The highlands of Nyaungshwe and Kalaw Townships are located a few miles from Myanmar’s famous Inle Lake, but receive little benefit from the rapid tourism development occurring in the valley. Increased population in the highlands has made land scarce and continuation of their traditional agriculture practices difficult. In addition, while water during the monsoon months is plentiful, for half the year water resources are scarce and households are almost entirely reliant on untreated pond water. Erosion, deforestation, and a shortening monsoon season due to climate change have made life in these villages increasingly difficult, and adapting to the local-level changes — let alone the economic and political changes occurring across the country — is challenging. The transformation of Myanmar could be a source of opportunity for these villages, or they could remain left out and marginalized.
