ANNEX 11:

Lenya Profile LANDSCAPE / SEASCAPE AND PROTECTED AREA (PA) PROFILES LENYA LANDSCAPE (“R2R Lenya”, aka Lenya Proposed Protected Area, which is currently Lenya Reserved Forest)

Legend for this map of Lenya Landscape is provided at the end of this annex. I. Baseline landscape context 1. 1 Defining the landscape: Lenya Landscape occupies the upper Lenya River Basin in Kawthaung District, and comprises the Lenya Proposed National Park (LPNP), which was announced in 2002 for the protection of Gurney’s pitta and other globally and nationally important species, all of which still remain (see below). The LPNP borders align with those of the Lenya Reserve Forest (RF) under which the land is currently classified, however its status as an RF has to date not afforded it the protection from encroachment and other destructive activities to protect the HCVs it includes. The Lenya Proposed National Park encompasses an area of 183,279ha directly south of the Myeik-Kawthaung district border, with the Lenya Proposed National Park Extension boundary to the north, the Parchan Reserve Forest to the south and the Thai border to the east. The site is located approximately 260km south of the regional capital of Dawei and between 20-30km east of the nearest administrative town of Bokpyin. Communities are known to reside within the LPNP area as well as on its immediate boundaries across the LPNP. Some small settled areas can be found in the far south-east, along the Thai border, where heavy encroachment by smallholder agriculture can also be found and where returning Myanmar migrants to Thailand may soon settle; Karen villages which have resettled (following the signing of a peace treaty between the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Myanmar government) on land along the Lenya River extending into the west of LPNP; and in the far north where a significant number of hamlets (in addition to the Yadanapon village) have developed in recent years along the the Yadanapon road from Lenya village to Thailand. Significant small-scale agricultural encroachment for , can also be found along this road.

Figure 2 Current forest cover in LPNP based on classification from 2014 Landsat imagery. Table 1. Forest type coverage inside focal PA/s and across its landscape

Habitat / Forest type Entire Inside existing Outside existing / proposed landscape / proposed PA PA in surrounding landscape (km2) #1 (km2) (km2) Lowland (0-300m asl) As left See other landscape profiles Hill (300-800m asl) As left See other landscape profiles Submontane (800- As left See other landscape profiles 1400m asl) Montane (>1400m asl) As left See other landscape profiles Grassland As left See other landscape profiles Degraded As left land/agriculture Total As left Note: Add further columns for additional existing / proposed PAs within each landscape

1.2 Climate context Tanintharyi Region has a tropical monsoon climate with summers, rainy and cold seasons. There are no meteorological stations inside Lenya Proposed Protected Area and the nearest meteorological station is at Kawthaung. Average climate data are provided below.

Climatic data (2006 to 2015)

Month Average rainfall Average Temp. Maximum Temp. Minimum Temp. Humidity (Inches) (Centigrade) (Centigrade) (Centigrade) % (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) Jan 0.43 26.90 34.5 16.60 79 Feb 0.38 22.80 37.00 17.50 77 Mar 2.60 29.10 38.20 16.20 79 April 7.36 29.45 39.70 17.00 77 May 16.08 30.90 39.50 15.00 83 June 30.53 28.90 36.10 17.50 87 July 32.06 27.55 34.50 18.50 91 Aug 27.98 27.50 36.00 17.50 88 Sep 29.00 26.10 34.50 17.00 91 Oct 19.89 26.30 34.20 14.60 86 Nov 8.21 26.30 33.50 12.60 86 Dec 1.80 26.70 33.50 15.00 83 Total 176.32 26.30 39.70 12.60 83 Source – Hydrology and Meteorology Department, Kawthaung District (2015).

1.3 Hydrological context The LPNP lies on flat to very steep land and is characterized by a number of river valleys and watersheds including that of the Lenya River. Although heavily logged in most flat areas, the site still contains one of the last remaining Sunda lowland forest areas in the world.

1.4. Biodiversity context: Lenya was announced as proposed national park in 2002 for the protection of Gurney’s pitta, Asian Elephant, Tiger, Tapir, Barking Deer, Sambar Deer, Mouse Deer, Wild Cats, Wild Boar, Pangolin, Hoolock Gibbon and Civet cats. FFI is currently in the process of supporting the newly-renamed Myanmar Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC), local communities and civil society within the landscape for improved forest protection, and in negotiations with other Ministries and departments responsible for landuse planning, land allocation and zonation in an effort to formally gazette the Lenya forest as protected. Table 2. Status of globally threatened and endemic species

Species Red List / CITES Appendix for Notes on species status (Endemic) illegally traded / and associated local status hunted species conservation challenges Mammals Manis javanica (Sunda Pangolin) CR II O,I Macaca arctoides (Stump-tailed Macaque) VU I O,I Hylobates Iar (White-handed Gibbon) EN I O,I Helarctos malavanus (Sun Bear) VU I O,I Arctictis binturong (Binturong) VU III O,I Hemigalus derbyanus (Banded Civet) VU II O Panthera tigris (Tiger) EN I O,I Prionailurus bengalensis (Leopard Cat) VU I O,I Elephas maximus (Asian Elephant) EN II O,D Tapirus indicus (Asian Tapir) EN I O,D Bos frontails (Gaur) VU I O,D Nycteris tragata (Malayan Slit-faced Bat) NT n/a O,D Birds Pitta gurneyi (Gurney’s Pitta) EN (End.) I Considered functionally extinct in Thailand and now endemic to lowland Sundaic forest in southern Tanintharyi. . D, H, I, O Pava muctius (Green Peafowl) EN II O Ciconia stormi (Storm’s Stork) EN O Leptoptilos javanicus (Lesser Adjutant) VU O Nisaetus nanus (Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle) VU II O Treron capellei (Large Green-Pigeon) VU O Aceros subruficollis (Plain-pouched Hornbill) VU I O Rhinoplax vigil (Helmeted Hornbill) CR I Mulleripicus pulverulentus (Great Slaty VU O Woodpecker) Reptiles Rhacophorus Kio VU O Cyrtodactylus payartanensis sp. Nov NE n/a O; new species, range (Mulcahy et al., in litt) currently unknown but potentially endemic to S. Tanintharyi Cyrtodactylus lenyi sp. Nov (Mulcahy et al., NE n/a O; new species from just in litt) north of the Landscape; range currently unknown but potentially endemic to s. Tanintharyi Botanical species Anisoptera scaphula(Kaung Hmu) CR O Dipterocarpus costulotus (Kanyin ywet thay) CR O Dipterocarpus grandiflorus (Kanyin-byan) CR O Hopea odorata Roxb (Thin-gan) VU O Shorea gratissima Dyer (U-ban-kha-ya) EN O Shorea henryana (Kaban-than-gyin) EN O

Key to table:

Red List Category (IUCN 2015) Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN), or Vulnerable (VU). Species that have not been or are not yet evaluated are classed “Not Evaluated” (NE). CITES: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Appendix I = species listed as Threatened by IUCN, where trade is only allowed in exceptional circumstances; Appendix II = species not always endangered, but where trade must be controlled to avoid use incompatible with their survival. Status CITES taken from CITES 2015.

End – Endemic to Myanmar

Explanation: Information that fed into the decision making on this species’ status (D – Known distribution; H – Habitat requirements; I – Interview results; O – Directly observed and individual or signs of this species during survey work).

Source: Daemeter 2015, High Conservation Value Full Assessment report, Lenya Proposed National Park, Tanintharyi, Myanmar. Report to the FFI Tanintharyi Conservation Programme. 1.4. Socio-economic context: Main social groups The largest group of long term residents is the Karen, and there are two settlements of Shan people. These groups have been residing in the area for over 100 years. During this time villages, especially Karen villages, have sometimes had to move due to the security situation or because of displacement during civil war. Large scale agribusiness activities started in the late 1990s. The main one was oil palm plantation development. Oil palm cultivation requires a large number of workers, some of which were locally recruited, but most relocated from other parts of Myanmar. Some of the labourers no longer work for the companies but have remained in the area and started their own farms. There are three towns in the area: Bokpyin, Lenya and Pyi Gyi Man Daing. Bokpyin and Pyi Gyi Man Daing are administrative centres. The three towns are trade centres servicing the villages in the hinterland. Some of the wealthy people in these towns are relevant for the Lenya landscape because they invest in agricultural plantations (mainly betelnut and rubber) adjacent to and inside the Lenya RF. These towns and other local villages are also a source of hunters. Main economic activity For many households, farming – especially upland (dry) rice agriculture – provides the basic needs; rice and vegetables. The most important source of cash income is betel nut in all villages, which is an export commodity. The betel nut price during the 2015 harvest season was double the price in 2014. This has resulted in interest in further expanding the betel nut plantations and dependence on one commodity as the primary source of income. Some farmers are aware of the risk of this high dependence and have planted other tree crops: rubber and cashew nut. However, prices for both commodities remain low. A number of farmers mentioned that they currently are not tapping their rubber trees.

Stakeholder villages and populations: See the table for villages, number of households, population size, ethnicity and religion within and around Lenya Proposed Protected Area based on 2016 data. Pyigyimandaing Township, Bokepyin, Kawtaung District, Tanintharyi Region.

Village name No. Population size Ethnicity Religion Remark HH Ban ka lar Village M F

st

Tract

tian

s Total Karen Bamar Mon Shan Buddhi Chri Other Ban ka lar 11 23 16 39 15 24 Htaung Khaw 12 31 23 54 26 26 2 Pyin Ma Chaung 15 26 35 61 52 9 Ya Ta Nar Pone 95 193 170 363 323 - 40 inside Mine Ye Nauk Chaung 70 131 128 259 115 113 30 14 Mile 10 29 12 41 41 - inside Pein Ne Cone 7 27 14 41 41 - Total 220 460 398 858 158 300 166 163 613 172 73 Chaung Kha Phet Village Tract Chaung Kha Phet 34 105 103 208 210 - Nann taung 80 146 186 332 64 268 Htinn Me 75 143 181 324 262 60 Total 189 394 470 864 328 280 - 256 536 328 Htaung Yike Village Tract Htaung Yike 19 35 35 70 68 Khauk Phan 2 8 5 13 13 Htaung Tin 11 36 35 71 72 Sandaree 52 83 82 165 166 Kyunpoke 22 42 48 90 51 39 Total 106 204 205 409 - 145 - 264 370 39 Source: General Administration Department, Pyigyimandaing Township.

