*** THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW IN BURMA

Environmental conservation and sustainable development issues are the most important needs and a major concerned in Myanmar. The population now is over 56 million. The Military government denounces the country is in position of achieving food sufficiency for as many as 100 million people. Actually, today Myanmar frontier areas and some remote areas severed foods shortages in previous months and certainly a serious imminent famine. Many thousands of people go hungry. The military junta government absent to supports financial assistance and infrastructure to purpose sustainable agricultural development sector.

Myanmar became an independent country in 1948 January 4. Since then the country had been ruled by the military junta government. 30 years of civil war between armies and ethnic tribes. Many families in Myanmar had to flee their home to avoid being conscripted in to the armies. Villagers in the ethnic frontier areas of Myanmar were under extreme pressure because of the war between various militias and government forces.

In the DRY ZONE of Myanmar the supply and quality of water are widely recognized problem in many communities. The villagers suffer from diseases such as diarrhea and intestinal diseases causes by the lack of clean water and poor sanitation. In some areas, the same water source is used for drinking cooking washing clothes and bathing even animals get into the water to drink. Often times collecting water is a time consuming process that children out of school and women of their time better spent learning to read teaching gardening or weaving. Carrying heavy loads of water is an exhausting chore that can even worsen health problems and the lack of water limits families ability to grow vegetables.

In this environment disease is prevalent. Respiratory tract infections are common and malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and diarrhea contribute significantly to high mortality rates.In around frontier areas of Myanmar, Military government prohibited organizing local NGOs as well as strictly concerned working of international INGOs. However, very few of INGOs and under UNDP-CDRT can assist some remote areas. CDRT project operates in southern Shan state the dry zone and Ayeyarwady delta while the project operates in the border state of Rakhine, Chin and Kachin state. The project aims to enhance the capacity of the poor through self help group and community organizations to help their social as well as economic status. Strong emphasis is given to training program such as vocational, skill based, social and educational programs that raise awareness and empower and linking the community organization and self help groups to local support networks.

World Concern and German Agro are working with rural communities in Northern Shan state and Wa regions. Care Myanmar and GRET organization are working with border areas in Chin and Rakhine states to develop sustainable agricultural practices and address basic communities' health issues. They helping built up mini hydro power electricity as well as providing supplies and training for sustainable upland agriculture and agro forestry.