In order to achieve the four core tasks of DZGD, it is necessary to have prior knowledge on the following bio-physical characteristics of the central Myanmar dry zone.
(a) Department of Meteorology and Hydrology defined the dry zone as areas receiving rain fall 40 inches (1000 mm) and below.
(b) From the perspective of tree planting, the amount of rainfall less than 70 inches (1778 mm) is considered as low rainfall.
(c) As the annual rainfall of the dry zone areas is less than 70 inches (1778 mm) and deciduous forests grow maturally, the region is, from the silvicultural point of view, considered as low rainfall area.
(d) Across the world tropical regions, those that receive the amount of rainfall 40 inches (1000 mm) and below are identified as dry zone because agriculture, except drought-resistant plants, could not survive due to insufficient rain water.
(e) Most of the townships within Central Myanmar dry zone receive rainfall less than 40 inches (1000 mm) with a total of around 50 rainy days per year.
(f) The average temperature is about 80° F (26.7ºC) while the highest temperature reaches 100° F (37.8ºC) and the lowest 50° F (10ºC). So due to such high range of temperature difference, the region is defined as dry zone.
(g) There are two peak rainfall periods with one scanty rainfall period between them in a year. May and June are the first peak rainfall periods and September and October are the second peak rainfall periods. No rainfall but strong wind often bluster in July and August and the period from October to April is dry where the rains occuronly if irregular conditions happen.
