Yangon University of Distance Education Research Journal 2009, Vol. 1, No.

Landscape Changes for Sustainable Development in Yangon City Area

Aye Myint1, Tin Hla2, Khin Mar Yee3, Khine Khine Tun4, Seinn Seinn Min5, Tin Mar Shwe 6. Abstract
The Yangon City started to grow in the time of Myanmar Kings and it became a large city with systematic grid layout under the colonial rule. After independence, it was designated a capital city of the country and it has been the largest city since then. Under the State Law and Order Restoration Council, the area of Yangon City has expanded markedly after 1988; the changes of 9 landscape types in 1983, 1995 and 2005 within 33 townships of Yangon City are analyzed by using Geographic Information System (GIS), aerial photos and maps. The practicable means for the solution of the problems cropped up as the feedback of landscape changes are recommended in the conclusion.

Introduction Yangon city is the largest and the most important for the socioeconomic development of the country and international relation. The gradual expansion of the real extent and the changes of landscape at different period and different parts of the city are to be analyzed from the geographic standpoint. The main objectives of this research are: (a) to assess the changes of urban landscape in Yangon city, (b) to present the rate of change in the past 23 years and the present day, and (c) to provide feasible solution to the problems that accrue from population growth and a real expansions.

1. Professor(Retd),Dr.,Department of Geography, Yangon University of DistanceEducation 2. Lecturer, Department of Geography, Yangon University of Distance Education 3. Assistant Lecturer, Department of Geography, Yangon University of Distance Education 4. Tutor, Department of Geography, Yangon University of Distance Education 5. Tutor, Department of Geography, Yangon University of Distance Education 6. Tutor, Department of Geography, Yangon University of Distance Education

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Location Yangon city is located in the eastern part of the Ayeyarwaddy deltaic region of southern Myanmar. It is flanked by the Haling and Panhlaing rivers in the west and the Bago River in the east all flowing from north to south. The city lies around the crossing point between north latitude it 96 15' and east longitude 96 18', embracing 33 townships out of the 45 townships of Yangon Division Hmawbi and Hlegu townships adjoin the city in the north and northeast, Thanlyin Township in the southeast, Twantay and Htantapin townships in the south and west about 21 miles to the south in the Gulf of Mottama. Areal Expansion of the Town In the early days of Myanmar Kings, Yangon was just a little fishing village. Because of the annual festival of the Shwedagon Pagoda, it gradually grew into small town with the growth of trading activity. On 2.5.1755( Thursday ,the 7th waxing day of kason in 1117 BE) King Alaungphaya annexed the area and changed the name a 'Yangon' in 1852, lower Myanmar was occupied by the British and rebuilt Yangon City systematically with grid system of residential block and road covering from Thanlyetsum in the east and Ahlone in the west. Again in 1922 its area was extended which encompassed Kyeemyindaing, Sanchaung SeikkyiKhanagto Dagon, Bahan, Dalla and Dawbon. The third extension of the city area was undertaken soon after the independence (1948), essentially to the north covering Kamayut Hlaing, Mayangon (Thamaing) and Yankin. In 1959, under the Caretaker Government, three new satellite towns, North Okkalapa, South Okkalapa and Thakayta were established and it was the fourth extension of the city. In 1983, further extension was carried out towards the north and thus Mingaladon and Insein became part of the city in the fifth extension. By that time the area of the city increased to 133.64 square miles. The sixth extension was done in 1989 under the SLORC regime which included the establishment of Dagon Myothit, Hlaingthayyar Myothit and Shwepyitha Myothit. Accordingly the area of the city increased to 262.08 square miles. The seventh extension, undertaken in 2005 was not the establishment of new town, but the extension of the existing Dagon Myothit (South), Dagon Myothit (Seikkan), Dagon Myothit (East) and Hlaingthayar townships, thereby increasing the area of Yangon city to 306.81 square miles.