Village name No. Population size Ethnicity Religion Remark HH Htaung Nga Taing M F Village Tract Total Karen Bamar Mon Shan Buddhist Christian Other Htaung Nga Taing 6 50 29 79 57 22 Kyauk Tann 35 77 92 169 146 23 Chaung Mone 58 34 51 85 - 85 Ghaung Mon 70 233 183 416 369 47 Total 169 394 355 749 209 434 84 22 572 177 Kauk Boot Village Tract Kauk boot 93 139 138 277 5 272 Wet Toe 5 15 12 27 27 - Total 98 154 150 304 271 33 - - 32 272 Ma Noe Rone Village Tract Khe Chaung 62 164 157 321 60 262 Taung Nge 246 562 562 115 794 280 4 Ma Noe Rone 58 174 158 332 6 326 Lamm Phoe Kam 116 174 177 351 83 246 Ywar Tar Yar 75 211 150 361 116 225 Kyar Chaung 37 104 106 210 52 158 Total 594 138 131 272 147 107 59 - 111 149 9 0 9 2 6 1 7 Shwe Geh Nyo Village Tract Shwe Geh Nyo 517 124 115 240 197 156 7 7 4 8 Kann Sauk 65 215 181 396 275 36 Ye Cho Taung 23 39 42 81 31 40 Phaya Taung Kann 13 46 38 84 33 19 Naung Myat Nge 31 64 68 132 52 60 Galet Toe 40 53 60 113 24 53 Total 565 166 154 321 366 233 52 - 239 364 4 6 0 7 3 Source: General Administration Department, Pyigyimandaing Township. 1.5. Developmental context:

 Regional, District and Township level Environmental Conservation Committees exist.  New reginal government is reviewing the legality of oil palm concessions in response to stakeholder criticisms. The One Map Myanmar programme launched a pilot prohject in Tanintharyi in late 2016, and is supporting the plantation review.  Gazettement of Lenya proposed national park has reached the final stage. After receiving no objection from the regional government and approval from the Cabinet, it can be announced. The process is delayed due to the governmental changes.  Forest Department 10 year management plan 2016-2025 includes to notify a continuous biodiversity corridor starting from Lenya PPA in the south to Lenya extension, 2 RFs (Thein Khun, Tha Gyet) and Tanintharyi PPA to the north.  Log extraction ban for 2015-2016 financial year for the whole country and plans for reforestation. 1.6. Institutional context: The landscape is situated in Pyigyi Mandaing village tract, Boke Pyin Township, Kawtaung District. Village authority officers (leaders of groups of 100 households) have been appointed within Pyi Gyi Mandaing village tract. Boke Pyin township forest department is responsible to manage the Lenya landscape, including implementation of their 10-year Forest Management Plan.

II. Baseline PA description 2.1. Defining the PA Name: Lenya Proposed Protected Area Status: Notified as proposed PA on March 18, 2002, notification no (21/2002) Location: 11°04´N 99°04´E Districts: Boke Pyin Township, Kaw Thoung District Area: 183,279 ha Elevation Range: 0 – 1,200 m 2.2. History/Timeline Relevant laws and regulations Spatial planning Myanmar does not currently have a spatial or land use planning process, nor a unified land law. A new National Land Policy was passed by parliament in October 2014 and mandates the preparation of a comprehensive land law, which should include spatial planning. The policy was drafted with the consultation of non-state actors. The Karen National Union also proposed their Land Policy in December 2015, and the KNU have their own forest law, list of protected species, community forestry process and land registration process, among others. Land and forests The management of forest land (and protection of species) is pursued primarily through the Forest Law (1992) and Protection of Wildlife and Protected Area Law (1994), and a number of subordinate instruments, including the Community Forestry Instruction (1995) and Wildlife Rules (2002). The Karen National Union also have their own parallel protected area system and list of protected species, under the KNU Forest Policy (2009) and supporting laws.

2.3. Physical Features The Lenya Reserved Forest corresponds to the upper watershed of the Lenya River, with the main tributaries occupying flat, low-lying valleys separated by steeper ridges. The main ridge features run roughly south-north. At least one of the lowland valleys shows several small massifs of exposed limestone, which despite their relative small size make a disproportionate contribution to the overall biological diversity within the landscape, accounting for a significant number of all mammal species in the form of cave-dependent bats, and recently revealing two species of gecko which are new to science (Hulcahy et al., in prep.).

2.4 Cultural Heritage Areas of cultural significance are of critical importance for the traditional cultures of local communities or indigenous peoples. These may be religious or sacred sites, burial grounds or sites at which traditional ceremonies take place. These are frequently well known by the local people, and some national laws require them to be identified and protected. A Buddhist temple (which seems long established) is located at the Payartan limestone cave, next to a permanent river about 5km south of ‘23 Mile’ hamlet on the Yatanaporn road. The temple is still used for worship by people, and the permanent housing facilities at the site are frequently used by KNU and Myanmar army patrols, hunters, travellers and scientific researchers. Some smaller neighbouring caves are also important for religious reasons and contain permanent shrines, while there is evidence of ongoing guano collection from at least one of the larger caves. Some of the categories established by Indigenous Karen practices are unique in the area. For example, they established areas for reviving the practice of hanging or burying the umbilical cord of a newborn baby under a special tree- an important Karen custom and it is prohibited to cut or destroy trees in this area.

2.5 Key Biodiversity Features: Major forest associations The forest consists of evergreen lowland and mountain vegetation with similar species composition. Secondary disturbed rain forests are present in flat plains, well-drained high plains and high hills. Forest canopy is 25 to 30 m, and upper canopy is occupied by Dipterocarpus species. Middle layer is composed of varieties of woody species and ground cover vegetation is clear under closed forests, and densely covered by bushes of bamboo and saplings in open forest parts. The soil in many of the lowland areas is limestone and Dipterocarpacae species are abundant with dominant species being Orophea brandisii, Cananga odorata, Knema erratica, Nephelium laurinum, Dipterocarpus obtusifolius, Dipterocarpus turbinatus, Knema globularia, Barringtonia cymosar, Dipterocarpus grandiflorus, and Swintonia floribunda. Epiphytes are numerous, especially filmy ferns, mosses, fungi and some orchids. Forest connectivity Whilst some lowland areas, notably in the far south, have been degraded to the point of total conversion by logging and potentially fire into a grassland/scrubland ecosystem, in general good connectivity of forest from the far south (Parchan Reserve Forest) to the far north (Lenya Proposed National Park Extension) exists. It appears that little forest valuable to biodiversity still exists across the border in Thailand to the east. Limited forest areas remain outside of the Reserve Forest boundary to the west and habitat is mostly agriculture or agro-forestry based with some commercial scale palm oil cultivation taking place. Much of the area is accessed by a network of old logging roads and footpaths, some of which are still accessible by road (notably in the southern section) despite the cessation of logging activities. Further road development is now taking place in the far south along the Thai border and in the far north from Lenya village to the Thai border. The key fauna characteristics of the site are the same as for the Landscape (see above) The Lenya Proposed National Park is also identified as an Important Bird Area in Danger (IBAiD) and as a part of a Tiger Conservation Landscape (TCL). 2.6. PA management system Lenya was announced as proposed national park on March 18, 2002, notification no. (21/2002) by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation. It is still only a proposal and there is neither management plan nor staff allocated. The staff of Kawthoung Forest Department is in charge of the management but they have no financial resources to implement any enforcement. Although the area should be reserved for natural resources maintenance, a big portion of the area surrounding the landscape has been converted to oil palm and rubber plantation.

Currently there is no PA management office or staff allocated for the PNP. b. visitors There are no official “visitors” except for international and national scientists on research expeditions. c. Status of PA management plan The gazettal process is specified by the ‘Implementation Regulations for Wildlife Protection and Protected Areas’ in Chapter 4. Lenya was notified as a proposed National Park in 2002, which was followed by the establishment of a settlement committee at township level chaired by the Township general administration department to oversee consultations for a boundary realignment. Several revised proposals have been prepared, the latest of which is now under consideration by the new regional government. d. Site-level implementation status of management actions, priority species conservation and other site- and/or national-level initiatives. There are no site-level management actions at this moment. Details are provided in the METT document. e. SWOT analysis of existing institutional frameworks against conservation and sustainable development objectives. Table 4. Summary of the major strengths and weaknesses of the PA and the associated opportunities and threats.

Strengths Opportunities Threats

Political commitment and will The area comprises Sundaic Expansion of the Yadanapon at Union, regional level Lowland Forest, which is village, forest conversion government to protect and regarded as a biome-restricted along the yadanapon village conserve as biodiversity habitat (AS14). access road. corridor. Strong support and FFI, Tanintharyi Tiger Encroachment from coordinating by INGOs such as Conservation Landscape bordering Palm Oil FFI and Smithsonian. Project. plantations (South Dagon, Shwe Myay Yadanar, Sweet Home); lack of coordination or land use planning Strong commitment of forest FFI, Tanintharyi Tiger Military inspection road in governance by local CSOs Conservation Landscape the SE; some limited (patrolling, monitoring and Project. settlement in the SE. reporting for illegal logging) No apparent existing conflict One year timber extraction Some parts of southern among communities. ban by MONREC. Tanintharyi are controlled by the Karen National Union (KNU). They retain a veto over certain locations for security and safety reasons, and certain activities with Karen communities. KNU has their own conservation Integration of KNU and Union Hunting, killing and rules, regulations and forest management collecting terrestrial animals Instructions. approaches (intruding from Thai side) The KNU signed a ceasefire with Forest resource co- Peace process will falter and the Union government in management might help re- the project will not be able January 2012, since when they build decades of mistrust to work safely in Karen areas recognize the right of organizations with a legal government status to work in KNU-controlled areas. Mining and quarrying Climate Change and severe weather Droughts and extreme temperature. Heavy rain. Weaknesses Limited capacity, skills, staffs and financial resources at various levels (regional level gov., dept) Strengths Opportunities Threats Limited cooperation and coordination among FD, DoF, Agriculture, University and related line departments. Lack of facilities such as transport, equipment. Lack of information and networks. No capacity for patrolling, monitoring and enforcement. Key recommendations from the SWOT analysis

 More Community consultations on the designation of national park  To recognize the customary tenure and to preserve traditional knowledge  Co-management, community conservation agreements, and participatory mapping and monitoring to reduce conflict between PAs and communities  Capacity Building and support at various levels.  A funding allocation is required following Park gazettement to support park establishment and management.

III. Baseline landscape analysis 3.1. Threats, underlying causes / drivers and associated barriers Table 5. Threats to biodiversity within the landscape

Threat Description Threat Intensity* Area impacted by PAs Affected threat** Establishment of Palm Permanent widespread Lenya PNP Oil Plantation Rubber plantations Permanent widespread Lenya PNP Betel plantations Temporary? localized Lenya PNP Mining and Quarrying Temporary localized Lenya PNP Human settlement Temporary localized Lenya PNP *Temporary impact, or Permanent and irreversible impact * Less than 33% (localized), 34-66% (widespread) or >67% (ubiquitous) of area affected by threat The principal threats in the proposed landscape are annual and perennial non-timber crop plantations (Agriculture encroachment) such as palm oil, rubber and betelnut. The opening of a new lead mine and resettlement are also other principal threats to the surrounding area. An underlying cause for the palm oil concession development is the past Government policy aiming at rapid expansion of the evolving oil palm industry in the Tanintharyi region. It also imposed upon the industry, not only social, environmental and implications, but also the basis for an unsustainable and enduring poor performance of the industry. Political stability has encouraged the resettlement of the land surrounding the Lenya River with numerous villages, some of which are currently within the boundary of the proposed National Park. It seems likely that with ongoing political stability that more former Karen residents displaced by the previous armed conflict might return, and the KNU has indicated it is expecting this and considering which areas might be allocated for returnees who find their original land is no longer available. This could mean further expansion of village lands into the reserve forest, but it is currently unclear. Most of the current residents of the area rely on some limited subsistence agriculture supplemented by vegetable gardens, though betel growing is by far the major economic activity and brings a living income for most of the present population. It is evident in Myanmar that one of the critical barriers to adopting an integrated approach towards land and seascape management has been the knowledge gaps and the weak institutional space and coordinating mechanisms among multi-sectoral and multi-tier agencies. Cooperation of the line departments through delineated responsibility sharing and policy revisions in natural resource conservation is inevitable for implementation.

