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

Background on Myanmar
XIV 1
L. Beffasti
1
1.1
Natural Features
Introduction
Myanmar, the largest country in South East Asia, is part of the Sundaic subregion of the Indo-Malayan
Realm (MacKinnon and MacKinnon 1986). Due to the combination and interaction of geography,
topography, climate, pattern of seasonal rainfall, presence of high mountains and major rivers, Myanmar
presents a great variety of different habitats and ecosystems supporting a rich biodiversity. With about
half (48%) of mainland covered by forests (FAO 2010), Myanmar ranks 6 out of 11 among the Southeast
Asian countries in terms of percentage of land area covered by forest (FAO 2009).
Figure 1 Myanmar Land Area (Source: NCEA 2009b)
Forest
48%
Other land
16%
Other wooded lands
33%
Inland water bodies
3%
Northern Myanmar presents the highest mountains with permanent snow and glaciers, with Mount
Khakaborazi (6,000 m) being the highest in Myanmar and in South East Asia. The country includes
extensive lowland plains, major rivers running parallel to each other, one of the largest river deltas in
Asia (Ayeyawaddy Delta) and plateau around 1,000 m above sea level like the Shan Plateau. Myanmar,
with its 2,280 km long coast and more than 800 small islands, has important coast and marine habitats
supporting an abundance of species. The climate is a tropical monsoon climate with three distinctive
seasons: hot season from March to May, rainy season from June to October, cold season from November
to February, with high rainfall variability, from 500 mm in the Dry Zone up to over 6,000 mm in
Tanintharyi Region and northern Rakhine State.
Biodiversity
About 250 mammal species, more than 1,000 birds, 370 reptiles and 7,000 plants are recorded in Myanmar,
including 39 species of mammals, 45 of birds, 21 of reptiles and 38 of plants which are globally threatened
(NCEA, 2009a). More species could be added since new discoveries continue to be made every year,
including the exceptional discovery, during a survey of FFI and BANCA in Kachin state, of a new species
of primate in 2010, the Burmese snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus strykeri, immediately classified as
critically endangered by IUCN. 76 Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) have been identified, out of which 54
are recognized as Important Birds Areas (IBAs) (BLI 2005). Endemism is relatively low compared to other
countries in South East Asia. There are seven Endemic Birds Areas EBAs and secondary endemic areas
(BLI 2005 and IUCN-WCPA 2007), three exclusively located in Myanmar (Eastern Himalayas, Irrawaddy
plains and North Myanmar Lowlands), two stretching across Myanmar and Thailand (Myanmar-Thailand
mountains and Peninsular Thailand lowland forests) and two others centered mainly in other countries
but extending in Myanmar (Andaman Islands and Yunnan mountains). Natma Taung National Park is a
particular area of local endemism.