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The extension of Yangon city in the ancient past has no strong documentary evidence. However, the data available from 1872 to 2005 are presented in Table (1) and Figure (1). The areal extension was 65.91 percent in the 1973-83 period, 96.11 percent in the 1983-1995 period and 17.01 percent in the 1995-2005 period. During the 23-years period from 1983 to 2005 the areal expansion of Yangon city was about two and a half fold. Table (1) The Successive Areal Expansion of Yangon City Source No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Year 1872 1876 1891 1901 1921 1953 1965 1973 1983 1991 1995 2005 Area (Square Miles) 11 13 22 18 33.38 47.57 63.54 80.55 133.64 223.22 262.08 306.81

Source - GIS Forest Department

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Figure 1. The Successive Areal Increase of Yangon City

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The Analysis of Spatial Landscape changes in Yangon City The change in the spatial landscape of Yangon city is analyzed by using the following techniques and information. (1) Land sat 7 ETM (Path-132, Row 048, Jan. 2005). (2) Land sat 5 ETM (Path-132, Row 048, Jan. 1989 and Jan. 1995). (3) 1:21120 scale map of Yangon, printed by Survey Department in 1995. (4) 1:25000 scale panchromatic vertical aerial photograph taken in December, 1982 and January, 1986. (5) The 1983 Yangon City Map (Census 1983, published by Immigration and Manpower Department, 1986). The map of Yangon city for 1983 is employed for the determination of Yangon City boundaries, Yangon City map (1995) and satellite images (2005) for land classification. There are some differences and difficulties in determining the boundaries, as these maps and images are of different types. Thus classification is fundamentally based on annual visual interpretation. To be able to compare the landscapes in the past and present, they are classified into 7 types as follows: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) Residential Area Mangrove Forest Industrial Zone Rural Area Agricultural Area Mixed Deciduous Forest Water Body

The residential area in 1983 is subdivided into three types as well developed area, newly-developed area and developing area, thus increasing the landscape into 9 different types. However, the study area had no industrial zone in 1983 and thus the landscape of that time can be differentiated into only 6 types. Since 2005, the city has had 9 types of landscape.

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(1) The well developed area is filled with residential buildings with corrugated iron sheet roof or tile roof, having no space of vacant land. All the roads and streets are surfaced with concrete or nylon tar. It appears in reddish brown colour on maps. (2) In the newly-developed area, every block was more or less vacant land plots allotted for residential building. It appears in violet blue colour on the maps. (3) The area classified as developing has no buildings although the plan or layout of the town has been materialized. Since it was formerly paddy land and is adjoining with paddy land, they appear the same green colour on satellite images. They can be differentiated only by field surveys. (4) Mangrove forests thrive on the area frequented by tidal water. Lamu together with other tidal forest species grown on swamps and mudflats which appears as brown colour on maps. (5) The industrial zone area appears the same as nearly-developed area in lead colour. Only by field investigation will it be able to differentiate them. (6) The rural area has some vacant lands on which vegetables and flowers are grown. Bamboo poles used as fences can be seen and the land appears in light violet colour on the maps. (7) As aerial photos were taken in January, there remained only stubbles in most fields though other had newly planted saplings. The agriculture land appears in yellow colour on the maps. (8) Mixed deciduous forests occupy the watershed area of Hlawga Reservoir and within Hlawga Garden and they form as the nearest forests for the dweller of Yangon city and appear in dark green colour on the maps. (9) If the water body is clear and deep it can absorb different long waves of solar radiation and thus it appears in black colour on the map. If the water is shallow and muddy it appears in light blue colour.

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Landscape Change within Yangon City (a) The Changes between 1983 and 1995. In 1983 there were only six distinct types of landscape and it increased to 9 types in 1995. The city had no such residential lands as newly- developed area, developing area and industrial zone in 1983 (Figure (2). The 9 types of landscapes in 1995 are presented in Figure (3). These changes are shown in Table (2) and Figure (4). During the period from 1983 to 1995, the increase in well developed area was 16.54 square miles, newly developed area 53.70 square miles, developing area 39.61 square miles and industrial zone area 13.06 square miles. The increase in these land area resulted in the reduction of 7.6 square miles of rural area, 114.17square miles of cultivated land and 1.14 square miles of mixed deciduous forest, totaling 122.91square miles of land involved in the changes. (b) The changes between 1995 and 2005 Since 1995 the study area had 9 types of landscape and thus the change during the period from 1995 to 2005 was minimal (Figure-5). These changes are presented in Table (3) and Figure (6). During that period the newly developed area was increased by 22.35 square miles and industrial zone area by 9.4 square miles, at the expanse of 3.91 square miles of developing area, 2.64 square miles of tidal forest, 1.26 miles of cultivated land and 0.11 square mile of water body. The total area in the increase and decrease of different types of landscape was 31.8 square miles.