3.2. Baseline support: According to the NBSAP 2015-2020, Aichi Target 11 mention that “ By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water areas, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well- connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes”. Several Sundaic mammal species in Southern Myanmar, including the Banded Langur (NT), Dusky Langur (NT), and Banded Civet (VU) are not found inside existing PAs. Of the 37 globally threatened bird species that are found outside of PAs, the largest unprotected group is comprised of Sundaic species. This gap could be filled by the establishment of Taninthayi National Park, Lenya National Park, and Lenya National Park Extension, which together form a discontinuous Taninthayi Forest Corridor (TFC). In phase 1, several species-focused PAs could be established including Lenya National Park (Asian elephant, tiger, tapir) and in phase 2, the new PAs would include Taninthayi National Park and Lenya National Park Extension of TFC. The FFI Tanintharyi Programme has been conducting forest research and supporting conservation efforts with various stakeholders in the area since 2014. The FFI Tanintharyi Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Project is part of the Tanintharyi Conservation Programme.

Myanmar became the 11th Mangroves For the Future member country in October 2014. In Myanmar, MFF strategic framework and priorities for intervention are environmental profiling, capacity development, ICM policy development and civil society engagement in conservation. MFF supports 3 small grants (financing $25,000 each) for 10 villages in Pyinbugyi village tract, Palaw Township, Myeik District, Taninthayi region for one year project (2016-2017). 3.3. Community stakeholder needs assessment Table 6. PA and landscape / seascape stakeholder involvement plan

Stakeholder Current roles and Interests in the project Potential conflicts and group responsibilities mitigation Taninthayi Development planning, land Environmental Knowledge gaps, weak Regional use planning and resource conservation, Capacity institutional space and Government management planning Building and ILSM approach coordinating mechanisms among multi-sectoral MONREC, FD Biodiversity conservation, PA Taninthayi Forest Corridor Limited resources such as and wildlife management, staff, capacity, financial forest management Department of Regulating marine and MPAs, LMMA planning and Same as above Fisheries freshwater fisheries to management achieve sustainable development of the sector. FFI Supporting biodiversity Taninthayi Forest Corridor Limited staff management, protected area and forest management Academic Capacity Building Research and study Capacity for terrestrial Institution, Myeik University Private Concessions for Palm Oil, Elephant conflict expansion Businesses Rubber, Betelnut Local Settlements, forest dwellers Basic needs, job Land conflict, customary communities opportunities tenure Local NGOs and Law enforcement, Environmental - CSOs governance, monitoring and conservation reporting

IV. Reports and publications

National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2015-2030) – Prepared by Forest Department and Consulted by IUCN.

Wildlife Conservation Society 2013. Myanmar Biodiversity Conservation Investment Vision, Wildlife Conservation Society, Yangon, Myanmar.

Istituto Oikos and BANCA (2011) Myanmar Protected Areas: Context Status and Challenges. Milano, Italy: Ancora Libri.

L. Emerton, A. Kyin, R. Tizard. 2015. Sustainable Financing of Protected Areas in Myanmar. Yangon, Wildlife Conservation Society, p. 95.

Pollard. E. H. B., Soe Win Hlaing & Pilgrim, J. D. (2014). Review of the Tanintharyi Nature Reserve Project as a conservation model in Myanmar. Unpublished report of The Biodiversity Consultancy, Cambridge, England. 10 Year Forest management Plan (2016-2017 to 2025-2026) Myeik District, Tanintharyi Region, Forest Department.

10 Year Forest management Plan (2016-2017 to 2025-2026) Kawtaung District, Tanintharyi Region, Forest Department.

High Conservation Value Full Assessment, Lenya Proposed National Park, Tanintharyi, Myanmar, 2015, Daemeter.

Other reports cited by MG

NGAWUN LANDSCAPE

I. Baseline landscape context

1.1. Defining the landscape:

Ngawun Landscape occupies part of the Tanintharyi River basin in Myeik District, comprising: Lenya extension Proposed Protected Area and two Reserve Forests to the north, Thein Khun and Tha Gyet, that constitute an ecological corridor linking Lenya Extension Proposed Protected Area with Tanintharyi proposed NP.

Tanintharyi range is situated in the eastern side of Myeik district and there are mainly owlying coastal areas in the west. District geography can roughly be divided into terrestrial and coastal regions. Tanintharyi Mountain range is higher in the North and slightly lower to the south.

Northern Palaw and along the border of Dawei, there are Myintmoeletkhat Mountain 6,800 ft (above sea level), Tha Gyet Mountain 4,325 ft, Kyauk Phyar 815 ft and Nga Wun 2,390 ft and around ,1000 ft high on islands.

Myeik district, Kyun Su township only have 201 islands mainly mangrove forest and flat land. Some big islands have mountains less than 1000 ft. The most famous island is Katan Kyun (King Island). The others are Linnlu Kyun (Elphinstone), Don kyun (Ross island), Sakhanthit kyun (Sellore island), Pyinsabu kyun (Bentick island) and Panntaung kyun (Domel island).

The creation of Lenya Extension PPA was proposed after the rediscovery of the endangered bird species Gurney’s Pitta, but it has not been gazetted yet. Therefore, the area is still unprotected and its conservation status is considered only fair due to the presence of commercial plantations and human settlements within its borders.

The area is covered by evergreen forest of medium conservation value. The highlight was the discovery in 2008 by BirdLife International of 9,300-35,000 Gurney’s Pitta (Pitta gurneyi) territories in the Lenya area. This bird species was considered extinct until the rediscovery of a population in Thailand in 1986. After this discovery the species was down listed by IUCN from “critically endangered” to “endangered” and 99% of the population is in Myanmar. The lowland extension of Lenya National Park will contain much of the Gurney’s Pitta population, thus ensuring the species’ long-term survival.

1.2 Climate context

There are no meteorological stations inside Lenya (Ext) Proposed Protected Area and Thein Kun – Ta Gyet RFs and the nearest meteorological station is at Myeik.

Tanintharyi Region has a tropical monsoon climate and it has summer, rainy and cold seasons. Monthly average rainfall, average temperature, highest and lowest temperatures of Myeik station for the last five years (2011 to 2015) and highest rainfall for last ten years (2006-2015) are shown in the following tables. The highest temperature at Myeik was recorded as 38.5°C on the 27th. March 2016. It was the highest temperature at Myeik in 69 years. The previous highest temperature was recorded on the 23rd May 2010 as 38°C.

Myeik District, Monthly Climatic figures (2011 – 2015)

Average RF Average Temp Highest Temp Lowest Temp Month (inches) (Centigrade) (Centrigade) (Centrigade) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

January 2.55 24.50 32.90 16.9

February 1.85 22.80 34.50 17.15

March 1.77 29.45 33.50 18.35

April 3.37 27.65 34.70 20.6

May 28.10 25.70 30.50 23.6

June 38.21 26.10 29.80 21.00

July 44.30 27.40 29.75 21.70

August 39.96 24.90 31.30 21.8

September 39.96 24.50 28.65 22.2

October 33.89 29.63 32.88 22.38

November 13.77 26.69 33.25 21.25

December 2.09 27.31 35.25 18.63

249.82 26.39 32.25 20.4

Source – Hydrology and Meteorology Department, Myeik District.

Myeik District, Highest Rainfall within 10 years Inches Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

RF 44.5 45.5 46.5 43.5 42.23 43.82 44.53 47.22 46.8 47.5

Source – Hydrology and Meteorology Department, Myeik District.

1.3 Hydrological context

Tanintharyi River is one of the important rivers in the Tanintharyi Region and it flows into the Andaman Sea by several distributaries near Myeik. Tanintharyi River flows year-round and during the rainy season, timber, bamboo and rattan rafts can float along the river. But in summer can float only below the Tanintharyi Township because of the low volume of river water. Ta Gyet, Thein Khun and Ngawun streams are the longest streams of Tanintharyi River.

1.4. Biodiversity context:

Lenya Extension was announced as proposed national park in 2004 for the protection of Gurney’s pitta, Asian Elephant, Tiger, Tapir, Barking Deer, Sambar Deer, Mouse Deer, Wild Cat, Wild Boar, Pangolin, Hoolock Gibbon and Civet cats. FFI is currently in the process of supporting the Myanmar Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC) in negotiations with other Ministries and departments responsible for landuse planning and allocation and zonation of land in an effort to gazette the Lenya Extension Proposed National Park as a legally protected entity. The LEPNP borders align with those of the Reserve Forest (RF) under which the land is currently classified, however its status as an RF has to date not afforded it the protection from encroachment and other destructive activities to protect the HCVs it includes.

With the support and permission of the Forest Department, Fauna and Flora International (FFI) conducted the biodiversity survey, mainly of birds and mammals, in the proposed Tanintharyi National park and Lenya Proposed National Park. The survey team included both international researchers and national researchers for birds and mammals.

According to the FFI Tanintharyi Conservation Programme (TCP) report No. 30 “Draft report on Biodiversity survey result in Tanintharyi national Park and Lenya Proposed National Park” the first camera trap surveys were undertaken in February-March 2014 in Tanintharyi National Park. Total of 14 camera trap were set up and 23 species of mammal were confirmed from the result of camera trapping. The second camera traps in Lenya Proposed National Park were conducted in October 2014 to July 2015. In this area, FFI team use the grid line method under guide by Mr. Matthew Linkie and already set up in three places in Lenya Proposed National Park (Ngawon, Payartan and Ywarhilu Area) located in south-east of Tanintharyi Township, Myeik District , Tanintharyi Division.

Ngawun camera trapping area started in 17 October 2014 and ended 31 March 2015 and total of 28 camera traps were set up and 44 species of mammal and birds were recorded in that area.

Base on camera trap results, a total of 62 mammals including birds and reptiles were recorded to be present in Tanintharyi National Park and Lenya Proposed National Park, two confirmed of Critically Endangered species (Sunda pangolin Gurney’s Pitta and 7 Endangered species (Dhole, Asian Black Bear, Tiger, Asian Elephant, Asian Tapir, Banteng and Storm’s Stork), 11 species of Vulnerable species (Northern Pig-tailed Macaque, Stump-tailed Macaque, Sun Bear, Smooth Otter, Large Spotted Civet, Banded Civet, Clouded leopard, Marbled Cat, Sambar and Gaur).

The map of Lenya Proposed National Park and Camera trapping Area

Ngawun area (Camera setting Area) Ngawun area is located in Lenya National Park (Extension) and the Ngawun River is the main stream in this area. This river is very difficult to travel in dry season because of water level. In that area, the main serious threat that the FFI team observed during survey is hunting from Thailand hunters passing from the checkpoint of Chaungchi Village (Aye Mon Thar Village). This checkpoint is very easy to enter and trade illegal wildlife to Thailand Site. Another threat is the seed collection time on February to April and May. This seed also export to Thailand.

