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

LENYA / LENYA (EXTENSION)
LENYA
Site ID 19
Locality Tanintharyi Region, Bokepyin Township
Coordinates N 11° 08’, E 99° 03’
Size (km²) 1,761
Altitude (m. asl) 10 – 855
Myanmar
category
IUCN category II
Site ID 20
Locality
Tanintharyi Region, Bokepyin
Township
Coordinates N 11° 35’, E99° 19’
Size (km²) 1,399
Altitude (m. asl) 15 -1,240
Myanmar category National Park
IUCN category II
Site Governance Forest Department
Boundaries Demarcation in course
Year proposed 2004
Protection level
Partial (Tree logging, Forest
plantations allowed)
Main purposes Natural resources maintenance
Habitat Evergreen forest (typical)
Key resources
National Park
Site Governance Forest Department
Boundaries Demarcation in course
Year proposed 2002
Protection level Partial (Tree logging, Forest plantations allowed)
Main purposes Natural resources maintenance
Habitat Evergreen Forest (Typical)
Key resources
LENYA (EXTENSION)
Gurney’s Pitta, Tapir, Asian Elephant, Barking Deer,
Sambar Deer, Wild Boar, Bear, Pangolin, Hoolock
Gibbon, Porcupine, Mouse Deer, Wild Cat, Civet
Asian Elephant, Tapir, Gaur,
Banteng, Sambar Deer, Gurney’s Pitta
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
The creation of Lenya National Park and its extension was
proposed after the rediscovery of the endangered bird species
of Gurney’s Pitta, but it has not been gazetted yet. Therefore,
the area is still unprotected and its conservation status is
considered only fair due to the presence of commercial
plantations and human settlements within its borders.
NATURAL RESOURCES
The area is covered by evergreen forest of medium
conservation value. The highlight is the discovery in 2008 by
BLI of 9,300-35,000 Gurney’s Pitta (Pitta gurneyi) territories in
the Lenya area. This bird species was considered extinct until
the rediscovery of a population in Thailand in 1986. After this
discovery the species was downlisted by IUCN from “critically
endangered” to “endangered” and 99% of the population is in
Myanmar. The lowland extension of Lenya National Park will
contain much of the Gurney’s Pitta population, thus ensuring
the species’ long-term survival.
MANAGEMENT
The protected area is still only a proposal and there is
neither management plan nor staff allocated. BLI received
funding for the designation and protection of Lenya National
Park and its extension which is still on hold pending the
signing of a memorandum of understanding with FD. The
staff of Kawthoung Forest Department is in charge of the
management of both sites (Lenya and its extension) but they
have no financial resources to implement any enforcement.
In addition, they haven’t been able to conclude the boundary
demarcation in the north-eastern part due to the alleged
presence of insurgents.
STAFF / RESOURCES
No infrastructure is present in the site and its extension. No
staff is assigned but the Forest Department of Kawthoung is
in charge of inspections.
LAND USE
Although the area should be reserved for natural resources
maintenance, a big portion of the land has been or is being
converted to oilpalm and timber plantations.
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THREATS
Loss of lowland Sundaic forest for the establishment
of palm oil plantation along with encroachment from
surrounding human settlements, is the main threat to
the Gurney’s Pitta and other wildlife.
RESEARCH
Myanmar Protected Areas
Ornithological research was funded by the UK
government’s Darwin Initiative and led by the Royal
Society for the Protection of Birds, the British arm of
BLI, in partnership with the Myanmar NGO, Biodiversity
and Nature Conservation Association (BANCA) and the
Indochina programme of BLI.