Myanmar Protected Areas: Context, Current Status ... - Istituto Oikos

L. Beffasti
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3.1
3.2
In-depth Study of Lampi Island Marine National Park
A. Bonetti
Purpose
The objective of this in-depth study was to verify existing information and to collect new – mainly
qualitative – data to fill in some of the gaps in the existing information on the protected area, with
the available resources and under the strong limitations of accessibility (permits and climate). Prior to
the current surveys, information on the occurrence and status of critical biodiversity in Lampi Island
Marine National Park (MNP) were collected from reputable sources: FAO 1983b; FD-UNDP-FAO 1986;
Rabinowitz 1995; Fischer 1996 & 1997. Up-to-date, reliable and more comprehensive information are
needed to guide future planning and management strategies. To fulfil this objectives, surveys were
undertaken of marine and terrestrial flora and fauna, specifically on plant, mammal, bird, reptile,
amphibian, fish, crab, mollusc, sea-cucumber, seaweed and plankton species. Interviews to local
villagers to asses socio-economic conditions were also conducted. Time and resource constraints
allowed the organization of a limited number of surveys of the flora and fauna of Lampi Island MNP.
The focus of the surveys was selected based on the analysis of the main gaps concerning biodiversity
information and on the consensus agreed between stakeholders, in particular Istituto Oikos, BANCA
and FD. Priority was given to qualitative surveys in order to produce information on the type of
biodiversity resources present in the protected area. Surveys took place in the period 2006 – 2010
in the framework of the MABR (2006-2009) and MEP (2009-2010) projects. A detailed list of surveys
is given under paragraph 7 - Research (current chapter). The description of the Lampi Island MNP
contained in this chapter therefore present the preliminary findings of the surveys carried out under the
MABR and MEP projects, being fully aware that further investigation is required and desired to bring more
significant results, fill the remaining information gaps and continue to update the data.
Results
Geography
The Myeik Archipelago, located in the Tanintharyi Region, the most southern Region of Myanmar, comprises
800 islands distributed along 600 km of coastline in the Andaman sea. The Archipelago was formed by a
combination of tectonic movement and volcanic activity. The islands, ranging in size from very small to
hundreds of square kilometers, are covered by tropical lowland wet evergreen forests with a high biodiversity
and surrounded by an extensive coral reef system. Lampi Island Marine National Park is one of the four
marine protected areas in Myanmar and the only protected site in the Myeik Archipelago. It protects a variety
of different habitats (evergreen forest, mangrove forest, beach and dune forest, coral reefs, sea grass) and a
rich biodiversity. 195 plant species of the evergreen forest and 63 species typical of the mangrove forest, 19
mammal, 228 bird, 19 reptile, 10 amphibian, 42 fish, 42 crab, 50 gastropod, 41 bivalves, 35 sea-cucumber
(holothurians), 73 seaweed, 11 seagrass and 333 plankton species have been identified so far and more
are likely to be added with further surveys (see paragraph 3.4 checklist). The protected area provides food,
water and energy sources to the local population (3,000 people in 5 settlements). Spiritual and cultural
values are attributed to the site by Moken sea gypsies who consider Lampi as a “Mother island”. Socioeconomic
and demographic pressures are the main threats to the natural and cultural values of the park.