Myanmar Protected Areas Context, Current Status and Challenges Myanmar Protected Areas Forewords In memory of U Uga We, at the European Union, have been fully committed to environmental protection and conservation. Our engagement principles are embedded in the European Union Consensus on Development published in 2005 that outlines our support for biodiversity conservation, water and energy supply as well as the fight against climate change. Environmental protection underpins sustainable development, the more so in a country as Burma/ Myanmar where large parts of the population rely on natural resources for their food, shelter and energy needs. The world’s poorest are those directly dependent on natural resources for their daily survival and therefore most vulnerable to environmental hazards. This is why the European Union has made the protection and sustainable management of natural resources a priority in its poverty reduction policies. In Burma/Myanmar, a key instrument for cooperation has been the Non State Actors (NSA) Programme. The overall objective of the NSA programme is to support the emergence of civil society organizations and enable them to fight poverty across a range of sectors such as education, health and livelihoods. The project “Strengthening environmental NGOs in Burma/Myanmar” implemented jointly by Istituto Oikos and BANCA was the first environment initiative funded by the European Union under this programme. Sound environmental conservation is only effective if based on accurate data and analysis on the state of the environment. This project was a wonderful opportunity to build the knowledge base on biodiversity resources while, at the same time, building capacity for better data collection and analysis. In 2009-2010, the project brokered information exchange among 24 local environmental organisations, and the collection of data in line with internationally approved standards on the natural resources, management, land use, tourism and research in 30 protected areas. Ultimately, BANCA and other local organisations will be better equipped with tools and methodologies to assess biodiversity resources. In addition, we will have a comprehensive database on the state of biodiversity and protected areas across the country. This will allow biodiversity resources to be better understood and we hope it will lead other actors to invest more and better in biodiversity protection and resources conservation. Burma/Myanmar has a unique environment and we must all join forces to ensure that natural resources are sustainably exploited. David Lipman Ambassador Head of Delegation of the European Union to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar III Myanmar Protected Areas Myanmar Protected Areas Istituto Oikos believes that biodiversity conservation and equitable natural resources management Among South-East Asian countries there is no doubt that Myanmar is the most biologically diverse are crucial to ensure the livelihood of local people, where land degradation and poverty are strictly country on the mainland. It possess a long coastal line of 2,000 kilometers, over 800 islands, mangroves, connected. The approach is based on the following assumption: a well conserved environment is the high mountains of the Eastern Himalayas in the north, a dry zone in the center, Sundaic forest in the only guarantee for socio-economic development, poverty alleviation, food security, health and well- south and many types of habitats and ecosystems. There are only few types of habitats left on earth that being for current and future generations. That is why the core of all Istituto Oikos’ projects, whether they cannot be found in Myanmar. It still has a high percentage of natural forest cover which is home to a rich be technical-scientific assistance, environmental evaluations programs, fauna monitoring or support diversity of flora and fauna. It is also one of the least explored countries in the world. There have been for youth or women’s cooperatives, is the relationship between man and nature. Many actions focus on expressions like“ after walking two days we found nothing but primeval forest”, “ we barely see a person protected areas and on natural areas risking deterioration due to irrational and unplanned use of natural coming along during our exploration” and “there is one new bird found in every step we took” from resources. Moreover, the projects never leave aside the awareness-raising factor, so that those involved nature lovers and bird watchers who have visited Myanmar. The Leaf deer Muntiacus putaonensis and can understand and share Istituto Oikos’ objectives, as well as the training of local personnel to ensure the Myanmar Snub-nosed Monkey Rhinopithecus strykeri are some of the new discoveries within recent the sustainability of work. After 15 years of field activities and more than 150 projects implemented, in years in the Northern part of Myanmar. Other species of reptiles and amphibians new to science have Italy and abroad, on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, Istituto Oikos has gained also been reported. The Ministry of Forestry has been trying to protect representative type of forests a wealth of experience in the definition and implementation of methodologies and strategies aimed and up till now has gazetted, nominated and proposed 43 protected areas which cover 7.3 % of total at integrating the environmental dimension into the socio-economic processes. To reach concrete and land. But as a developing nation, Myanmar has financial as well as environmental issues. Unfortunately sustainable results, as well as to ensure the highest standards of quality in its activities, Istituto Oikos conserving biodiversity and environment is not the top priority of the government. Out of 43 protected has established firm collaboration with local and national governments, universities, research institutes, area systems only a few have been properly gazetted and have a management system in place. Some conservation, development organisations and business companies, both in Italy and worldwide. Istituto are nominated and some are only in a proposal stage. Very few of the gazetted protected areas have full Oikos has been operating in Myanmar since 2006 in order to improve the conservation of natural management resources and staff. Even big national parks are short of resources. For them top priorities resources and the capacity building of local NGOs as a tool of sustainable development. Myanmar is a like regular biodiversity surveys and patrolling are beyond their capacity. As a result very few parks have country where natural resources are still well conserved, biodiversity is high and forests cover almost a comprehensive checklist of flora and fauna. Lampi Island Marine National Park falls in the category half of the territory. The protected areas of Myanmar conserve spectacular natural, cultural and spiritual that does not have a proper management system and a checklist of flora and fauna that exist in the values and provide communities with opportunities for recreation and education. As natural areas are park. We BANCA and Oikos do sincerely feel honored to conduct this much needed survey which we progressively being destroyed under different types of human pressure, it becomes increasingly urgent hope will help the forest department to form a proper management system and serve as a baseline for to maintain and improve the condition and management of protected areas. The PA system of Myanmar further evaluation and monitoring of this park. Moreover, we also hope that this publication will serve as is essential to continue providing environmental services at community and national level, to prevent a good reference for all existing parks of Myanmar. During recent years people have changed. Their new climate change and the loss of biodiversity. The protection of cultural values is another important role lifestyle has become more advanced and sophisticated. New changes need new solutions. Population of the PA system that contributes to spiritual life and Myanmar’s historical traditions. Understanding has also increased dramatically and consequently more space becomes essential for their livelihoods and the values within the PA system and evaluating the outcome of management is essential to being sustainability. The more space they need the more destruction was made to nature and the environment. able to adapt and improve management practices. In the period 2009-2010, Istituto Oikos and BANCA, The lifestyle of people and the changes in the environment have become more interconnected. Issues with the support of the European Union, the Lombardy Region and Stiftung Drittens Millenium, have have become too big and complicated to be handled by a single department or organization alone. managed the project “Strengthening environmental NGOs in Burma/Myanmar” aimed at improving Therefore people in the conservation field also have to change. All stakeholders including governments, the capacity of local NGOs to engage in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development private and public sectors have to work together to have successful conservation programs. BANCA and programs and coordinate sustainable environmental development investments and activities. The Istituto Oikos as stakeholders look forward to assist Myanmar within our capacity especially in the field publication “Myanmar Protected Areas: Context, Current Status and Challenges”, one of the outputs of of biodiversity for successful conservations programs. BANCA