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

MAINMAHLA KYUN
Site ID 23
Locality Ayeyawaddy Region, Bogale Township
Coordinates N 15° 58’, E 95° 17’
Size (km²) 137
Altitude (m. asl) 0 – 30
Myanmar category Wildlife Sanctuary
IUCN category IV
Site Governance Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division
Boundaries Demarcated
Year gazetted 1993
Protection level Total
Main purposes
Habitat Mangrove Forest
Conservation, Cultural heritage, Recreation/ Ecotourism,
Research/ Education
Key resources Mangroves, Salt-water Crocodile, Birds spp.
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
Mainmahla Kyun Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Bogalay
Township, Ayeyawaddy Region. It is an island of low flat land
delta area and it is located very near to the open sea. The site is
fringed by the Bogalay River in the east and by the Kadonkani
River in the west. Many small streams are present as a network
in the Sanctuary and accessibility into the streams is governed
by the tide. The Sanctuary is covered with mangrove forest
only. Soil type is tidal mud and silt. Annual rainfall of the
site ranges from 2,500 to 3,000 mm. Myauktayar pagoda, a
famous pagoda of the region, is situated to the south-east of
the Sanctuary. Mainmahla Kyun is one of Myanmar’s ASEAN
Heritage sites.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Mangroves are the main resources of the site. About 40
mangrove species have been recorded; 53 medicine plant
species, 11 orchid species, 18 mammals, including Irrawaddy
dolphin species, 117 bird species, 59 fish species, 12 shrimp
species, 10 crab species, 35 butterfly species and 26 snake
species have been recorded by the Sanctuary staff.
MANAGEMENT
Annual management plan
Management actions in place:
• Fire protection and infrastructure renovation
• Crocodile conservation
• Monitoring animal populations and tree cover
• Regular patrolling
• Awareness raising
Myanmar Protected Areas
Management problems:
• Budget
• Inadequate staff
Required actions:
• Increase patrolling
• Communication equipments
• Field equipments
• Guard post
STAFF / RESOURCES
The administrative office is located in Bogalay town which is
12 miles away from the site in the north. The conservation and
research activities have been performed with 14 permanent
forest staff and seven daily wages staff. Two crocodile
conservation camps with natural pond are located on the west
side of the island. Monitoring, research and capacity building
activities have also been conducted in coordination and
collaboration with both local and international organizations
and agencies. The park facilities include one head office, 2
ranger posts, three small field camps, an education centre
and a boat.
TOURISM
The site is occasionally busy with pilgrims mainly from
the villages of that area to the Myauktayar pagoda. The
development of ecotourism is an objective of the site and a
few foreign tourists have visited the site.
A guest house was built by a local environmental NGO, FREDA,
on the Byone hmwe Island which is situated on the west side
of the Kadonkani River facing the Sanctuary in the east.
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THREATS
• Gathering Terrestrial Plants (collection of ferns, tha bot
and nipa palm)
• Logging & Wood Harvesting (mangrove wood for charcoal
and firewood)
• Fishing & Harvesting of Aquatic Resources (poison fishing
practice)
LAND USE AND HUMAN ACTIVITIES
INSIDE
• Conservation
• Research
• Recreation
Conservationists, researchers and tourists are allowed to
come to the Sanctuary with permission.
OUTSIDE
• Fishery
• Restricted area (reserved forest)
• Mangrove plantation