Burma : A Handbook of Practical Information - Khamkoo

FOREST RESEHVATION 'I'l
Taimgya System.—This system was found to be expensive,
and gave ^vay to the Tamigija System. Villagers
living in or near the resei'ves were induced to plant teak
seeds in their iauiigyas, and were paid a fixed sum per
100 teak - trees found alive in their yas after their
crops were reaped. This system has been a great success
so far as the villagers are concerned, but it is doubtful,
when the cost of fiie protection and weeding, which is
very heavy, to ])revcnt the teak from being choked, are
taken into consideralion, whether it would not have been
better to spend the money on encouraging natural reproduction.
The reserves as soon as possible are mapped
accurately, on the scale of 4 inches to the mile, and
working ])lans arc then made b}' special oflicers deputed
for the jiui-pose. This ensures the economical and
scientific working of the teak. Concurrently with the
formation of these reserves, revenue was collected on teak
and other produce extracted from forests not included in
reserves— such as on bamboos, cutch, wood oil, and jungle
woods.
Forests of Upper Burma.—When Upper Burma was
annexed an enormous area of forest was added to the
province, and for many years the energies of the undernamed
department were confined to exploring the forests,
mapping them roughly, and taking up the best portions
as permanent reserves. This work is even now not completed,
and it is not uncommon to hear of areas Avhieh a
gazetted forest officer has never been through.
Practically all the forests of Upper Burma had been
leased by the Burmese King to mercantile companies for
a number of years. After the annexation, terms were
come to with these companies, by which during a number
of years thev were to pay a fixed royalty per ton of timber
extracted, while the girdling of green teak was to be
under the control of forest oflicers.
Administrative Divisions and Staff.—Tlie whole province
was divided into four conservatorships, or circles.
These, again, consisted of divisions, each division beingdivided
into subdivisions, while these were again divided
into ranges. The range is the unit, but a range may
consist of one or more beats.