"Swidden cultivation, also known as shifting cultivation or Shwe Pyaung Taung-ya, describes a spectrum of rotational agro-forestry practices at varying levels of intensity prevalent in Myanmar?s uplands. Swidden cultivation contributes to the livelihoods of millions of citizens, for whom it is a solution to upland food security. * During the Colonial era Forest Departments, attracted by timber, entered into competition for control of the uplands with swiddeners, and sought to restrict them. Even after Independence, Colonial era prejudices and hostile assumptions have persisted. But in recent years perceptions are becoming more sympathetic, mainly due to scientific studies which confirm that under conducive conditions swidden systems are efficient, productive, sustainable and environmentally beneficial. * The conducive conditions for stable swidden systems are however declining in many areas due to a range of factors: population increase, land shortage and tenure uncertainty, decline of technical skills and customary authority, market penetration and intergenerational cultural change. The cultivation systems are also becoming stressed as climate change threatens them further, including through increased fire incidence slowing fallows recovery. * The policy challenge is now how to support swidden cultivators to adapt their livelihoods to the changing conditions: 1) legitimate swidden cultivation practices 2) provide secure tenure, through reinforcing customary authorities, revising national land legislation, handing over community forests, and protecting against land grabbing 3) provide technical support for sustainable intensification, building on local technical knowledge and innovations 4) promote rural enterprises for jobs and cash incomes..."