Biodiversity.Pdf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Cover photo credits 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 7 Photos 1, 7 and 9: WCS Myanmar Program. Photos 2 and 6: J. C. Eames. Photo 3: L. Bruce Kekule. Photo 4: Paul Bates/Harrison Institute. Photo 5: Jean Howman/World Pheasant Association. Photo 8: Douglas Hendrie. MYANMAR INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION YANGON, NOVEMBER 2005 Prepared by: BirdLife International with the support of: CARE Myanmar, Center for Applied Biodiversity Science - Conservation International, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, The Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Yangon, United Nations Development Programme Drafted by: Andrew W. Tordoff, Jonathan C. Eames, Karin Eberhardt, Michael C. Baltzer, Peter Davidson, Peter Leimgruber, U Uga, U Aung Than in consultation with the following stakeholders: Bates, Paul McGowan, Phil U Ohn Bowman, Vicky Mills, Judy U Sai Than Maung Brunner, Jake Momberg, Frank U Saw Hla Chit Daw Khant Khant Chaw Ocker, Donnell U Saw Lwin Daw Khin Ma Ma Thwin Peters, James U Saw Tun Khaing Daw Mya Thu Zar Petrie, Charles U Shwe Thein Daw Nila Shwe Potess, Fernando U Sit Bo Daw Pyu Pyu Myint Rabinowitz, Alan U Than Myint Daw Si Si Hla Bu Rao, Madhu U Thet Zaw Naing Daw Tin Nwe Sale, John U Tin Than Elkin, Chantal Songer, Melissa U Tin Tun Fang Fang Stimson, Hugh U Tint Lwin Thaung Ferraris, Jr, Carl Stone, Chris U Win Maung Grimmett, Richard Tajima, Makoto U Win Myo Thu Hill, Glen Tang Zhengping U Win Sein Naing Kullander, Sven U Aung Myint Wemmer, Chris Lee, Eugene U Gyi Maung Wikfalk, Anna Lynam, Anthony U Htin Hla Wikramanayake Eric Marsden, Rurick U Khin Maung Zaw Wild, Klaus Peter Martinez, Carmen U Kyi Maung Wohlauer, Ben Mather, Robert U Nay Myo Zaw Zug, George Note: the above stakeholders comprise representatives of NGOs, academic institutions, government institutions and donor agencies active in Myanmar who participated at stakeholder workshops held in Yangon in August 2003 and July 2004, and/ or who provided written feedback on the draft document. Myanmar: Investment Opportunities in Biodiversity Conservation i ii Myanmar: Investment Opportunities in Biodiversity Conservation CONTENTS FOREWORDS ............................................................................................................................... iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................................. viii INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 1 Structure of the document ............................................................................................................... 1 Background .................................................................................................................................... 1 BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE ......................................................................................................... 3 Geography, climate and history ........................................................................................................ 3 Habitats and ecosystems ................................................................................................................. 3 Species diversity and endemism ....................................................................................................... 6 Globally threatened species ............................................................................................................. 8 CONSERVATION OUTCOMES ................................................................................................... 24 Species Outcomes ........................................................................................................................ 26 Site Outcomes .............................................................................................................................. 27 Corridor Outcomes....................................................................................................................... 28 Priority Outcomes for conservation investment ............................................................................... 31 SOCIO-ECONOMIC FEATURES ................................................................................................. 43 Introduction and historical context ................................................................................................. 43 Demographic and social trends ...................................................................................................... 43 Economic trends ........................................................................................................................... 44 Infrastructure development ............................................................................................................ 44 Government frameworks ............................................................................................................... 44 Non-governmental frameworks ..................................................................................................... 45 Legislative and protected area frameworks .................................................................................... 55 Regional agreements ..................................................................................................................... 56 Global conventions ........................................................................................................................ 57 SYNOPSIS OF CURRENT THREATS ........................................................................................ 63 Over-exploitation of natural resources ........................................................................................... 63 Habitat degradation and loss ......................................................................................................... 65 Invasive species ............................................................................................................................ 70 Pollution ....................................................................................................................................... 71 Root causes .................................................................................................................................. 71 SYNOPSIS OF CURRENT INVESTMENT.................................................................................. 79 Major sources of investment.......................................................................................................... 79 Thematic distribution of investment ................................................................................................ 81 Geographical distribution of investment .......................................................................................... 87 INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES ............................................................................................... 94 INVESTMENT PRIORITIES AND STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS .................................................. 95 Sustainability ............................................................................................................................... 105 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................ 106 ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE TEXT .................................................................................... 108 LIST OF MAPS............................................................................................................................ 108 LIST OF TABLES........................................................................................................................ 109 LIST OF ATTACHMENTS........................................................................................................... 109 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................ 110 Myanmar: Investment Opportunities in Biodiversity Conservation iii FOREWORDS Our planet is a web of interconnected life, a cornucopia of plants, animals, natural communities and ecosys- tems. At least 5 million species of plants and animals coexist on our planet. This delicate balance of nature - essential for our planet's functioning - provides us and our rapidly expanding population with countless valuable economic and cultural services, including food, shelter and medicine. For more than 15 years, Conservation International has focused its expertise and resources on "biodiversity hotspots", the biologically richest and most threatened areas on Earth. Conserving biodiversity within these hotspots has globally significant consequences: helping maintain climatic equilibrium; preserving species that may cure cancer and other fatal diseases; and protecting the world's remaining watersheds. The hotspots also represent a targeted and cost efficient way to direct scarce resources into conservation strategies and investments where it matters most. Scaling up those resources is also paramount. Conservation International, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the World Bank are partners in the first funding mechanism of its kind. The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) provides direct support to non-governmental organisations, community groups and other partners helping to conserve the hotspots. We