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Table 2- Landscapes Changes of Yangon City (1983-85)

Area in Sq Mile 1983 1 4 6 7 8 9 Grand Total Changes
5.349 10.094 1.098 2.032 51.669 0.000364 0.130 39.480

1995 1
60.078 3.228 0.091 12.968 3.928 82.777 0.0411 5.781 28.147 76.618 16.54 53.702 53.70 39.611 39.61 3.228 13.059 13.06 3.928 -7.6 82.818 114.17 5.708 1.14 28.147

Grand Total
60.078 3.228 11.531 196.989 6.847 28.147

122.91

Table 3- Landscapes Changes of Yangon City (1995-2005)

Area in Sq Mile 1995 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Grand Total Changes
0.105 76.622 76.053 22.35 35.699 -3.91 0.587 -2.64 22.457 9.4 2.669 -1.26 58.981 -23.83 5.708 0.00063 0.205 4.021 1.028 15.177

2005 1
76.619 0.003 53.699 18.128 19.390 0.587 2.095 0.091 13.059 0.025 7.188 2.669 56.431 5.708 28.042 28.042 -0.11 2.550

Grand Total
76.619 53.702 36.611 3.228 13.059 3.928 82.818 5.708 28.147 306.82 31.75

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Figure 2. Land Cover Map of Yangon City (1983)

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Figure 3. Land Cover Map of Yangon City (1995)

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Figure 4. Land Cover Changes of Yangon City (1983 to 1995)

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Figure 5. Land Cover Map of Yangon City (2005)

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Figure 6. Land Cover Changes of Yangon City (1995-2005)

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Figure 7. Land Cover Changes of Yangon City (1983-2005)

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(c) The Changes During the period between 1983 and 2005 During this period the changes in the spatial landscape of Yangon City is clearly discernable. These changes are presented in Table (4) and Figure (7). The increase in that period were 16.54 square miles of well developed area, 76.05 square miles of newly developed area, 35.70 square miles of developing land and 22.46 square miles of industrial zones. This resulted in the reduction of 2.64 square miles of tidal forest, 8.86 square miles of rural area, 138.01 square miles of cultivated land, 1.14 square miles of mixed deciduous forest and 0.11 square mile of water body. The total increase and decrease in different land areas was 150.8 square miles each, since the newly emerged landscapes were the results of the conversion of other existing landscape types. The decrease is highest in cultivated land with 91.54 percent of the total change area and the residential land ranks first in the increase with 85.10 percent. Table 4- Landscape Changes of Yangon City (1983-2005)
Area in Sq Mile 1983 1 4 6 7 8 9 Grand Total Changes
5.349 10.098 1.098 2.238 73.815 0.0003 1.159 34.396 0.105 35.699 76.622 16.54 76.053 76.05 35.70 0.587 -2.64 22.457 22.46 2.669 -8.86 58.981 138.01 5.708 -1.14

2005 1
60.078 0.587 0.091 0.116 22.251 2.669 56.429 0.002 5.708 28.042 28.042 -0.11 2.550

Grand Total
60.078 3.228 11.531 196.989 6.847 28.147 306.82 150.75

Source-GIS Section, Forest Department (d) Township wise Landscape Changes Among the 33 townships within the management of YCDC, the changes in landscape are affected only in 16 townships, which occupy mostly the outer rim of the city. On the basis of number of changes, it occurred one time each in Yankin and South Okkalapa townships, two times each in Mayangone, Hlaing and Seikkan townships, 4 times in