Total of 28 camera traps were already set in Ngawun Area. Based on camera trap results a total of 38 species were recorded and 5 species of endangered and 8 species of vulnerable species were confirmed. The following table shows the results of camera in Survey Area in 2015.

The recorded Mammal and bird from camera trapping (Ngawun Area)

Sr.no Species Name Scientific Name Red List CITES 1 Moonrat Echinosorex gymnurus 2 Northern Treeshrew Tupaia belangeri 3 Banded Langur Presbytis femoralis NT II 4 Long tailed macaque Macaca fascicularis LC II 5 Northern Pig-tailed macaque Macaca leonine VU II 6 Stump-tailed macaque Macaca arctoides VU II 7 Golden Jackal Canis aureus LC 8 Dhole Cuon alpinus EN II 9 Asian Black Bear Urus thibetanus EN I 10 Sun Bear Helarctos malayanus VU I 11 Yellow-throated martin Martes flavigula LC III 12 Small Indian Civet Viverricula indica LC III 13 Large-sported Civet Viverra megaspila VU 14 Large Indian Civet Viverra zibetha NT III 15 Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphrodites LC III 16 Banded Linsang Prionodon linsang LC II 17 Binturong Arcticis binturong III 18 Banded Civet Hemigalus derbyanus VU II 19 Crab-eating Mongoose Herpestes urva LC III 20 Clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa VU I 21 Leopard Panthera pardus NT I 22 Tiger Panthera tigris EN I 23 Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis LC I 24 Asian Golden Cat Catopuma temminckii NT I 25 Asian Elephant Elephas maximus EN I 26 Asian Tapir Tapirus indicus EN 27 Eurasian Wild Pig Sus scrofa LC 28 Lesser Mousedeer Tragulus kanchil LC 29 Greater Mousedeer Tragulus napu LC 30 Fea's Muntjac Muntiacus feae DD 31 Red Muntjac Muntiacus muntjak LC 32 Sambar Rusa unicolor VU 33 Gaur Bos frontalis VU I 34 Banteng Bos javanicus EN 35 Chinese Serow Carpricornis milneedwardsi NT 36 Black Giant Squirrel Ratufa bicolor NT II 37 Malayan Porcupine Hystrix brachyuran LC 38 Brush-tailed Porcupine Atherurus macrourus LC

Threats to biodiversity

The main threat for mammal survey in Ngawun Area is hunting and human disturbance. The hunting method that the local people use is only black powder gun and people from Thailand only use the sniper gun and make the shooting platform passing from Aye Mon Thar Village (Chaungchi Village) and getting permission from the checkpoint of Myanmar and Thailand. Their main target species are Gaur, black bear, sun bear and pangolin. During the survey, one group of hunters shot the gaur in Ngawun area in 2014. Twice a month, Thai hunters come by 2 to 3 cars including carrying big ice box and staying temporary camp throwing rubbish and empty bottles.

Non-timber forest product extraction

Access to Thailand markets has also increased the extraction of non-timber forest products (NTFP). Ka Tauk fruit (Parkia platycephala) (seed) are sold to Thailand Border and collected in large quantities every year (from February to April). As black powder guns are carried during seeds collection time. This is the kind of a further increase of opportunistic hunting. More than thirty five people stay in the temporary camp at Ngawun Area in Lenya Proposed National Park and carry this fruit to the village by motorbike and sell for the cost of 40,000 MMK (40 USD) (one bucket).

Hunting and wildlife trading

For the subsistence hunting, villagers usually did hunting in the forest around their villages and their farms before. But for trading the bush meat today, hunters do hunting both in the forest around their villages and the forest far away from their villages where the wildlife is abundant in particular bears and pangolin are still common. Their main target species are gaur, black bear, sun bear and pangolin. Even tiger is not allowed to shoot, but some hunter shoots quietly and sells to Thailand as soon as they catch. They shoot with black powder gun but some hunter shot with sniper gun bought from Thailand. Depending on the weight of valuable bear parts (gall bladder) local hunters can sell bears for 4,000 to 10,000 Baht per animal. The pangolin can be sold for 140,000 MMK for one viss (alive) and dead for 60,000 MMK for one viss (Viss means the Myanmar measurement unit). According to local people, some wildlife trader from Myeik come to Taung Nge village and buy gaur skull, Chinese serow, Sambar and other bush meat. Guar meat can be sold for 4000 MMK for one viss. We also recorded a hunter from Thailand got a Gaur with Sniper gun on 21 May 2014 and according to interview of the hunter they can sell the whole body for 200,000 MMK and if the gaur horn is good quality they can get 20,000 Baht.

1.4. Socio-economic context:

Stakeholder villages and populations:

See the table for villages, number of households, population size, Ethnics and Religions within and around Thein Khun and Tha Gyet Reserved Forests and Lenya Extension PPA based on 2016 data.

Tanintharyi Township, Myeik District, Tanintharyi Region. (Thein Khun and Tha Gyet RFs)

Village name No. of Population size Ethnics Remarks HH

Thein Khun Village Tract Male Fema Total Karen Bamar Mon Shan Rakhi Chin le ne

Thein Khun 226 598 606 1204

Kawt Yun 38 103 105 208

Htone Kha 27 64 60 124 Chaung La Mu 232 680 663 1343

Aye Tar Yar 72 209 192 401

Chaung Nauk Pyan 36 80 68 148

Te Phyu 103 306 268 574 Inside

Kyane Chaung 76 189 187 376

Maw Thaung 980 1893 1790 3683 Inside

Let Pan Taung 21 50 45 95

Tar Pa Lut 43 104 92 196

Aye Mon Tar 151 413 328 741 Inside

No. 3 village 35 93 70 163 Inside

No. 5 village 20 33 37 70 Inside

No. 6 village 50 109 97 206 Inside

No. 9 village 70 144 125 269 Inside

Ta kaw Phaw Lu 50 104 63 167

Total 2230 5172 4796 9968 811 7300 806 1019 31 1

Source: General Administration Department, Tanintharyi Township. 1.5. Developmental context: • Regional, District and Township level Environmental Conservation Committees exist. • One map Myanmar, Tanintharyi is the pilot project for compiling land use and plan from all Ministries and Departments. • Regarding gazettement of the Protected area, it has reached final stage. After getting the agreement from the regional government and approval from the Cabinet, it can be officially announced. The process is delayed due to the government changes. • Forest Department 10 year management plan 2016-2025 includes to notify continuous biodiversity corridor starting Lenya PPA from south to Lenya extension, 2 RFs (Thein Khun, Tha Gyet) and Tanintharyi PPA to the north. • Extraction ban for 2015-2016 financial year for the whole country and plan reforestation.

1.6. Institutional context:

There are four townships in Myeik District: Myeik, Kyun Su, Palaw and Tanintharyi are administrative centers. According to the General Administration Department, the Ngawun landscape is situated in the Tanintharyi Township, Myeik District. Tanintharyi Township Forest Department is responsible to manage the Ngawun landscape.

II. Baseline PA description: Lenya Extension Proposed Protected Area

2.1. Defining the PA

Name: Lenya Extension Proposed Protected Area

(Ngawun and Ngawun Extension Reserved Forest)

Status: Notified as proposed PA on 14 October 2004, notification no (43/2004)

Location: N 11°35’, E 99°19’

Districts: Myeik District (100%)

Area: 540 sq mile / 139,862 ha.

Elevation Range: 15 - 1,240 m.asl

IUCN Category II

2.2. History/Timeline

Lenya Extension Proposed Protected Area is a proposed upgrade in conservation status of the current Ngawun Reserved Forest and notified as proposed protected area on 14 October 2004 notification number 43/2004, but at the time of writing has not been formally gazetted. The protection level is partial. The main purpose to propose as National Park is to maintain the natural resources and the key resources are Asian Elephant, Tapir, Gaur, Banteng, Sambar Deer, Gurney’s Pitta, etc.

2.3. Physical Features

Height of Tha Gyet Mountain is 4325 ft above sea level. Tanintharyi range is locate in the South, bordering with Thailand. The notable features of Tanintharyi range is covering the northern transition zone between Indochina and Sundaic zones, this range is home to a variety of threatened species. PAs in Thailand are connected to this forest complex across the border.

II. Baseline PA description: Thein Khun and Tha Gyet Reserved Forests 2.1. Defining the PA

Name: Thein Khun and Tha Gyet Reserved Forests Status: Established in 26-9-1970 and 14-5-1931(Notification No. 131) Location: N xx°-N xx° and E xx°-E xx° Districts: Myeik District (100%) Area: Thein Khun - 98386 Ha, Tha Gyet- 166167 Ha. Elevation Range: X-Y m asl

2.2. History/Timeline

Lenya National Park Extension is a proposed upgrade in conservation status of the current Ngawun Reserved Forest, but at the time of writing it has not been formally gazetted.

Sr Reserved Area Exclude Remain Notification no. Remark Forest (hec.) Area Area And Date (hec.) (hec.) 32.4 346 (30-3-2015) Township expand 1 Thein Khun 99,160 729.3 98,308 549 (2-7-2015) Maw Taung New Town 89.8 462 (28-4-2015) Township expand

2.3. Physical Features

Height of Tha Gyet Mountain is 4325 ft above sea level. Tanintharyi range is located in the South, bordering with Thailand. The notable features of Tanintharyi range is covering the northern transition zone between Indochina and Sundaic zones, this range is home to a variety of threatened species. PAs in Thailand are connected to this forest complex across the border.

2.4 Cultural Heritage

No information

2.5 Key Biodiversity Features:

No information – see landscape level descriptions above

2.6. PA management system

The protected area is still only a proposal and there is neither management plan nor staff allocated. The staff of Myeik Forest Department is in charge of the management of Lenya extension but they have no financial resources to implement any enforcement. In addition, they haven’t been able to conclude the boundary demarcation in the north- eastern part due to the alleged presence of insurgents. Although the area should be reserved for natural resources maintenance, some portion of the land has been or is being converted to oil palm and human encroachment. Loss of lowland Sundaic forest for the establishment of palm oil plantation along with encroachment from surrounding human settlements, is the main threat to the Gurney’s Pitta and other wildlife.

Reports and publications

National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2015-2030) – Prepared by Forest Department and Consulted by IUCN.

Wildlife Conservation Society 2013. Myanmar Biodiversity Conservation Investment Vision, Wildlife Conservation Society, Yangon, Myanmar.

Istituto Oikos and BANCA (2011) Myanmar Protected Areas: Context Status and Challenges. Milano, Italy: Ancora Libri.

L. Emerton, A. Kyin, R. Tizard. 2015. Sustainable Financing of Protected Areas in Myanmar. Yangon, Wildlife Conservation Society, p. 95.

Pollard. E. H. B., Soe Win Hlaing & Pilgrim, J. D. (2014). Review of the Tanintharyi Nature Reserve Project as a conservation model in Myanmr. Unpublished report of The Biodiversity Consultancy, Cambridge, England.

