena odoratum, which was replaced by bamboo Bambusa polymorpha and Bambusa tulda over several years.After years, tree species such as Xylia xylocarpa gradually dominated the fallow lands.Despite the potential length of fallow periods, the actual fallow periods were only years in , years in , years in , years in , and years in .This difference may have occurred because lands left fallow for to years become covered with trees and bamboo.These can be easily cleared and provide good burning material for shifting cultivation

Field (mathematics · Production (economics · Shifting cultivation · Variety (cybernetics · Work (physics · Asian Geopolitics and Ethnography · Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies · Southeast Asian Sociopolitical Studies