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Thakayta Township, 5 times in Dalla Township, 8 times in Dagon Myothit (North), 9 times in Dagaon (Seikkan) Township, 10 times in Dagon (East) township, 12 times in Insein Township, 13 times in North Okalapa Township, 14 times in Hlaingthayar Township and Dagon Myothit (south) townships, 23 times in Mingladon Township 29 times in Shwepyitha Township. Therefore, landscape changes altogether 149 times in city during the 1983-2005 periods. Table (5) Township wise landscape Changes in Yangon City (1983-2005) No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Yankin South Okkalapa Mayangone Hlaing Seikkan Thakayta Dalla Dagon Myothit (North) Dagon Myothit (Seikkan) Dagon Myothit (East) Insein North Okkalapa Hlaing Thayar Dagon Myothit (South) Mingaladon Shwepyitha Total Township Number of Change 1 1 2 2 2 4 5 8 9 10 12 13 14 14 23 29 149

Source GIS Section, Forest Department

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(e) Number of changes in Landscape Type The numbers of changes in landscape type are: (1) 108 times from cultivated land to residential, industrial and rural lands, (2) 25 times from rural land to residential and industrial lands, (3) 9 times from mixed deciduous forest to residential and industrial land, (4) 3 times from tidal forest to residential land, (5) 3 times from water body to residential land. The change occurred 149 times of which 81.34 percent were the conversion of other types of land into residential area (Table 6) Table (6) Numbers of Changes in Landscape Type during the 1983-2005 periods. No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rural land Rural land Rural land Rural land Original landscape Cultivated land Converted landscape well developed land newly developed land developing land industrial zone land rural land well developed land newly developed land developing land industrial zone land Number of Change 22 45 22 19 1 3 11 6 5 9 3 3 149 =25 9 3 3 149 =109 Remarks

Mixed deciduous well developed land forest Tidal forest Water body newly developed land developing land Total

Source GIS Section, Forest Department

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(f) Notable Changes Among the above mentioned landscape changes, it is notable that some areas witnessed first change in the 1983-1995 period and then second change in 2005. Such changes altogether involved 20 times of landscape conversion, 15 times from cultivated land to residential land, 4 times from cultivated land to residential and industrial lands and one time from mixed deciduous forest to cultivated and residential lands. The conversion of cultivated land into industrial land occurred in Insein, Dagon Myothit (South), Shwepyitha and Hlaingthayar. The mixed deciduous forest of Mingaladon Township was converted into residential land. The two consecutive changes occurred in 10 townships, involving 4 places in Shwepyitha, 3 places in Insein, 2 places each in Hlaingthayar, Dagon Myothit (South), North Okkalapa, Mingaladon and Tharkayta, one places each in Dagon Myothit (East), Dagon Myothit (North), Dagon Myothit (Seikkan). These townships occupy the marginal areas of Yangon City. The Basic Causes of Landscape Changes The population growth rate of Myanmar is 2.02 percent. Yangon City which is the primate city of the country had a total population of 2.02 million in 1973, 2.5 millions in 1983, 3.34 millions in 1994 and 4.11 millions in 2003. Thus, the average growth rate in the 20 years period from 1983 to 2003 was 3.22 per annum, much higher than the national average. The rapid growth of population demands more residential land and therefore it is the chief cause of areas expansion and landscape changes. The area of Yangon City increased from 133.64 square miles in 1983 to 306.81 square miles in 2005. Problems Related to the Landscape Changes The expansion of Yangon City is not due to the result of regular urbanization process. Instead, it is attributable to the implementation of the government policy concerned with the structure of Yangon City. Area of the City expanded about two-and-a-half-fold during the 1983-2005 periods, changing its shape from north-south elongation to more compact one. The degree of compactness can be calculated by using the following formula:

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S=

1.27 A L2

S = Compactness A = Area L = Longest axis 1 Square Miles = 2.59 Square Kilometers

For 1983 For 1995 For 2005

S S S

= = =

1.27(133.64 x 2.59) (37.5) 2 1.27(262.08 x 2.59) (41) 2 1.27(306.81 x 2.59) (41) 2

= 0.31 = 0.51 = 0.60

Compactness Compactness Compactness

The result of degree of compactness has increased from 0.13 in 1983 to 0.60 in 2005, compared with 1.0 for the complete compactness. The newly built towns are connected with the well developed area by construction of Bayintnaung Bridge, Aungzaya Bridge and Shwepyitha Bridge over the Hlaing River, North Okkalapa Bridge, South Okklapa Bridge, Thingangyun Bridge, Thanlyin Bridge and Maha Bandula Bridge on the Ngamoeyeik and Pazundaung Creeks. The problems that accompanied by the expansion of urban area are transportation, electricity and water supply and flooding.

