Myanmar      PDF  | Print |  Email

myanmar_flagBiodiversity Resources

  • 12,000 plant species
  • 300 mammal species
  • 400 reptile species
  • 1,000 bird species

Ratification of MEAs

  • CBD – 1994
  • CITES – 1997
  • Ramsar Convention – 2005
  • WHC – 1994

Description

The Union of Myanmar has an area of 261,228 sq. miles which is endowed with vast areas of natural forests ranging from beach and dune forests, mangrove forests in coastal and delta areas in the south to varied terrestrial vegetations of dry, moist and evergreen forests in the central and coniferous dominated sub temperate forest type on the high mountain parts of the far north.  Though forests have been cleared for agriculture and other purposes, the Food and Agriculture Organization estimated that in 2003 52.3% of the total land area of the country was still under forest cover.

The Forest Department is responsible for protection of reserved forests and wildlife resources.  Some of the laws that protect biodiversity in Myanmar include the Burma Forest Act (1902), Wild Birds and Animal Protection Act (1912) and the Burma Wildlife Protection Act (1936).  The Protection of Wildlife, Wild Plants, and Conservation of Natural Areas Law (1994) further strengthened the 1938 law, particularly in the following areas:
  • Habitat/ecosystem protection.
  • Control of activities within wildlife sanctuaries.
  • Protection of endangered species such as the red panda, gibbon, dusky leaf monkey, and others.
  • Addition of more species in the protected list.
  • Establishment of national parks or any other category of protected areas apart from wildlife sanctuaries.

The first protected area in the country is the Pidaung Sanctuary which was established in 1918. Currently, 42 protected areas have been formed and proposed all over the country. These cover an area of 18,924 sq.  miles, which represents 7.24% of the total land area of Myanmar.  Protected areas are envisioned to cover 10% of the total land area in future.  Six parks are planned for inclusion in the list of ASEAN Heritage Parks due to their significance to biodiversity conservation in the ASEAN region.

 

 

Sources:

  • 2007.  Country Report of Myanmar.  2nd ASEAN Heritage Parks Conference. Sabah, Malaysia.