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

KELATHA
Site ID 13
Locality Mon State, Belin Township
Coordinates N17° 13’, E97° 07’
Size (km²) 24
Altitude (m. asl) 0 – 355
Myanmar category Wildlife Sanctuary
IUCN category IV
Site Governance Forest Department
Boundaries Demarcated
Year gazetted 1942
Protection level Partial
Main purposes Conservation
Habitat
Mixed Deciduous Forest (Moist Upper), Evergreen Forest
(Typical)
Key resources Monkeys, Wild Cats, Pangolin, Barking Deer
Legend of topographic maps
Head Quarters
Ranger Post
Towns
Protected Areas
State/Region Boundaries
Roads
Water areas
Rivers
Elevation
5.800 m. asl
0 m. asl
Legend of satellite maps
Water Depth Vegetation Density
Deep
Shallow
High
Low
SITE DESCRIPTION
Kelatha Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Belin Township, Mon
State. It is a small sanctuary of about 24 square kilometers
whose boundaries are demarcated by a road running
all around the site. Settlements, farming and collection of
non-timber-forest-products are allowed.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Forest types of the Kelatha Wildlife Sanctuary are mixed
deciduous and typical evergreen forest. According to the
information obtained in the park, leopard, serow, barking
deer, sambar deer, wild boar, different species of monkeys,
wildfowl, pheasant, hornbill and peacock were observed in
the site in 1996.
MANAGEMENT
Forest Department Office is located at Belin town.
Management actions in place:
• No available information
Myanmar Protected Areas
Management problems:
• No available information
Required actions:
• No available information
STAFF / RESOURCES
Two rangers and two foresters are assigned from FD office
in Belin. There are no field office, ranger posts or any other
buildings inside. Staff didn’t receive any special training and
doesn’t have any field equipment. Accessibility to the site is
good thanks to a concrete road taking to the Kelatha pagoda.
No field office for the site. Access to the site is easy due to the
presence of motor roads and tracks.
TOURISM
The site receives many local pilgrims who visit the pagoda
and monasteries. Visitor statistics are not available.
42 43
THREATS
• Annual & Perennial Non Timber Crops
• Hunting & Collecting Terrestrial Animals
• Logging & Wood Harvesting
Shifting cultivation farmers are encroaching park borders.
Poaching and illegal logging for subsistence are moderate
and localized threats.
LAND USE AND HUMAN ACTIVITIES
INSIDE
• Recreation
• Mining
In the area there are 42 monasteries and granite stone
production for road construction is underway.
OUTSIDE
• Agricultural production
• Human settlement
The site is surrounded by villages and anthropical activities.
According to a survey conducted in 1996, there were
no villagers who earn their living from forest and forest
products of the site. Paddy fields in the surrounding area
are fertile and they produce a good harvest. Villages and
horticulture farms are located almost continuously one
beside another and villagers are very concerned by forest
fire outbreaks.