Central dry zone of Myanmar has been largely degraded by human impacts including heavy grazing. Land restoration works have been carried out since 1950s which occasionally use alien species, and some of naturalized species caused hazards. This study aims to predict potential invasion risk of newly added alien species to woody communities based on plant traits. Vegetation survey was done to observe occurrence and to determine plant traits (maximum height, shade tolerance, animal palatability and specific leaf area) of all species in the dry zone. Plant community types were classified by TWINSPAN analysis. Species occurrence in each community type was predicted from plant traits.

Maximum height and shade tolerance were usually key-traits for climax forests in humid regions; however, animal palatability was the most common key-trait in the dry zone, and specific leaf area was the most important trait in climax semi-indaing forests with Shorea, suggesting soil nutrient poverty to be key environment for this community. Risk assessment system as weed risk assessment in Myanmar needs to consider such difference.