10 Year Forest management Plan (2016-2017 to 2025-2026) Myeik District, Tanintharyi Region, Forest Department.

10 Year Forest management Plan (2016-2017 to 2025-2026) Kawtaung District, Tanintharyi Region, Forest Department.

FFI Tanintharyi Conservation Programme (TCP) report No. 30 “Draft report on Biodiversity survey result in Tanintharyi national Park and Lenya Proposed National Park”

LANDSCAPE / SEASCAPE AND PROTECTED AREA (PA) PROFILES

Introductory Note:

It is proposed that a landscape/seascape profile be prepared for each demonstration PA (or possibly combined PAs), including its buffer zone and adjacent landscape / seascape area with significant ecological and socioeconomic inter-connectedness proposed for sustainable management. Pressures emanating from the landscape/seascape towards the PA and/or the landscape's role in providing the PA with wider ecological connectivity (e.g. larval connectivity) are key considerations in determining the extent of these areas. The project activities will therefore aim to reduce the degree of ecological and management isolation of the target PAs, while enhancing the positive aspects of this inter- connectedness. (The project will cover 500,000 ha of demo PAs and 200,000 of demo landscapes in adjacent areas, so 700,000 ha in total approximately).

Landscapes and seascapes have been selected on the basis of topography (e.g. river basins in the case of landscapes; opportunities to establish, maintain or enhance connectivity; and current political feasibilities. The selected demonstration landscapes / seascapes are:

a. Tanintharyi Landscape (occupying part of the Tanintharyi River basin in Myeik District and comprising: Lenya extension proposed NP and two reserve forests to the north, Thein Khun and Tha Gyet, that constitute an ecological corridor linking Lenya Extension proposed NP with Tanintharyi proposed NP). b. Lenya Landscape (occupying part of the Lenya River Basin in Kawthaung District and comprising Lenya proposed NP); c. Auckland Bay Mangroves Landscape (comprising coastal mangroves in Kyunsu Township, Myeik District); d. Thayawthatangyi Islands Seascape (in Myeik District and including LMMAs); and e. Langan Islands Seascape (in Kawthaung District and including LMMAs).

PAs have yet to be identified in the mangroves landscape but, working with the Fisheries department and fishing communities, a number of LMMAs or similar initiatives will be established during the course of the project. This Profile covers both Thayawthatangyi and Langann Islands and combines them as one overall Seascape

I. Baseline seascape context

1.1. Defining the Seascape:

The proposed seascape area of the project is situated in southern Myanmar within the Myeik Archipelago Tanintharyi Region (Figure 1 and Figure 2). It includes a series of islands in the mid-reef zone starting with Thayawthatangyi Island group in the north (which includes two LMMAs) then extends south through a series of scattered islands towards Pyin Sa Bu Island all the way to the Langann Island Group which includes one LMMA. A majority of the Seascape falls within Kyunsu Township in Myeik District with just several islands in the Langann Group witnin Bokpyin Township of Kawthaung District. Several Department of Fisheries (DoF) protected areas fall within the Seascape but from inception have remain paper parks. This includes an Indian Threatfin Protected Area and Shark Protected Area in the Kyunsu Township. Active managed is however being undertaken in the three recently gazzetted Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMA) designated by DoF, including Don Pale, Long Long-Parawa and Langann LMMAs. The seascape area includes some of Myanmar’s most diverse and intact coral reefs along with other important marine habitats including mangrove forests and intertidal seagrass beds. The area is also home to a number of rare and threatened marine species notably sharks and rays, including the charismatic giant manta ray, whales and dolphins, sea otters, five species of marine turtles (including their nesting beaches and foraging habitat), plus an array of coral reef fishes and invertebrates.

Commercial interest in the area, besides from industrial fishing include a joint pearl culture company between Myanma Pearl Enterprise and Atlantic Pearl Company in southern coastal water of Thayawthatangyi Island. Several other companies have also setup pilot areas throughout the seascape including within the scattered islands south of Thayawthatangyi and within the Langann Group. Experimental seaweed farming is also being trailed around Thayawthatangyi by a Korean- based Seaweed Company. Several sites throughout the seascape have also been identified by several companies to establish resorts, including Daung, Nat Thamee Yay Twinn and Saw Mon Hia Islands.

Figure 1. Ridge2Reef project area. (See separate file)

Figure 2 Ridge2Reef Seascape area. (See separate file)

Table 1. Marine habitat and Forest type coverage inside focal PA/s and across its landscape

Habitat / Entire Inside Inside Outside Forest landscap existing existing existing / type e (km2) / / proposed propose propose PA in d PA #1 d PA # 2 surroundin (km2) (km2) g landscape (km2) Coral reef na na na na

Seagrass na na na na bed Mangrove na na na na

Freshwate na na na na r Swamp Forest Peat swamp forest na na na na

Lowland (0-300m na na na na asl)

Hill (300-800m asl) na na na na

Submontane (800- na na na na 1400m asl)

Montane (>1400m na na na na asl)

Total na na na na

Note: Add further columns for additional existing / proposed PAs within each landscape

1.2 Climate context

Tanintharyi Region has tropical monsoon climate and it has summer, rainy and cold season. Monthly average rainfall, average temperature, highest and lowest temperature recorded at Myeik in 2015 were described in the following table. The highest temperature at Myeik was recorded as 38.5°C on the 27th March 2016. It was the highest temperature at Myeik in 69 years. The previous highest temperature was recorded on the 23rd May 2010 as 38°C.

Mean Temperature Highest Lowest Month Rainfall (inch) (°C) Temperature (°C) Temperature (°C) January 3.99 24.50 31.5 16.5 February 0.53 23.50 34.5 17.5 March 0.55 33.75 35.5 17.5 April 0.98 28.50 36.5 20.5 May 33.28 24.75 30.5 23.5 June 37.93 26.75 25.5 20.5 July 45.21 22.50 30.5 21.5 August 35.38 26.25 30.0 21.0 September 30.92 21.25 29.5 18.0 October 17.83 31.30 31.5 20.5 November 1.01 24.50 33.5 22.5 December 0.00 29.25 37.5 19.5 Source: Meteorology and Hydrology Department

1.3 Hydrological context

Tanintharyi River is one of the important rivers in the Tanintharyi Region and it flows into the Andaman Sea by several distributaries near Myeik. Tidal rhythm is semidiurnal in Myeik District. Tidal range is about 6 meters and speed of the tidal streams in the area is about 1 knot. In general, depth at the Thayawthatangyi is deeper than the Auckland Bay Area as the island is situated more far away from the shore but Auckland Bay area is very shallow at some places with wetland and mud flats.

Average chlorophyll a was found to be 1.22 mg/m3 in Myeik Archipelago. Average concentrations of TSS, NH3-N, NO2-N, and phosphate were found to be, 6.84 ppm, 0.029 ppm, 0.025 ppm, and 0.024 ppm in Myeik archipelago respectively. Pb, Hg and Cd concentrations in Myeik archipelago were in the range of 1.1 to 7.7 ppb, 0.0 to 1.6 ppb and 1.1 to 5.7 ppb, respectively. Average concentrations of Pb, Hg and Cd in Myeik archipelago were 5.50, 1.07 and 1.95 ppb, respectively. It can be deduced that the studied regions are not eutrophicated with nitrogen and phosphorus species. Low concentrations of organic matter can be found in sea water naturally. The sewage, excess nutrients from agriculture and aquaculture, chemical fertilizer residue, persistent organic pollutants from pesticide residue and used household materials like plastic bags, medical wastes, excreted pharmaceuticals, etc. may organic components of land-based source for coastal pollution in Tanintharyi coastal zone.1 .

1.4. Biodiversity context:

Table 2. Status of globally threatened and endemic species for the seascape (note these are records for the whole archipelago). For birds no systematic surveys have been completed within the seascape area; information relates to Lampi Marine National Park 30km south of the seascape area.

CITES Appendix Red List for Notes on species status / Species illegally and associated local Endemic traded / conservation challenges status hunted species Marine Mammals

Irrawaddy dolphin VU I Irrawaddy dolphin has been (Orcaella brevirostris)* protected by law (Protection of Wildlife and Wild Plants and

1 Kyaw Naing, Ye M. Aung, Win Aung, Myat K. Thu, San S. Myint, Thida Win, Soe S. Naing, Myat M. Thaw, Aye A. Myat, Swe Z. Win, Khin M. Cho, Kyi K. Lwin, Aye A. Lwin and Khin Htay (2012) Some Physicochemical Properties of Sea Water in Tanintharyi Coastal Zone, Myanmar. The Environmental Engineering Journal: Special Vol. January-April, 145-149.

Conservation of Natural Areas Law, 1994) in Myanmar. According to the Law, Forest Department announced list of protected wildlife in three categories – completely protected, normal protected and seasonal protected wildlife. Irrawaddy dolphins are listed in the “completely protected wildlife” category

Finless porpoise VU I Nothing has been done for (Neophocaena the finless porpoise yet. It phocaenoides)** is not included in the list of protected animals.

Asian Small-clawed VU II listed in the “completely Otter (Aonyx cinerea) protected wildlife” category

Birds

Plain Pouched Hornbill VU I & II Hornbills are protected by law and (Aceros subruficollis) they all are listed in the *** “completely protected wildlife” category.

Sharks and Rays

Sandbar shark VU - Sharks are protected by (Carcharhinus establishment of two shark plumbeus) + protected areas in Myeik and Kawthaung Districts in Tanintharyi Zebra shark VU - Region. The shark protected areas (Stegostoma fasciatum) are established by the Department + of Fisheries by issuing 4th. May Shark ray (Rhina VU - 2004 dated Notification No. ancylostoma) + 2/2004. These are paper parks and no management of the areas has Snaggletooth shark VU - been undertaken since (Hemipristis elongata) etsbalishment. Shark fishing is Hooktooth shark VU - however banned throughout the (Chaenogaleus country through a declaration by macrostoma) DoF although no formal piece of legislation exists for this. Sicklefin weasel shark VU - (Hemigaleus microstoma)

Scallop hammerhead EN - Department of Fisheries’ (DoF) (Sphyrna lewini) issued Notification No. 2/2001 on 8 January 2001 for the protection Borneo shark EN - of the whale shark. (Carcharhinus borneensis)

Great hammerhead EN - (Sphyrna mokarran)

Ganges shark (Glyphis CR - gangeticus) whale shark (Rhincodon VU - typus)

Giant Manat Ray VU II (Manta birostris)

Fish

Common Seahorse VU II (Hippocampus kuda)

Humpback Grouper VU - (Cromileptes altivelus)

Squaretail Leopard VU - Grouper (Plectropomus areolatus)

Marine Turtles

Leatherback VU I Fisheries Notification 2/93: (Dermochelys coriacea) Prohibiting killing, disturbing, transporting, storing, buying, Loggerhead (Caretta VU I selling, of any kind of turtle, carreta) unearthing of turtle eggs, killing, Olive ridley VU I disturbing, transporting, storing, (Lepidochelys olivacea) buying, and selling.

