Abstract of the research this presentation refers to: Swidden agriculture, especially in the Southeast Asian region, is rapidly being transformed and is undergoing a transition into other types of land use. One of the significant factors involved in the demise of swidden agriculture is out-migration. This study was conducted in Southern Chin State, Myanmar, to assess the effects of out-migration on the swidden landscape in terms of household income of swiddeners and the biomass of swidden fallow forests. Within the past decade (2003-2013), the number of swidden-cultivating households has decreased by 50% in the studied village, because 20% of the total population has out-migrated for employment opportunities. Consequently, the area of swidden agriculture has decreased. Biomass accumulation in the fallow forests increased from 4.24 Mgha-1 in 1-year-old fallows to 38.65 Mgha-1 in 9-year-old fallows. As the area of fallow forests got increased, total biomass accumulation increased accordingly. Also, despite there being various income-generating sources in the village, remittances from out-migrated family members contribute large amounts to total household incomes. As a preliminary assessment, the out-migration of swiddeners has resulted in the transformation of the swidden landscape from large contributions of remittances to total household incomes and increases in the biomass of swidden fallow forests. This study will contribute to the formulation of a REDD+ program in swidden areas at the local level. This presentation was given by Nyein Chan and Takeda Shinya at the IUFRO conference in Beijing, China that was held from October 24-27, 2016.

4. Swidden
A land use system, widely used by
ethnic groups in SE Asia, that employs
a natural or improved fallow phase,
which is longer than the cultivation
phase of annual crops, sufficiently
long to be dominated by woody
vegetation, and cleared by means of
fire (Mertz et al. 2009)
Schematic diagram of traditional swidden system

5. Swidden fallow landscape
A mosaic of forests of different age,
including all complexes of woody
vegetation derived from the clearing
of closed and open forests by swidden
cultivation
(Brown & Lugo 1990; Lanly 1982)
Schematic diagram of traditional swidden system

7. Source: DoP, 2015

9. T village
Established in 1957
Location 21°49´N; 93°28´E
Population 523 (2013); Zotung
Village area (ha) ca. 2657
Livelihood Swidden + Terrace + Others
Vegetation Sub-tropical hill evergreen forest
Elev: (m amsl) 1337
Environmental
factors
Rainfall: c. 1,450 mm;
Temp: 21 ˚C; Soil: Fluvisol

11. 0
10
20
30
40
50
0
20
40
60
80
Area(ha)
Numberofhouseholds
Number of households
Area
Rat outbreak

12. 0
10
20
30
40
50
0
20
40
60
80
Area(ha)
Numberofhouseholds
Number of households
Area
Rat outbreak
Military
camping

13. 413
4
53
16
37
110
In-village India Malaysia USA In-country

14. 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
Animal husbandary
NTFP
Vegetable farming
Home businessLand rental
Hired labor
Remittance

15. 0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
1 3 5 7 9 Old forest
Drybiomass(Mgha-1)
Fallow age (year)
Understory Tree

16. 0
30
60
90
120
150
180
0 50 100 150 200
Drybiomass(Mgha-1)
Fallow age (year)
Old Forest (OF)