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Landscape conservation and development in Myanmar

22.09.2014

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) with its partners has been engaged in developing transboundary landscapes applying an ecosystem approach. For this purpose, seven transboundary landscapes have been identified in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, and one of them is the Brahmaputra-Salween Landscape (BSL) in Myanmar.

The consensus-building process for the conservation initiatives in the BSL began with the regional “Experience Sharing Consultation” co-organized by ICIMOD and Kunming Institute of Botany, at Tengchong in China in 2009. To follow up on the Tengchong consultation meeting, “Experts Consultation to Develop Future Strategic Programme for Transboundary Biodiversity Management and Climate Change Adaptation” initiative was conducted in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar in December 2011. The transboundary collaboration in BSL was also a major topic during the ICIMOD Board of Governors Meeting held in Yangon, Myanmar in December 2013. In May 2013, Forest Department and ICIMOD discussed the preparation of the feasibility report for developing BSLCDI from the Myanmar perspective, and signed the record of discussion (RoD) for the preparation of this feasibility report under the approval of the Union Minister for Environmental Conservation and Forestry.

The northern part of Myanmar represents a global hotspot for plant diversity including several endemic species and numerous species are still awaiting scientific investigation. Effective conservation of biodiversity in Northern Myanmar is important for the country and the region. In this context, conservation of the unique biodiversity, through the sustainable development of communities living in the area is needed to secure these vulnerable environments. The objective of this report is to prepare a basis for planning and development of appropriate conservation and development interventions in Northern Myanmar by compiling baseline information about the biophysical, environmental, demographic and socio-economic data for the area.

On 12 August 2013, ICIMOD and FD organized a stakeholder consultation meeting. The meeting consulted partners to identify and share sources of data and information. FD and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) prepared the drafts of Feasibility Assessment. The final report was prepared based on comments and suggestions provided by relevant stakeholder organizations and ICIMOD.

The focus of the Myanmar portion of the BSL is to strengthen the landscape level conservation planning and gain peoples’ support for participatory management of large protected areas found along Myanmar’s northern borders with India and China (Hkakaborazi National Park, Hponkanrazi Sanctuary, Bumpharbum Sanctuary and Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. The townships that hold these focal protected areas define the Target area (Naungmun, Putao, Machanbaw, Khaunglanphu, Sumprabum, Tanai, and Namyun townships) of BSL in Myanmar.
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Photo: ICIMOD