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(a) Transportation The difficulty in transportation is manifested by greater burden of daily passenger transport and increased traffic jams. For interurban movement, 80 percent of passengers depend on buses and thus sufficient numbers of buses are necessary for the commuters to get easily to their destination without delay. The number of commuters by buses increased from 296 millions in 1985-86 to 924 millions in 1995-96 and then slightly dropped to 893 millions in 2003-04. The carrying capacity of the registered vehicles in 1985-86 was 64293 and 150815 in 2003-04. This shows that the increase in the carrying capacity of buses cannot catch up the increase in the number of commuters. The traffic jam on the main roads has notably increased in the rush hours. Besides, there are no sufficient parking lots especially in the downtown. To improve the transportation system, not only the necessary bridges have been built, but also new roads running northsouth as Baho Road and east-west trending Parami Road have been constructed systematically. However, many roads in the suburban area are damaged, particularly just before the retreat of monsoon and they need to be repaired. Platforms beside the roads for pedestrians, zebra crossings and overhead bridges are also necessary to be installed for the convenience and safety of the pedestrians. Although the City Development Committee has been persistently solving these problems, these still remains a host of problems. It compared with the number of passengers traveling with buses, that these who use Yangon Circular rail transport and its links to the newly-built towns are much smaller. In 2004-2005, there were only 24.72 millions of passengers that took train for traveling within Yangon City. The Rail Transport Department should introduce mass rapid transit system that can shift a large number of passengers within a short time. The improvement of rail transport also depends largely on right time of arrival and security for safety. (b) Supply of Electricity The use of electricity varies depending on population density and the presence of manufacturing activity. At present about one-third of electricity supplied in Yangon City is consumed by the industrial zones. According to the data available for 1991, only 37 percent of total

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households were accessible to electricity supply. To be able to attract more foreign investment in the economic activities, priority should be given to generate sufficient electricity. Only then will the plants and factories in the industrial zones be able to utilize full installed capacity and all the city dwellers have the opportunity to use electricity. (c) Water Supply The YCDC has estimated that the existing sources and the water supply system can satisfy the water need of the city up to 2008. In practice, water scarcity problem crops up in most townships owing to linkage of pipelines, and undisciplined use of water. As most households of the new towns have no access to the central water supply system, the low-income families have to face acute water shortage problem. More tube-wells should be sunk in such areas to reduce the negative impact of the problem. (d) Flooding Some parts of the City witness flooding every year in the rainy season after long hours of heavy rain. The area along Kannar Road is liable to inundation when the water in the Yangon River overflows its banks at the highest spring-tide period. Sometimes flooding occurs when the spring-tide coincides with incessant heavy rain. Temporary inundation occurs in suburban areas due to a lack of systematic drains or blockage of drains by solid wastes. The new town, Dagon Myothit, Shwepyitha and Hlaingthayar are formerly paddy lands with elevation lower than 20 feet and thick impermeable clay layer and these areas are liable to flooding in the rainy season. As such embankment should be constructed in these townships where it is deemed necessary. (e) Other problems Apart from the problems mentioned above, there are some other problems related to environmental sanitation. The department concerned of the YCDC has to collect a large amount of solid wastes generated from the households daily. The daily disposal of wastes amounted to 800 tons in 1985, 1000 tons in 1992 and increased rapidly to 2179 tons in 2000. The