Green (Chelonia mydas) EN I

Hawksbill CR I All listed in the “completely (Eretmochelys protected wildlife” category imbricate)

Corals Acropora roseni EN II Listed as protected species by fisheries department (Notification Acropora rudis EN II number unknown) Parasimplastrea EN II sheppardi

Acropora acuminata VU II

Acropora aspera VU II

Acropora echinata VU II

Acropora horrida VU II

Acropora retusa VU II

Acropora spicifera VU II

Astreopora incrustans VU II

Montipora calcarea VU II

Montipora confusa VU II

Montipora stilosa VU II

Leptoseris incrustans VU II

Pachyseris rugosa VU II

Pavona cactus VU II

Pavona decussata VU II

Pavona venosa VU II

Anomastrea irregularis VU -

Turbinaria mesenterina VU II

Turbinaria peltata VU II

Turbinaria stellulata VU II

Euphyllia ancora VU II

Physogyra lichtensteini VU II

Caulastrea connata VU -

Favites spinosa VU II

Leptastrea aequalis VU II

Leptoria irregularis VU II Fungia seychellensis VU II

Heliopora coerulea VU II

Acanthastrea brevis VU II

Acanthastrea VU II hemprichii

Pectinia africana VU -

Pectinia lactuca VU II

Pocillopora danai VU -

Pocillopora indiania VU II

Goniopora albiconus VU II

Goniopora planulata VU II

Porites nigrescens VU II

1.4. Socio-economic context:

(Also see NC3 report)

There are significant differences both within and between the communities on the islands within the seascape which includes a mix of Karen, Burmese (Barma) and Moken people (also called Salone in Burmese or Sea Gypsies/Nomads in English). The most unique being the traditionally nomadic Moken community with to their distinctive culture, language and vulnerability to marginalisation. The Moken were traditionally seafaring people, who travelled great distances in small boats to access a range of marine resources. It is hard to establish their exact origin or how long they have lived in Myanmar waters, but records suggest that they have been living in the Myeik Archipelago since at least the 18th Century. Their range stretches the whole length of the archipelago down to the south of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. In the past 20 years, they have become more settled with most living at least part of the year in 10 permanent villages while still maintaining their dependence on marine resources and many of their other traditional cultural practices.

The populations of the communities are young and growing with implications for increased future pressure on natural resources unless young people have other livelihoods options. In-migration does not appear to be a major source of population growth but it does seem to be changing the ethnic composition of some villages. There are low levels of diversification within people’s livelihoods- often an indicator of vulnerability to socio-economic and environmental change, including climate change impacts. Although occupation/livelihoods vary most are fishers with the remainder either farmers or involved in small business. Most marine and agricultural produce is reportedly sold, rather than consumed at the home, suggesting that subsistence use is under-reported and/or people are heavily reliant on ‘imports’ from the mainland and therefore dependent on a cash economy. Marine products are largely sold on landing or to traders at village level with reports of inequitable client-patron relationships in which fishers have little or no power. Both these factors also have implications for livelihoods vulnerability, resilience and adaptive capacity.

1.5. Developmental context:

(Also see NC1 & NC3 reports)

In order to protected marine living resources in the island waters, locally-managed marine areas (LMMA) have been in process to establish at the island. A village health center is opened at the Done Pale Aw village by the Department of Health. A crab bank has been tested in Lin Long/Parawa village bay as a small grant to the LMMA community. Water supply system has been set up with the aid from the World Bank and Rural Development Department.

1.6. Institutional context:

According to the General Administration Department, the Thayawthatangyi island seascape is situated in the Yemyitkyi village tract, Kyunsu Township, Myeik District. Village authority officers (100 houshold group leaders) have been appointed at Done Pale Aw village and Lin Lun Village. Department of Fisheries rarely comes to the village to make licenses of the local fishers.

II. Baseline PA description (Note: This section should be repeated for each PA within a landscape)

2.1. Don Pale LMMA

2.1.1 Defining the PAs

Name: Don Pale Locally-Managed Marine Area (LMMA)

Status: Gazetted

Location: Between N 12°19' and N 12°22'

Between E 98°04' and E 98°08'

Districts: Kyunsu Township, Myeik District

Area: 1893.96 ha

Elevation Range: 0 (sea level)

2.1.2 History/Timeline

The area has been used by the local communities for fish, crabs and shrimps fishing along with collection of a variety of marine products such as molluscs along the rocky shores. In order to conserve the marine resources and protected from illegal fishing activities such as encroachment of off-shore fishing vessels into near-shore water and blast fishing etc., local communities were interested in establishing a Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA) in the island water. The LMMA was signed off by the DG of Fisheries on the 9th of July 2016 (Under fisheries law Notifications of this nature only need signing by the DG, however as this is a first for Myanmar and the government wants to set an example they are also seeking approval from Parliament. Agreement for LMMA also given by: Defence Ministry (7th October 2016); Ministry of Commerce (4th August 2016); Attorney General Office (26th August 2016); Ministry of National Planning and Finance (12th August 2016) and Ministry of Transportation and Communication (12th August 2016).

2.1.3 Physical Features

The area is about 50km away from Myeik District Town. The LMMA is situated in the waters surrounding part of Thayawthadangyi Kyun, in the west and most of Grants (Kanaung) island. Thayawthadangyi Kyun is a mountainous island and covered with thick jungles and although parts are quite intact much of the jungle has been converted to agricultural lands or selectively (illegally) logged. The highest peak of the island is in the west at 536masl.Thick jungle of coconut palms and beetle palms could be seen around virtually all villages and hamlets. Grants Island is mostly intact forest except for the western side of the island where the Myanmar navy has a rubber plantation with a highest pint of 230masl . The islands have many bays and coves mostly bordered by either rocky shores, sandy beaches or mangrove forests. Maximum water depth within the LMMA area is approximately 6m (with a 3-4m tide change) and depths throughout the bays varies between 2-5m. There are coral reefs around Thayawthadangyi island especially in the south east, east, north east and north based, but in the LMMA these are not true reefs but just patchy corals on rock. The sea is usually calm in area in the east of the island but rough in the west as it is facing the open sea especially in the monsoon (July-September).

2.1.4 Cultural Heritage

(Also see NC3 report)

The oldest know inhabitants of the island are the Moken people, although their presence on the island was very transient until about 20 years ago (see 1.4 for detail). The Karen and Burma people moved from the mainland to the island about 20-30years previously. There is a strong relationship between ethnicity and religion for the Karen (Christian) and Bamar (Buddhist) people but those Moken who have converted from their traditional belief system (worship of nats i.e. deities or celestial beings) appear to adopt the religion of the majority of their neighbours. Likewise the Moken’s traditional lifestyle of spending a majority of their live at sea has changed over the years and have become more sedentary and built permanent houses. They still however spent a lot of the year out fishing but trips are often only weeks at a time rather than months.

2.1.5 Key Biodiversity Features:

Main habitats of the LMMA include mangrove forest, mudflats, patchy corals (no real reef) and tidal rocky shores many situated in small inlets and bays. The focus of the fishery, which the LMMA aims to protect is blue swimmer crab, shrimp, mullet and a range of molluscs. Dolphins have been observed migrating through the LMMA along with eagle rays.

2.1.6. PA management system

a. Review of the PA site management structure, including reporting, decision-making functions and financial flows

Proposal to establish Thayawthatangyi locally-managed marine area (LMMA) was submitted through the Department of Fisheries to the Tanintharyi Regional Government in May 2016 and The LMMA was signed off by the DG of Fisheries on the 9th of July 2016 (see 2.1.2 for more details)

The objectives2 of the Thayawthatangyi LMMA are

- To assist the Department of Fisheries with the management of marine resources and fisheries at the local level. - To improve and ensure the sustainability of the livelihood and culture of local fishers. - To maintain the health of the nearshore ecosystem and marine biodiversity.

In order to implement the objectives of the LMMA, a management committee was established with 15 members. This committee is primarily responsible for the management of the LMMA at the local level and they liaise with the support NGO and government representatives. At the time of writing a 2-year management plan for the LMMA was in development. Currently no government budget exists for the LMMA and all financial support is through donor funding sources by FFI.

Table 3. Existing staff profiles and gaps

PA management Staff in Staff Needs identified

2 Andriamalala, G. (2015). Implementation of locally-managed marine areas (LMMA) in the Myeik Archipelago. (Progress report). office place vacancies

No gov’t office nil nil monitoring, patrolling, enforcement networking

No LMMA office 15 nil

b. Visitors Just a few local and overseas visitors came to the area. Students from Myeik University came to the island as their field trip. Some foreigners also came to the island on duty for their respective international organization.

c. Status of PA management plan

Zoning plans for was approved in July 2016 and a 2-year management plan is currently in development.

d. Site-level implementation status of management actions, priority species conservation and other site- and/or national-level initiatives.

Site level work to date has included community awareness patrols using their own boats, although this changed in November 2016 with an FFI provided patrol boat. The community with support from DoF has managed to rid the area of illegal barrier net fishing. The zoning plan has been approved and a management plan is in development. A FFI Village Facilitator has been developing a fishing calendar to track the type of fishery in the community throughout the year as gears and catch changes with the seasons.

e. SWOT analysis of existing institutional frameworks against conservation and sustainable development objectives.

Table 4. Summary of the major strengths and weaknesses of the PA and the associated opportunities and threats.

Opportunities Threats

Strengths

Active to conserve marine Establishing LMMA. Illegal fishing. resources.

Aware decrease marine Development of fish By-catch. and crab cage culture. Opportunities Threats

fisheries resources.

Strong public awareness. Good for floating/cage Climate change. aquaculture. Formation of Management Private sector Weak cooperation Committee. participation. between the Forest Department and Department of Fisheries.

Strong interest in formation of Weak cooperation fishery products association. with the navy.

No aperent existing conflict among communities.

Department of Fisheries is interested in the establishment of LMMA.

INGOs have been supporting and collaborating.

Weaknesses

Management plan has not been developed yet but it will be developed once the LMMA is official. Weak enforcement.

No systematic monitoring No training for patrolling, monitoring and enforcement. Weak networking and reporting. A few marine products purchasing people. Note: 2016 June 3

Key recommendations from the SWOT analysis

 Establishment of LMMA.  Staff from DoF to support enforcement patrols  Floating/Cage fish and crab culture should be upgraded in order to do store, and secure reproductive gametes releasing.  Formation of fishery products association to store and sell their catches to Myeik by themselves.

2.2 Lin-Long/Parawa LMMA

2.2.1. Defining the PAs

Name: Lin-Long/Parawa Locally-Managed Marine Area (LMMA)

Status: Gazetted

Location: Between N 12°20' and N 12°25'

Between E 97°59' and E 98°04'

Districts: Kyunsu Township, Myeik District

Area: 3732.99 ha

Elevation Range: 0 (sea level)

2.2.2. History/Timeline

The area has been used by the local communities for fish, crabs and shrimps fishing along with collection of a variety of marine products such as molluscs along the rocky shores. In order to conserve the marine resources and protected from illegal fishing activities such as encroachment of off-shore fishing vessels into near-shore water and blast fishing etc., local communities were interested in establishing a Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA) in the island water. The LMMA was signed off by the DG of Fisheries on the 9th of July 2016 (Under fisheries law Notifications of this nature only need signing by the DG, however as this is a first for Myanmar and the government wants to set an example they are also seeking approval from Parliament. Agreement for LMMA also given by: Defence Ministry (7th October 2016); Ministry of Commerce (4th August 2016); Attorney General Office (26th August 2016); Ministry of National Planning and Finance (12th August 2016) and Ministry of Transportation and Communication (12th August 2016).

