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

Executive summary
This publication presents the information
collected on Myanmar protected areas (PAs),
with the objective of mobilising national
and international support for cost-effective
initiatives, innovative approaches and
targeted research implemented by non-
State actors in collaboration with authorities
and communities in sites needing priority
conservation actions. Myanmar presents a
great variety of habitats and ecosystems,
from snow-capped mountains to coral reefs,
supporting a rich biodiversity. Demographic
and socio-economic pressures have been
identified as the main causes of environmental
degradation and biodiversity loss. The environmental protection framework set up by Myanmar during
the 1990s shows legal and institutional constraints. Environmental laws are very sector-specific and
institutions lack capacity and resources for their implementation. Nonetheless, progress has been made
towards the integration of environmental issues in the national development process and stakeholders
consultation mechanisms have increased coordination in planning. A small but growing number of
Myanmar environmental NGOs has emerged and is playing an important role to facilitate environmental
education, research work and co-management of resources at local level.
In Myanmar there are currently 43 officially-recognised PAs but so far the information on their status
has been poor, scattered and not updated. A comprehensive datasheet was prepared to organize in a
systematic way the information collected on natural resources, management, staff and infrastructure,
tourism, land use and human activities and research, following internationally approved criteria
and standards. Existing information was first retrieved from authorities, organisations and academic
institutions; then it was verified and integrated through field visits and meetings with stakeholders for
30 PAs while maps were produced for all 43 PAs. All information is organised in a database available to
stakeholders. Myanmar PA system currently covers 7.3 % of the country. Despite the long coastline there
are only 4 marine protected areas and there is little capacity to conserve and manage marine resources.
The number and size of PAs have increased over the years but also some terrestrial habitat types are still
underrepresented, in particular beach and dune, mangrove and swamp forests. Human encroachment
in PAs is common and requires intervention to limit it, however in most cases the conservation status is
considered to be within an acceptable range of variation. Only half of the PAs have partial biodiversity
inventories and an operational or management plan including actions that are regularly implemented
despite inadequate human, technical and financial resources. Seventeen PAs are only paper parks.
Religious tourism and ecotourism exist in many PAs but most lack the resources and skills to invest in
effective tourism management and consequently forego the opportunity to generate revenues from
it. Scientific research has been conducted in 28 PAs by national and international organisations and
universities without a coordinated research programme.
Two PAs were selected for in-depth studies: Lampi Island Marine National Park and Rakhine Yoma
Elephant Range Wildlife Reserve. Lampi Island Marine National Park (MNP) is the only MNP in Myanmar
and the only protected area of the Myeik archipelago. Very little information was available on this area
and it had not been updated since 1995. Collecting data on this area was considered very important
to raise the awareness of Myanmar and international stakeholders on the importance of conserving
the archipelago and involving the local heterogeneous population composed by indigenous minorities
and migrants from different areas of Myanmar in participatory resources management. The rapid
Myanmar Protected Areas
assessment survey conducted in January
2009 confirmed the great value of the
archipelago in terms of biological and cultural
attributes, threatened by the uncontrolled
and rapid increase of human settlements
and activities. Field surveys identified 195
species of plants of the evergreen forest, 63
mangroves and associates, 19 mammals,
228 birds, 19 reptiles, 10 amphibians. Among
the marine resources, 333 plankton species,
L.Beffasti
73 seaweeds, 11 seagrass, 50 gastropods, 42
crabs, 41 bivalves, 35 sea cucumbers and 42
fish species. 29 species are new records for
Myanmar (1 phytoplankton, 7 zooplanktons,
2 seagrasses, 1 mangrove tree, 7 fishes, 3 amphibians, 8 birds). Furthermore, the issues of the Salone (or
Moken) people were collected, as well as those of other human settlements in the area. As population
grows inside and outside the park, the natural resources are increasingly threatened by unsustainable
use. Consultations among authorities, organisations and communities were initiated to launch the
participatory development of a management plan for the MNP to ensure the incorporation of the needs
and aspirations of local communities along with conservations goals. The Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range
Wildlife Reserve encompasses a great variety of habitats supporting high biodiversity and many endemic
and endangered species, but it is one of the most encroached PAs. Local communities are dependent on
natural resources for their livelihoods and are often damaging the environment and using its resources
without due regard to sustainability. A GIS database was set up to propose a preliminary classification of
vegetation types, which was then verified through a ground-truthing campaign. Ten vegetation classes
were identified and land cover maps produced. The vegetation change between 1974 and 2003 was
analysed showing the conversion of natural forests to agricultural areas and vice-versa. The main finding
is the invasion of Melocanna bambusoides in the area, probably subsequent to forest fires and shifting
cultivation practices; creation of a buffer zone and implementation of environmental education and
sustainable development activities are crucial to prevent the degradation of the last patches of forest.
New data and maps on vegetation change and land use can thus support sustainable development
plans and activities, and raise awareness on the current threats to this ecosystem.
According to project findings, Myanmar PA system should be reviewed giving emphasis to the
management objective and strategically expanded to address gaps in coverage of globally threatened
species, underrepresented mangrove and marine habitats, Key Biodiversity Areas and wildlife corridors.
It is crucial to improve coordination between Forest Department (FD) and other departments and
it is also advisable to pilot joint governance initiatives at local level in collaboration with NGOs and
communities. While public awareness needs to be raised, from top to grass root level, on the role and
benefits of protected areas in order to achieve comprehensive stakeholder participation in conservation,
FD staff, especially young generations, should receive intensive training in ecology and management.
This would enable the preparation of a management plan and a biodiversity inventory for every PA
to be organised in a central database to facilitate coordination and information sharing at national
and international level, also to develop coordinated research programmes. The human impacts of PAs
should be measured in order to identify and implement innovative poverty reduction strategies that
can contribute to meet the conservation and development goals. To ensure the allocation of adequate
resources, sustainable financing mechanisms should be identified, including grants and donations and
local business development.
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