Myanmar: Investment Opportunities in Biodiversity Conservation

INTRODUCTION
The Indo-Myanmar (Indo-Burma) Hotspot comprises most or all of Cambodia, the Lao People's Democratic
Republic (PDR), Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, parts of north-eastern India and south-eastern
Bangladesh, a small fraction of peninsular Malaysia, and parts of tropical southern China (van Dijk et al.
2004). The wide variation in land form, climate, and latitude within the hotspot has led to the development of
diverse natural habitats, which support a high diversity of plant and animal species, including many endemics
(van Dijk et al. 2004).
The Union of Myanmar (hereafter Myanmar) supports some of the most intact natural habitats and species
communities remaining in the Indo-Myanmar (Indo-Burma) Hotspot, including many globally threatened
species that are found in few or no other places in the world. However, largely because of the sanctions
imposed by some foreign governments, current levels of conservation investment in Myanmar are insufficient to
ensure the conservation of globally important elements of biodiversity. This major investment gap urgently
needs to be filled.
The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) requested BirdLife International to coordinate a multistakeholder
consultation process to address the investment gap, by identifying investment opportunities in
biodiversity conservation in Myanmar for international and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and
academic institutions. This document presents the results of this process. The document will be placed in the
public domain, with the intention that it is used by NGOs and academic institutions to seek support for conservation
initiatives in Myanmar, and by donor agencies to help target their conservation investments at the highest
priorities.
Structure of the document
The document presents an overview of Myanmar, in terms of its importance for global biodiversity conservation,
major threats to biodiversity and root causes, socio-economic context, and patterns of conservation
investment. It defines biological priorities at the species, site and corridor levels, evaluates funding gaps, and
identifies investment opportunities. The document ends by outlining a five-year strategy for donor investment in
biodiversity conservation by NGOs and academic institutions. This strategy includes a series of Investment
Priorities, grouped into five Strategic Directions, which outline the types of activities that should be funded. The
document does not, however, include specific project concepts, nor does it propose particular organisations as
project implementers.
Background
This document was developed through an inclusive, participatory process, coordinated by BirdLife
International, with in-country assistance provided by CARE Myanmar and the Office of the United Nations
Resident Coordinator, Yangon, and with technical support provided by the Washington DC-based Center for
Applied Biodiversity Science of Conservation International (CI). The investment opportunities presented in the
document are based on the results of two stakeholder workshops, held in Yangon on 4-5 August 2003 and 9
July 2004. Over 30 stakeholders attended each workshop, comprising representatives of local and international
NGOs and academic institutions active in biodiversity conservation in the country, plus government and
donor representatives. The results of the two workshops were synthesised by a drafting team of eight
researchers, and supplemented by a review of published and unpublished data on biodiversity, socioeconomic
conditions and on-going and pipeline conservation investments in Myanmar, plus additional consultations
with stakeholders.
Local NGOs represented at the stakeholder workshops comprised the Biodiversity and Nature Conservation
Association (BANCA), the Economic and Development Association (EcoDev), the Forest Resources,
Environment, Development and Conservation Association (FREDA), Friends of Rainforests in Myanmar,
Mangrove Service Network, Myanmar Bird and Nature Society (MBNS), Myanmar Floriculturist Associa-
Myanmar: Investment Opportunities in Biodiversity Conservation
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