2.2.3. Physical Features

The area is about 60km away from Myeik District Town in the waters in the northern bay within Thayawthadangyi Island. The islands is approximately 8.2 km long from East to West and about 6.3 km wide from north to south, while the bay itself is approximately 10 x 4 km. Thayawthadangyi Kyun is a mountainous island and covered with thick jungles and although parts are quite intact much of the jungle has been converted to agricultural lands or selectively (illegally) logged. The highest peak of the island is in the west at 536masl. Thick jungle of coconut palms and beetle palms could be seen around virtually all villages and hamlets. The islands have many bays and coves mostly bordered by either rocky shores, sandy beaches or mangrove forests. Maximum water depth within the LMMA area is approximately 20m (with a 3-4m tide change) and depths throughout the southern end of the bay vary between 1.5-8m. There are coral reefs within the bay and although they have been damage in the past by dynamite fishing coral cover s still quite high and diverse and home to many coral reef fish and invertebrates. Reef depth varies between 1-8m. The bay is quite protected from the monsoon although seas at the mouth of the bay can become quite rough between August to October.

2.2.4 Cultural Heritage

(Also see NC3 report)

The oldest know inhabitants of the island are the Moken people, although their presence on the island was very transient until about 20 years ago (see 1.4 for detail). The Karen and Burma people moved from the mainland to the island about 20-30years previously. There is a strong relationship between ethnicity and religion for the Karen (Christian) and Bamar (Buddhist) people but those Moken who have converted from their traditional belief system (worship of nats i.e. deities or celestial beings) appear to adopt the religion of the majority of their neighbours. Likewise the Moken’s traditional lifestyle of spending a majority of their live at sea has changed over the years and have become more sedentary and built permanent houses. They still however spent a lot of the year out fishing but trips are often only weeks at a time rather than months.

2.2.5 Key Biodiversity Features:

Main habitats of the LMMA include mangrove forest, mudflats, coral reefs and tidal rocky shores many situated in small inlets and bays. The focus of the fishery, which the LMMA aims to protect is blue swimmer crab, shrimp, mullet and a range of molluscs. Dolphins have been observed migrating through the LMMA along with eagle rays.

2.2.6. PA management system

c. Review of the PA site management structure, including reporting, decision-making functions and financial flows

Proposal to establish Lin Long/Parawa LMMA was submitted through the Department of Fisheries to the Tanintharyi Regional Government in May 2016 and The LMMA was signed off by the DG of Fisheries on the 9th of July 2016 (see 2.2.2 for more details).

The objectives3 of the LMMA are:

- To assist the Department of Fisheries with the management of marine resources and fisheries at the local level. - To improve and ensure the sustainability of the livelihood and culture of local fishers. - To maintain the health of the nearshore ecosystem and marine biodiversity.

In order to implement the objectives of the LMMA, a management committee was established with 13 members. This committee is primarily responsible for the management of the LMMA at the local level and they liaise with the support NGO and government representatives. At the time of writing a 2-year management plan for the LMMA was in development. Currently no government budget exists for the LMMA and all financial support is through donor funding sources by FFI.

Table 3. Existing staff profiles and gaps

PA management Staff in Staff Needs identified office place vacancies

No gov’t office nil nil monitoring, patrolling, enforcement networking

No LMMA office 13 nil

d. Visitors Just a few local and overseas visitors came to the area. Students from Myeik University came to the island as their field trip. Some foreigners also came to the island on duty for their respective international organization.

c. Status of PA management plan

Zoning plans for was approved in July 2016 and a 2-year management plan is currently in development.

d. Site-level implementation status of management actions, priority species conservation and other site- and/or national-level initiatives.

3 Andriamalala, G. (2015). Implementation of locally-managed marine areas (LMMA) in the Myeik Archipelago. (Progress report). Site level work to date has included community awareness patrols using their own boats, although this changed in November 2016 with an FFI provided patrol boat. The zoning plan has been approved and a management plan is in development. The LMMA community through an FFI small grant has established a crab bank which allows caught berried females to release her eggs before being sold to market. A FFI Village Facilitator has been developing a fishing calendar to track the type of fishery in the community throughout the year as gears and catch changes with the seasons.

e. SWOT analysis of existing institutional frameworks against conservation and sustainable development objectives.

Table 4. Summary of the major strengths and weaknesses of the PA and the associated opportunities and threats.

Opportunities Threats

Strengths

Active to conserve marine Development of fish Illegal fishing. resources. and crab cage culture.

Aware decrease marine Private sector By-catch. fisheries resources. participation.

Strong public awareness. Climate change.

Formation of Management Weak cooperation Committee. between the Forest Department and Department of Fisheries.

Strong interest in formation of Weak cooperation fishery products association. with the navy.

No apparent existing conflict among communities.

Crab bank established

INGOs have been supporting and collaborating.

Weaknesses

Management plan has not been developed yet but it will be developed once the LMMA is official. Opportunities Threats

Weak enforcement.

No systematic monitoring No training for patrolling, monitoring and enforcement. Weak networking and reporting. A few marine products purchasing people. Note: 2016 June 3

Key recommendations from the SWOT analysis

 Establishment of LMMA.  Staff from DoF to support enforcement patrols  Formation of fishery products association to store and sell their catches to Myeik by themselves.

2.2 Langann LMMA

2.3.1. Defining the PAs

Name: Langann Locally-Managed Marine Area (LMMA)

Status: Gazetted

Location: Between N 11°18' and N 11°22'

Between E 97°55' and E 98°02'

Districts: Bokpyin Township, Kawthaung District

Area: 4917.67 ha

Elevation Range: 0 (sea level)

2.3.2. History/Timeline

The area has been used by the local communities for squid and cuttlefish, mackerel and other pelagics, a variety of molluscs and a range of coral reef fishes along. In order to conserve the marine resources and protected from illegal fishing activities such as encroachment of off-shore fishing vessels into near-shore water and blast fishing etc., local communities were interested in establishing a Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA) in the island water. The LMMA was signed off by the DG of Fisheries on the 9th of July 2016 (Under fisheries law Notifications of this nature only need signing by the DG, however as this is a first for Myanmar and the government wants to set an example they are also seeking approval from Parliament. Agreement for LMMA also given by: Defence Ministry (7th October 2016); Ministry of Commerce (4th August 2016); Attorney General Office (26th August 2016); Ministry of National Planning and Finance (12th August 2016) and Ministry of Transportation and Communication (12th August 2016).

2.3.3. Physical Features

Langann LMMA is situated approximately 80km WNW from Bokpyin District Town encompassing three main islands and several smaller islets with peaks ranging from 157-207masl.The islands themselves are mostly vegetated with tall tropical trees and a think undergrowth. Little agriculture is practiced except for one of the islands which has a 5ha coconut plantation belonging to one businessman. Maximum water depth within the LMMA area is approximately 30-40m (with a 3-4m tide change) with depths between the up to 28m consisting of a sandy bottom. The island edges, to around 10-15m water depth are surrounded by rocky/boulders or coral reefs, with reefs usually between 0-10m. Many of the islands coves consist of white sandy beaches.

2.3.4 Cultural Heritage

(Also see NC3 report)

Langann community includes approximately 380 people made up of 65% Moken and 35% Bamar. The oldest know inhabitants of the island are the Moken people, although their presence on the island was very transient until about 20 years ago (see 1.4 for detail). The Burma people moved from the mainland to the island about 20years previously. Although the Moken practice a traditional belief system of worshipping nats (deities or celestial beings) many Moken have adopted the Buddhist religion. Likewise the Moken’s traditional lifestyle of spending a majority of their live at sea has changed over the years and have become more sedentary and built permanent houses. They still however spent a lot of the year out fishing but trips are often only weeks at a time rather than months.

2.3.5 Key Biodiversity Features:

The stand out feature of Langann is the coral reefs which represent some of the most intact reefs for with the archipelago with high diversity and good coral cover. Although heavily fished these reefs are home to a diverse array of coral reef fishes. The area is also a known eagle ray aggregation site and dolphins and marine turtles, including the Critically Endangered Hawksbill frequent the area. The Asian Small-clawed Otter also inhabitants the islands within the LMMA with one individual regularly interacting with domestic dogs in the village.

2.3.6. PA management system

e. Review of the PA site management structure, including reporting, decision-making functions and financial flows

Proposal to establish Langann LMMA was submitted through the Department of Fisheries to the Tanintharyi Regional Government in May 2016 and The LMMA was signed off by the DG of Fisheries on the 9th of July 2016 (see 2.3.2 for more details).

The objectives4 of the LMMA are:

- To assist the Department of Fisheries with the management of marine resources and fisheries at the local level. - To improve and ensure the sustainability of the livelihood and culture of local fishers. - To maintain the health of the nearshore ecosystem and marine biodiversity.

In order to implement the objectives of the LMMA, a management committee was established with 13 members. This committee is primarily responsible for the management of the LMMA at the local level and they liaise with the support NGO and government representatives. At the time of writing a 2-year management plan for the LMMA was in development. Currently no government budget exists for the LMMA and all financial support is through donor funding sources by FFI.

Table 3. Existing staff profiles and gaps

PA management Staff in Staff Needs identified office place vacancies

No gov’t office nil nil monitoring, patrolling, enforcement networking

No LMMA office 13 nil

f. Visitors Just a few local and overseas visitors came to the area, many of which come on the Liveaboard dive charters from Ranong (Thailand) or Kawthaung. Some foreigners also came to the island on duty for their respective international organization.

4 Andriamalala, G. (2015). Implementation of locally-managed marine areas (LMMA) in the Myeik Archipelago. (Progress report). c. Status of PA management plan

Zoning plans for was approved in July 2016 and a 2-year management plan is currently in development.

d. Site-level implementation status of management actions, priority species conservation and other site- and/or national-level initiatives.

Site level work to date has included community awareness patrols using their own boats, although this changed in November 2016 with an FFI provided patrol boat. The zoning plan has been approved and a management plan is in development.

e. SWOT analysis of existing institutional frameworks against conservation and sustainable development objectives.

Table 4. Summary of the major strengths and weaknesses of the PA and the associated opportunities and threats.

Opportunities Threats

Strengths

Active to conserve marine Private sector Illegal fishing. resources. participation especially from Tourist boats Aware decrease marine Community By-catch. fisheries resources. monitoring of fish catches Strong public awareness. Climate change.

Formation of Management Weak cooperation Committee. between the Forest Department and Department of Fisheries.

INGOs have been supporting Weak cooperation and collaborating. with the navy.

Weaknesses

Management plan has not been developed yet Opportunities Threats

but it will be developed once the LMMA is official. Weak enforcement.

No systematic monitoring No training for patrolling, monitoring and enforcement. Weak networking and reporting. A few marine products purchasing people. Note: 2016 June 3

Key recommendations from the SWOT analysis

 Staff from DoF to support enforcement patrols  Formation of fishery products association to store and sell their catches to Myeik/Kawthaung by themselves.

