Assessing the Impacts of Dam Construction on the Livelihoods of Swidden Farmers in Pinlaung, Southern Shan State, Myanmar

We focus on the impact of the construction of a new dam on the traditional farming-based livelihoods of mountain dwellers in Pinlaung, Southern Shan State, Myanmar. These communities have practiced small-scale swidden farming for generations. We used both quantitative and qualitative methods, including satellite imagery, individual household interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews to analyze changes in land use and livelihoods, land tenure security, and gender engagement. The dam resulted in the loss of 246 hectares of farmland and 146 hectares of swidden areas, leading to the adoption of new agricultural practices and livelihood diversification. While new income-generating activities like upland farming and community forestry positively influenced total household income, the loss of traditional swidden fields reduced productivity and limited opportunities, and also insecure land tenure. Gender dynamics shifted as women took on additional income-generating roles, indicating both empowerment and increased stress. Our study underscores the need for sustainable policies, fair compensation, and secure land tenure rights to ensure resilience, food security, and sustainable livelihoods for these communities.