The Republic of the Union of Myanmar Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN (2015-2020) Prepared by FOREST DEPARTMENT, CONSULTED BY INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE (IUCN) October 2015 NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN (2015-2020) i Preface Biodiversity underpins a range of ecosystem services, which are central for the sustainable development of human being. In addition, biodiversity is the integral part of the stability of climate. The Republic of the Union of Myanmar is proud of its biodiversity richness and of the way Myanmar have managed this resource for centuries. However, biodiversity is losing due to several means such as unsustainable land use practices, unplanned and uncoordinated development, and loss of biodiversity leads to degradation and deterioration of ecosystem services. Consequently, we are facing several challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, decline of agricultural productivity, insecure energy, and so on, and that are threatening life support system. In 2011, the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan was developed, and the Government of the Republic of Myanmar adopted it. The 2011 NBSAP served as the national guiding framework for biodiversity conservation, management and utilization in a sustainable manner, we have made some progresses in biodiversity conservation. However, it is now time to revise the 2011 NBSAP under the given country‘s continued population increase, rapid industrialization, increased consumption of and demand for natural resources for food production and trade, and increased energy consumption. In this context, NBSAP (2015-2020) is prepared to provide a strategic framework for the conservation of Myanmar‘s biodiversity to address new and emerging challenges under the political, economic and social reform in Myanmar, as well as to take into account the new opportunities, and also to align with CBD‘s Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and Aichi Biodiversity Targets. NBSAP (2015-2020) provides a comprehensive account of the country‘s biodiversity; identifies the threats to biodiversity; describes the key efforts, achievements and gaps in the management of biodiversity; presents strategic approaches, theme-specific strategies and associated priorities for actions; and outlines the implementation arrangement. The strategies and priority actions take into consideration of the national needs in terms of conservation, sustainable use of its components and equitable sharing of benefits. The strategy will be implemented in collaboration and partnership with all relevant stakeholders. I believe that the document like this will attract the attention of both national stakeholders as well as of the global community. H.E. U Win Tun The Union Minister Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry Chairman, Environmental Conservation Committee The Republic of the Union of Myanmar ii NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN (2015-2020) Executive Summary [REQUEST TO IUCN] NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN (2015-2020) iii Contents Preface ..................................................................................................................................................... i Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ ii Contents ................................................................................................................................................. iii Acronyms and Abbreviations ................................................................................................................. v List of Tables ......................................................................................................................................... ix List of Figures ........................................................................................................................................ xi Annexes ................................................................................................ 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Chapter 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 A brief back ground ................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Biodiversity Conservation History of Myanmar ..................................................................... 1 Chapter 2 Biodiversity Status and Trends in Myanmar ....................................................................... 4 2.1 Overview of Biodiversity of Myanmar ................................................................................... 4 2.1.1 Ecosystem diversity ........................................................................................................ 4 2.1.2 Species Diversity........................................................................................................... 10 Chapter 3 Policy, Legal Framework and Institutions for Biodiversity Conservation ........................ 27 3.1 Policy and Legal Framework ................................................................................................ 27 3.2 Existing Institutional Arrangement ....................................................................................... 28 3.3 International Cooperation for Biodiversity Conservation ..................................................... 29 Chapter 4 National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans ........................................................... 30 4.1 Review of the past NBSAP ................................................................................................... 30 4.2 Process of developing the updated NBSAP .......................................................................... 30 4.3 Vision .................................................................................................................................... 31 4.4 Mission .................................................................................................................................. 31 4.5 Strategies and National Targets ............................................................................................ 31 4.6 Targets, Indicators and Action Plans .................................................................................... 33 4 NBSAP Implementation Plan ....................................................................................................... 98 4.6 National Coordination Structure ........................................................................................... 98 4.7 Capacity development approach for NBSAP implementation .............................................. 98 4.8 Monitoring, Evaluation and reporting ................................................................................... 99 4.9 Synergies between NBSAP and MEAs ................................................................................ 99 iv NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN (2015-2020) References ........................................................................................................................................... 100 NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN (2015-2020) v Acronyms and Abbreviations AAC Annual Allowable Cut ABS Access and Benefits Sharing ACB ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity ADB Asia Development ASAP Asian Species Action Partnership ASEAN-WEN ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network BANCA Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association BBOP Business and Biodiversity Offset Programme BET Business Ecosystems Training BIOFIN Biodiversity Finance Initiative BOBLME Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem CAS California Academy of Sciences CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CFIs Community Forestry Instructions CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CMS Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals CFiUGs Community Fishery User Groups CR Critically Endangered DAR Department of Agricultural Research DD Data Deficient DMDF Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest DOF Department of Fisheries DZGD Dry Zone Greening Department ECC Environmental Conservation Committee ECD Environmental Conservation Department ECL Environmental Conservation Law EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EISAs Environmental and Social Impact Assessments EITI Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative EN Endangered vi NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN (2015-2020) Eps The Equator Principles ETIS Elephant Trade Information System FD Forest Department FDI Foreign Direct Investment FFI Fauna & Flora International FoW Friends of Wildlife FPIC Free, Prior, and Informed Consent FRI Forest Research Institute GAD General Administration Department GDP Gross Domestic Product GEF Global Environment Fund GFW Global Forest Watch GMS Greater Mekong Subregion GPFLR Global Partnership on Forest and Landscape Restoration HCVF High conservation value forest IAS Invasive Alien Species IBCAS Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences ICCAs Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas IRRI International Rice Research Institute ITPGR International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture IUCN International Union