III. Baseline Seascape analysis

3.1. Threats, underlying causes / drivers and associated barriers

Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishery: Over capacity of fishing fleet (Unregistered and unlicensed boats); Fishing beyond: authorized areas (fishing grounds), allowable days in the sea and fishing in closed seasons and areas; Fishing of prohibited species (sharks, seahorses, turtles (no TEDs in trawlers) or ignoring size limits; Destructive gears e.g. dynamite and small mesh sizes are common, notably amongst light-boat fishes which take catches of any sizes (trash fish does not exist as everything has a use); ghost nets prolific; fish meal plants taking catches of any sizes; multiple species fishery using an MSY set over 30 years old; Transhipment at sea and sent directly to Thai markets. In general, an open access fishery with little to no resource allocation, poor communities competing with commercial interests often pushed to use unsustainable methods to make ends meet.

Limited Governance: no on-water management (enforcement) of the fishery (e.g. DoF has no patrol boats), navy has the capacity but does not enforce fisheries regulations and is corrupt; FD, in charge of PAs has little capacity for MPA management; fisheries inspection sites few and no enforcement undertaken, only taxation; fisheries laws/notifications poorly disseminated and poorly understood even by fisheries officers; no guiding policy for MPA development and governance (overlaps in DoF and FD mandates); government staffing and budget allocations for DoF and FD and overall capacity inadequate for fisheries and PA management.

Deforestation and Unregulated development of Tanintharyi Coast: lack of management of oil palm and rubber plantations and forest clearance in general for agriculture causing un-natural sedimentation run off into marine ecosystem. Compounded by harvesting of mangroves for charcoal production and to supply fishmeal plants with fuel wood. Little environmental or social considerations for tourism development on a number of islands. Waste disposal in major towns and villages poorly developed.

Table 5. Threats to biodiversity within the landscape

Threat Description Threat Area PAs Affected Intensity* impacted by threat** Illegal, Unreported, and Temporary ubiquitous All LMMAs Unregulated (IUU) Fishery:

Limited Governance Temporary ubiquitous All LMMAs

Deforestation and Temporary ubiquitous All LMMAs Unregulated development of Tanintharyi Coast

*Temporary impact, or Permanent and irreversible impact ** Less than 33% (localized), 34-66% (widespread) or >67% (ubiquitous) of area affected by threat

3.2. Baseline support:

LMMA rules include both existing fisheries law (ban of dynamite fishing, mesh size etc.); and new locally established laws, which might be necessary to achieve LMMA objectives (e.g. those related to gear and species restrictions, No-Take-Zone, access restriction etc.). A community enforcement mechanism will be established, along with a strategy to ensure effective collaboration with the DoF and the Navy to respond in cases of infractions, which exceed the capacity of local communities to deal with.

3.3. Community stakeholder needs assessment

Table 6. PA and landscape / seascape stakeholder involvement plan Stakeholder Current roles and Interests in the project Potential conflicts and group responsibilities mitigation Tanintharyi Development planning, land use Environmental conservation, Knowledge gaps, weak Regional planning and resource Capacity Building and ILSM institutional space and Government management planning approach coordinating mechanisms among multi-sectoral MONREC, FD Biodiversity conservation, PA Marine Protected Area Limited resources such as and wildlife management, development staff, capacity, financial forest management Department of Regulating marine and MPAs, LMMA planning and Same as above Fisheries freshwater fisheries to achieve management sustainable development of the sector. FFI Supporting biodiversity Myeik Archipelago Limited staff management, protected area and forest management Academic Capacity Building Research and study Limited marine expertise Institution, Myeik University Private Businesses Concessions for Tourism, Pearl Tourism expansion Farms, Seaweed, Rubber, Betelnut, Coconut Local communities Settlements, fishers Basic needs, job opportunities Large scale commercial interests verse smaller artisanal fishers Local NGOs and Law enforcement, governance, Environmental conservation - CSOs monitoring and reporting

IV. Reports and publications

Ah Kyway (2011). Determination of Inorganic and Organic Constituents in Seawater from Myeik, Pathortown Beach, Zay, Sa Lon Kyunn, Warr Kyunn in Tanintharyi Region. M.Res. Thesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Yangon. (Unpublished) Andriamalala, G. (2015). Implementation of locally-managed marine areas (LMMA) in the Myeik Archipelago (Progress Report). Aung Aung Aye (2010). Review on the Species Composition of Croaker Fish Commonly Found in Myeik Waters. M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Marine Science, Myeik University. (Unpublished) Bo Bo Kyaw (2012). Taxonomic Characters of Sea Cucumber Species in Myeik Environs, Taintharyi Region. M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Zoology, Myeik University. (Unpublished) Chaw Su Lwin (2012). Study on the Genus Lutjanus (Family Lutjanidae) in Myeik Coastal Area. M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Marine Science, Myeik University. (Unpublished) Chaw Su Lwin . (2014). Study on the feeding habits and reproductive biology of Sillago sihama in Myeik Coastal Area. M.Res. Thesis, Department of Marine Science, Myeik University. (Unpublished) Cherry Aung (2009). Systematics and Distribution of the Hard Corals (Cnidaria: Hydozoa and Scleratinia) in the Myeik Archipelago Coastal Zone. Ph.D. Dissertation, Department of Marine Science, University of Mawlamyine. (Unpublished) Cox T, Fanari I, Zau Lunn, Cameron A & Benbow S (2013) Preliminary assessment of the Myeik Archipelago coral reef ecosystem, Myanmar. Fauna & Flora International, Cambridge. Pp 28. Daw Hla Hla Win (2004). Taxonomic Study on Some Marine Fishes of Myeik Environs. M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Zoology, Myeik University. (Unpublished) Daw Maw Maw Myint, Daw Soe Soe Aye, U Hla Win Zaw, Daw Maw Maw Lin, U Soe Than, Daw Win Win Si, And U Soe Naing (2004). Taxonomic Study on Some Marine Crustacean of Myeik Environs (2003-2004). Research paper, Department of Zoology, Myeik University. Hein Zar Htwe (2014). Study on the Marine Gsstropods and Bivalves in Mangrove swamps of Myeik Areas. M.Res. Department of Marine Science, Thesis Myeik University (Unpublished) Hein Zar Htwe and Dr War War Soe (2015). Community Structures of Marine Gastropods From Mangrove Swamp in Myeik Areas. Vol.7, No 6 287-300 Hein Zar Htwe, San Tha Tun, Nang Mya Han, Sabai Soe, Tin Tin Kyu, Myo Nandar Myint and Sein Moh Moh Hlaing (2014). Mangrove of Shwe Pay in Myeik Coastal Areas.Vol.6, No 3.161-185 Hnin Zar Htwe (2012). Study on the Fishery Status of Tunas and Mackerels (Family Scombridae) in Myeik Coastal Waters. M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Marine Science, Myeik University. (Unpublished) Honey Shwe (2014). Study on some phytoplankton culture use in Atlantic pearl farm, Escape Bay, Elphinstone Island, in Myeik Archipelago. M.Res. Thesis, Department of Marine Science, Myeik University. (Unpublished) Howard, R. (Ed.) (2015). Preliminary expedition report: FFI liveaboard dive surveys, 10-19th December 2014. TCP Report No. 11, FFI. Howard, R., Ahmad, A. and Shein, U.S.H. (2015). Shark and ray fisheries of Myanmar – Status and socio-economic importance. TCP Report No. 12, FFI. Howard, R., Zau Lunn, Antt Maung, Salai Mon Nyi Nyi Len, Soe Thiha and Soe Tint Aung (2014). Assessment of the Myeik Archipelago coral reef ecosystem, ReefCheck survey January 2013 to May 2014. TCP Report 5, FFI. Htay Aung (2008). Successful Results in Field Cultivation of an Exotic Red Seaweed Species in Myeik Archipelago Water and Economic Potentials. Jour. Myan. Acad. Arts and Sc., Vol. VI, No. 8, p. 222-232. Kathi Khine (2000). Systematic Study of Some Marine Fishes from Myeik Township, Tanintharyi Division. M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Zoology, University of Yangon. (Unpublished) Kay Khine Soe (2011). Study on some Shrimps and Prawns of Tanintharyi River Estuary, adjacent to Myeik. M.Res. Thesis, Department of Marine Science, Myeik University (Unpublished) Kay Khine Soe (2012). Preliminary investigation on the biology and fishery of spanner crab, Ranina ranina (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Myeik Archipelago coastal waters.4 (1) 196-202 Khaing Khaing Thein (2008). Species Composition of Shark in Myanmar Coastal Waters and Their Relative Abundance. Ph.D. Dissertation, Department of Zoology, University of Yangon. (Unpublished) Khin Khin San (2010). Preliminary Investigation on the Eel Catfish (Family – Plotosidae) and Sea Catfish (Family – Ariidae) Common to Myeik Waters. MSc Thesis, Department of Marine Science, Myeik University. (Unpublished) Khin May Chit Maung (2011). Biomass and Diversity of Zooplankton in Myeik Coastal Waters. M.Res. Thesis, Department of Marine Science, Myeik University. (Unpublished) Khin May Chit Maung (2016). Fishery biology of Leiognathidae in Myeik Coastal Waters. Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Marine Science, Mawlamyine University. (unpublished) Khin May Chit Maung and Htay Aung (2011). Zooplankton of Mangrove Tidal Creek in Myeik Coastal Zone. University of Research Journal, Vol. 4, No. 2, p. 331-352. Khin Yu Nwe (2011). Study on the Species Identification, Composition, Distribution and Abundance of Phytoplankton from Myeik Adjacent Waters. M.Res. Thesis, Department of Marine Science, Myeik University. (Unpublished) Kyaw Naing, Ye M. Aung, Win Aung, Myat K. Thu, San S. Myint, Thida Win, Soe S. Naing, Myat M. Thaw, Aye A. Myat, Swe Z. Win, Khin M. Cho, Kyi K. Lwin, Aye A. Lwin and Khin Htay (2012) Some Physicochemical Properties of Sea Water in Tanintharyi Coastal Zone, Myanmar. The Environmental Engineering Journal: Special Vol. January-April, 145-149. Kyaw Thu Ra, Chaw Su Lwin, Wai Zar Phyo, Moe Lwin Lwin, Dr. Nang Mya Han (2014). Study on the distribution of Family: Sonneratiaceae of Myeik Coastal Area.Vol.6, No 3. 117-134 Kyaw Thura (2010). Study on the Zooplankton in Pahtaw-Pahtet Waters, Myeik. M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Marine Science, Myeik University. (Unpublished) Kyaw Thura (2011). Study on the Mangrove and its Associated Finfish of Myeik Coastal Area. M.Res. Thesis, Department of Marine Science, Myeik University. (Unpublished) Lay Min Naing (2012). Study on the Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty Red Seaweed Cultivation and Production at Sha Aww Bay, Elphinstone Islnd in Myeik Coastal Area. M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Marine Science, Myeik University. (Unpublished) Lay Min Naing (2012). Study on the Kappaphycus alvarezii ( Doty) Doty Red seaweed cultivation and production at Sha Aww Bay, Elphinstone Island and Myeik coastal area. M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Marine Science, Myeik University. (Unpublished) Let Twe Mu (2011). Analytical Studies of Seawater from Sinkyunn, Ngalontann, Pyinsabu and Shwekyunn in Myeik Coastal Region. MRes Thesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Yangon. (Unpublished) Lett Wai Nwe (2011). Study on the phytoplankton in Kalar-kyun and Ma-aing-kyun near Myeik waters. M.Sc. 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