.
Ko) and tropical
Toungoo district, starting from the flat area of the
Sittang River (Perrenlohklo) bank and going half-
way up the mountainsides. In this forest teak, iron-
wood (Xylia dolabriformis), Klaw Klay, Ter tree,
and some other species from the Dipterocarp family
grow.
Tropical wet evergreen forest is located in an area
from the middle of the mountainsides into the high
mountains such as Thawthi Koe (Nattaung) and
Pworghaw Koe in the east of Toungoo district, next
to Karenni State. This forest area is colder than the
mixed deciduous forest and is misty in the rainy and
cold season. Trees like teak, ironwood, Klaw Klay,
and Ter do not grow in this area. Durian, a kind of
fruit tree, divides the mixed deciduous forest from
the tropical wet evergreen forest. Durian trees can-
not produce fruit if it is either too hot or too cold, but
is well adjusted to weather conditions on the warm
border of the two forest types.
Reserved forest areas are found in some parts of the
mixed deciduous forest, from the small hills down to
the flat areas near the Sittang River. The use of the
natural resources in this forest is under control of
either the KNU or the SPDC. According to a KNU
commander, there are nine reserved forests in Toun-
and Tonbo (in TantibinTownship), and Pade,
Karenchaung, Gwethe, Mehaw and Thandaung (in
Thandaung Township).
Unreserved forest area, which includes regular rota-
tional farmlands, integrated orchards and indigenous
forests (old growth forest), are supposed to be the
villagers' agricultural land but in reality is also con-
trolled by the political groups. SPDC troops have
seized the villagers land for building their camps
like Beryinaw military camp in Thandaung Town-
ship. Unreserved forest is found in some parts of all
three forest types, from the hillsides to the top of the
mountains.
In 2000, commercial logging was stopped in all re-
served forests except for Mehaw because of the de-
forestation. In 2000, the local Lintho area of
Thandaung Township KNU troops signed a cease-
fire with the SPDC. Now this cease-fire group does
logging in Mehaw reserved forest and sells the logs
to the SPDC timber product enterprise (MTE).
In reserved forests few trees are left, and are still
continuously cut for trade, building materials, and
firewood. Unofficial logging with bullock carts still
persists in reserved forests. Today, some areas of
reserved forest have become flat farmland and tem-
porary cash crop and fruit tree gardens.
In 2002-2003 commercial logging moved to unre-
served forest areas. For example, a commercial log-
ging area not very far from Paletwa SPDC camp is
in the unreserved forest of Thandaung Township.
The SPDC has ordered to clear-cut this area because
a dam will be constructed on the Thaukyegat
(Dayloh) stream just upriver of the Paletwa SPDC
camp.
Toungoo district: Tantibin (Tontertu) and Thandaung (Dawpakkoe). The biggest
river in Toungoo district is the Sittang River, which is close to the Rangoon-
Mandalay railway/auto road that crosses the district. There are many plains
(flatland) along the river up to the bottom of the hills. The hills and streams go up to
the high mountain of Nattaung range. On the peak of Nattaung many Karen fought
with the British against the Japanese attack in the Second World War. The watershed
of Htee Wah Kee, next to Nattaung, is the best indigenous forest in Toungoo district.
Total areas involved: central and southern Toungoo distict (more than 20 villages
visited)
Habitat types: Tropical Wet Evergreen forest in mountainous regions, and Mixed
Deciduous forest in the lowlands.
Wildlife present: Wild pig, deer, 2 species of monkey, gibbon, bear, rabbit, wildcats,
and some tiger. Large birds such as hornbill and peacock, wild chicken, parrot, and
other bird species