Transformation processes in farming systems and surrounding areas of Inle Lake, Myanmar, during the last 40 years

Inle Lake in Eastern Myanmar is strongly affected by environmental effects of rapid population growth and an increase in the agricultural and tourist sector. To identify land use and land cover changes (LUCC), a post-classification comparison method was employed using historical Corona images (1968) and Landsat data (1989, 2000 and 2009). A supervised classification was performed for the Landsat datasets, whereas a visual interpretation was used for the Corona images.During the last 40 years, the dominant landscape transformation processes were urbanization (+203%), crop expansion (+34%) with a particular increase of floating gardens (+390%), land abandonment (+167%), deforestation (−49%) and wetland losses in marshlands (−83%) and waterbodies (−16%). The main driving forces of LUCC appeared to be population increase, industrial activities, government policies, widespread rural poverty and changes in market prices and access.