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

NATMA TAUNG
Site ID 29
Locality Chin State; Matupi, Mindat and Kanpetlet Townships
Coordinates N 21° 25’, E 93° 47’
Size (km²) 723
Altitude (m. asl) 740 – 3,070
Myanmar category National Park
IUCN category II
Site Governance Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division
Boundaries Demarcation in course
Year proposed 1997
Protection level Total
Main purposes Conservation
Habitat Hill Forest (Evergreen and Pine), Grassland
Key resources Gaur, Serow, Goral, White-blowed Nuthatch, Avifauna
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 site has been proposed as a National Park in 1997 but
the designation process along with boundary demarcation is
still ongoing. The area preserves plant species endemism. it
is an Important Bird Area (IBA, designated by BLI 2004) and
one of the world’s high plant diversity site (IUCN 2005). Natma
Taung is also an important catchment of two big rivers and
nine medium and small rivers, on which 3 million people
depend for their livelihood. The highest elevation is 3,200 m
at Natmataung Peak while Kanpetlet area is about 1,390 m
which is the most populated area.
NATURAL RESOURCES
The forest cover is made up of hill forest and comprises
dipterocarp forest, pine forest, laurel and stone oak forest,
oak forests, oak and rhododendron forests and meadows.
808 species of plants (including 70 ferns), 299 birds, 23
amphibians, 65 reptiles and 77 butterflies have been identified
and checklists are available at the park office. A rich variety of
wild orchid species, including endangered medicinal orchids,
occurs at altitudes between 1,000 and 2,000 m and are very
important for the livelihood of local people in terms of local
use and tourism.
MANAGEMENT
The park is managed according to an annual plan based
on zoning principles. In the core zone, flora and fauna are
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THREATS
The presence of human settlements inside and outside
the site is increasingly impacting upon biodiversity and
forests. Some villagers are poaching wildlife and illegally
extracting forest products from Natma Taung forests. The
fire from shifting cultivations is spreading also into the
protected forests and is difficult to control. Furthermore,
fallow period between two successive cultivation periods
has been reduced to 3-4 years resulting in erosion,
landslides, loss of land fertility and productivity.
regularly monitored by park staff and biodiversity surveys are
occasionally conducted with international agencies. Patrolling
is undermined by the lack of tools and financial resources. In
the buffer zone, livelihood inputs have been provided to the
local communities by a network of international and national
agencies (JICA, UNDP, CARE, BLI, BANCA) in collaboration with
park authorities and community-based organisations.
STAFF / RESOURCES
Although the site has not been officially designated yet, 32
staff members (1 Park warden, 5 rangers, 6 foresters, 3 clerks
and 17 labourers) work in the park during the open season.
The head office is located in Kanpetlet town where the
warden and clerks are based. Remaining staff is allocated to
two offices in Mindat and Matupi towns. Two guardposts, a
colonial building and bungalows are present but are not
currently in use.
TOURISM
The park is considered as an ecotourism site and is visited
by a few hundred visitors every year. Three lodges can
accommodate local and foreign tourists who are mostly
interested in bird watching, trekking and meeting the local
Chin communities. Foreigners need special permission to
access the area which can be obtained only by local tour
agencies.
LAND USE AND HUMAN ACTIVITIES
• Recreation
• Agricultural production
Natma Taung National Park and its buffer zone are populated
by about 120 villages and 32 of which are located inside
the park. Forest degradation is caused not only by forest
fires and shifting cultivation but also by encroachment of
government-promoted tea plantations.
RESEARCH
BLI, CAS, Makino Botanical Garden have undertaken research
in the site in collaboration with the park authorities.