Agricultural encroachment and massive volumes of wood to fuel aquaculture operations have led to the depletion of Myanmar’s mangroves, say scientists. Dr Kyaw Tint, chairman of the Mangrove and Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation Network, said that government statistics show that total mangrove forest cover was down to 312,000 hectares in 2010 from 531,000 in 1980. He said excessive wood cutting for fuel, agricultural expansion and the construction of fish and shrimp ponds have encroached on the mangrove forests.
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