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shifting of final dumpsites from Ahlone and Tarmway to Hteinpin in Htantapin Township increases the difficulties of carrying the waste matters. The wastes generated as by-products from manufacturing industries are dumped unsystematically, mostly into the nearby creek and rivers, thus polluting the water. Now, there are four sewerage collection system in Yangon City, These are: (1) collection by compressor from the central septic tank (2) collection through centrally controlled septic tank (3) collection by individual septic tank and (4) collection by home toilet Collection of sewerage by means of compressor from the central septic tank has been started since about 100 years ago for 40000 people living in the downtown. The downtown area is now being occupied by 200,000 people and thus the system cannot effectively collect the sewerage. As a result, sewerage is released into the Yangon River from two sites. The second type of sewerage collection is practiced in public housing project areas and the third and fourth types in the remaining townships. Although educative talks on the keeping of fly- free toilet are often carried out, checking is rarely conducted. Necessary and timely measures should be taken on the existing solid waste collection system to become more effective and on the roadside wastes and wastes piles at temporary dumpsites. Conclusion The area of Yangon City has rapidly expanded in the past 20 years by converting the surrounding farmlands into residential and industrial land. The extension is mainly towards the east and west, thus changing the city into a more desirable compact shape. The present area of Yangon City is 306.81 square miles of which 278.78 square miles are land area. If 40 percent of the land is used for urban infrastructures, there still remains 167.27 square miles of land for residential use. It 70 people are placed in one acre of land, 7.49 million

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people can inhabit on the present land area of the City, indicating enough space for the population that may increase in the next several decades. For secure and smooth transport of passengers more city-buses and more trains should be arranged. To reduce the heavy dependence on Central Business District of the downtown, more secondary CBD areas should be created at Myaynigone, Hledan, 8-mile junction, Thamaing junction, Tarmway junction and other suitable areas. Tertiary business centres are also needed in Dagon Myothit, Hlaingthaya and Shwepyithar, so as to alleviate the passenger transport problem. In creating industrial zones, the projects do not include specific clauses relating to prevention of environmental degradation. Most producers fail to follow the instructions included in the project plan. Although town planning may not solve all the urban problems, the socioeconomic imbalance among townships or different parts of the city would be remarkably reduced. Recommendation In order to solve the problem mentioned above, the following practicable suggestions are recommended. (1) To increase the number of city-buses. (2) Branch rail-roads linking with the new towns should be extended. (3) To systemically control the supply of electricity for effective uses. (4) To employ better methods of controlling flood in the low-lying areas. (5) City development taxes should be collected in record with the service offered. (6) To conduct more educative campaigns to improve the attitudes of city dwellers in keeping the disciplines concerned with the development of the city so that people living all over the country can follow. (7) No further areal extension of the city should be undertaken, but to upgrade the infrastructural facilities. (8) Long-term plan should be laid out to protect the environmental quality of Yangon City.

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(9) Planning and research work should use remote sensing methods and Geographic Information System for long-term development of spatial landscapes in Yangon City. Acknowledgements
I would like to express my thanks to Professor Daw Htay Htay, Head of the Department of Geography, Yangon University of Distance Education for her kind provision of all the department facilities and invaluable guidance. Thanks are due to my colleagues, Department of Geography, Yangon University of Distance Education for their moral support, assistance and during the period when data and information are collected analyses and compiled to bring about this research.

References
The Population Census of Yangon City (1975) The Population Census of Yangon City (1983) Aung Naing Myint (1992), Myanmar Cities Pale Urban Land Magazine, No (1) 1996 Department of City Planning and Land Management, YCDC Lwin Maung (1978) Historical Records Central Statistical Organization (2004): Statistical Yearbook, Yangon Pearn, B.R. (1939): A History of Rangoon, American Baptist Press, Rangoon. Spate, O.H.K & L.W. True blood (1942): Rangoon: A Study in Urban Geographical Review, Vol. XXXII Tin Aye Mu (1991): Population of Yangon City, Unpublished Master Thesis, Department of Geography, University of Yangon. Yin May, Daw (1963): Greater Rangoon: A Study in Urban Geography, Unpublished Master Thesis, Department of Geography, University of Yangon. Zaw Latt Htun (1994): Intra-Urban Passenger Transportation of Yangon City, Unpublished Master Thesis, Department of Geography, University of Yangon. Zin Nwe Myint (1998): Geographical Study of the Urban Growth of Yangon City, Unpublished Master Thesis, Department of Geography, University of Yangon.