'Food security is said to exist when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.' - SCOPING STUDY ON FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION INFORMATION IN MYANMAR (May 2011)
In the 1990s and 2000s Myanmar had a high deforestation rate and widespread illegal logging. Now with the country opening up to foreign investment, there are fears that forest conversion could increase, a prospect that especially concern conservationists given the climb of deforestation since 2000.
Myanmar's dense forests are found mostly in Shan, Kachin, and Sagaing. These states and regions have also had the highest aggregate loss of forests, amounting to nearly 850,000 hectares between 2000 and 2012.
Overall Myanmar lost some 1.4 million ha of forest since 2000, ranking it well behind Indonesia and Malaysia, but ahead of other Mekong nations, including Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand.
Cyclone Nargis happened in May 2008; little warning was given and winds at 200 km per hour smashed through the south and the low pressure created a storm surge measuring 6.3 metres high. The cyclone made landfall in Myanmar on Friday, 2 May 2008, sending a storm surge 40 kilometres up the densely populated Irrawaddy delta, causing catastrophic destruction and at least 138,000 fatalities. This cyclone destroyed crops (a lot of rice is grown here) and the shrimp fishing industry was damaged. Areas were left without water, food and electricity. Nearly 200,000 people died, and many found it hard to live with little food, water and shelter.
