MM •R.N- Mis MM--Q3O

MM •R.N- mis _ MM--Q3O MM0200043 1. Introduction: The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is one the world's leading NGOs involved in conserving wildlife and ecosystems throughout the world through research, training and education. It was founded in April, 1895 with the initial aim of establishing a zoo at New York City, United States for educating the public about wildlife. At that time it was called "The New York Zoological Society." Through the concerted efforts of the Society, the "Bronx Zoo" was established where the Society has its offices now. The Society is actively involved not only in zoological work but also in world-wide conservation activities and accordingly changed the name of the Society to "The Wildlife Conservation Society" in 1993 to indicate its interest in wildlife conservation work all over the globe. Currently WCS is running over 300 wildlife conservation projects with the help of 60 scientists and 100 researchers throughout the world. The WCS Myanmar Program was initiated and founded by Dr. Alan Rabinowitz, Director of Science for Asia who signed the first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Forest Department on 29 December 1993 for a period of four years from 1994 to 1997. Due to the successes achieved during this period, a second MoU was signed on 26 September for another five years from 1998 to 2002. At the present time WCS Myanmar Program is cooperating with the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division of the Forest Department in carrying out wildlife conservation activities throughout the country in line with the framework set out in the MoU. 2. The Staff of the WCS Myanmar Progn.ni: There are five staff members current!} working for the WCS Myanmar Program. The Country Program Coordinator, U Saw Tun Khaing, is in overall charge of the program and U Than Myint is responsible for research and training activities. Daw Bibiana Chit works in the capacity of Office Manager, U Kyi Shwin as Office Assistant and U Tha Nyo as Field Assistant. All the staff members are working smoothly as a team to further the aims and objectives of the WCS Program. 3. Objectives of the WCS Myanmar Program: WCS Myanmar Program has identified a variety of activities to help hi conserving the country's wildlife. Working within the constraints of finance and staff capacity, the Program has already been able to help implement the following objectives for the betterment of Myanmar's Wildlife. 34/01 1. To enhance and upgrade the professional skill iL~ Staff of the Nature and Wildlife Conservation .Division of the Forestry Department so as to enable them to discharge their duties efficiently and effectively'-during their tour of duty. WCS fulfills this objective by providing basic and international training hi wildlife conservation. 2. To enhance their skills in research and collection of scientific data on Myanmar wildlife, small research grants are being awarded to the Staff of the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division of the Forest Department and for the M.Sc and Ph.D. candidates from colleges and universities of the country. 3. To contribute park development funds for further development of the existing protected nffin o ll.tVU.iJ. 4. In order to assess the current status of existing protected areas of Myanmar and to take further steps to develop potential outstanding areas, all the existing areas of the parks system will be evaluated. 5. To cooperate with the Forest Department in initiating and dispatching biological expeditions to remote and potential areas in order to establish more protected areas which could possibly be added to the existing protected areas, represented now at 2.26 percent of the country's land mass. 6. To run survey projects with the cooperation of the Forest Department on major wildlife species in order to obtain the latest information on avian and terrestrial Myanmar species on the basis of which a National Action Plan would be drawn up for intensive protection of such species and related wildlife in Myanmar. 7. To provide administrative assistance for other NGOs who are involved in wildlife conservation in the country but have not yet established a working relationship with the Forest Department authorities or set up a proper base of operations. 8. To produce wildlife oriented books, pamphlets, calendars and wallsheet posters so as to educate and draw public attention to the value and need of conserving the wildlife of Myanmar. 4. Activities Implemented: 4.1. Basic Wildlife Conservation Training: Training is one of the most important tools available to upgrade the skill of the staff and workers of the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division. Only through the efforts of skilled staff and workers will their assigned duties be discharged successfully. Since the WCS Myanmar 4 Program .... i994, the Basic Wildlife Conservation -on conducted in cooperation "•.'.' :•: Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division of ti-»- > .rest Department. The : : '' t • ' * main objectives of this training are: 1. To train wildlife staff to enable them .to conduct field operations successfully without too much reUance on modem equipment but mainly on paper, pencils and notebooks. 2. To attain skill in the handling of field equipment 3. To teach them how to conduct proper surveys hi the areas assigned to them for management ' to determine the absence or presence of wildlife, then- abundance and distribution. 4. To learn management of wildlife and the protected area system. 5. To learn environmental education techniques. 6. To carry out the departmental duties assigned to them efficiently with the knowledge gamed from training. • . At the initial stage of training, U Tint Lwin Thaung, former country program coordinator of WCS Myanmar Program organized the training and he was the only resource person giving classroom lectures and field training. The .WCS has not set any fixed venue or school where it v provides its theoretical and field training and where trainees convene to attend the courses. .Instead it selects different places every year and the teaching personnel go. there to run the training programs. This results hi time and money saved and is also of benefit for the WCS personnel who obtain a first hand acquaintance with the different protected areas of Myanmar and also get to know the local staff who have been assigned to manage the conservation of wildlife in their respective areas. When U Tint Lwin Thaung left the. program, his position was taken by U Than Myint in 1997 and he is now the person hi charge of training and research activities of the program. In addition to himself acting as a trainer, two resource persons from the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division are invited to cooperate hi running the courses. The WCS has given. 2 or % ... 3 training courses a year for the Staff of the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division since the program started hi Myanmar. At present the basic training for the protected areas staff is almost completed with the number of staff already trained totaling 250. Training hi all protected areas is expected to be completed hi the year 2001. The number of Basic Wildlife Conservation Training Courses conducted by the WCS has reached 12, covering 14 protected areas as the staff of two different protected areas were combined to attend two training courses. The list of the areas where Basic Wildlife Conservation Training has been completed is provided in Appendix (1). 4.2 International Training and Workshops held within the country and abroad: The WCS Myanmar Program also sponsors courses for international conservationists that are held in Myanmar. There have been two international training courses organized by WCS Myanmar Program since it was started. A field research and conservation training course was held at Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park in January 1995. Dr. Alan Rabinowitz, Ms. Liz Bennett and Ms. Salisa conducted the training. A total of 17 staff members from the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division attended. The tiger survey training was again held at Alaungdaw Kathapa in December 1998 before the tiger survey project began. A total of 27 trainees from the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division and the WCS attended. More in-country international- training courses sponsored by WCS Myanmar Program are to be expected in the near future for the staff of the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division when the Program initiates more international projects such as the elephant survey project. The staff of the WCS Program has also received exposure to international training abroad to hone their professional skills. U Saw Tun Khaing, Country Program Coordinator attended the Wildlife Research and Conservation Training held in Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand in July 1996. U Than Myint also took part in a similar training course held at the same venue in November 1997. Before starting the tiger survey program here in Myanmar, U Than Myint and U Saw Htoo Tha Po attended the Tiger Field Research Training held in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand in January 1999. WCS Myanmar Program personnel have also participated in international workshops and conferences. U Saw Tun Khaing attended the World Forestry Congress held in Turkey in October 1997 and was also involved in the International Meet on the Shared Ecology of the Seven Himalayan countries held in Bopal, India in November 1998. WCS Mvanmar Program is also providing financial assistance for the Staff of the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division to enable them to participate in international worksho'ps and conferences relating to the conservation of wildlife. For instance, WCS Program provided financial assistance for the staff of NWCD to attend the "Important Bird Area Workshop" held in Thailand in December 1998 and also for the "Role of Local Communities in the Management of World Heritage in Southeast Asia, West Pacific, Australia and New Zealand'" held at Huay Kha Khaeng Country Resort, Thailand in January 1998.

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