Status Review of the Protected‐Area System in Myanmar, with Recommendations for Conservation Planning

Abstract

Abstract: Myanmar is among the most biologically diverse countries in mainland Southeast Asia. In contrast to its neighbors, large areas of Myanmar's forest cover remain intact, providing a unique opportunity to conserve biodiversity within protected areas. High levels of deforestation, unrestricted hunting, and destructive agricultural practices have resulted in significant wildlife declines and rapid loss of natural habitats. We analyzed the status of 20 of the 31 officially gazetted protected areas in Myanmar within a framework that classified activities incompatible with protected‐area status into two broad categories, small and large scale. Small‐scale incompatibilities driven by economic necessity and lack of alternatives for local populations within and adjacent to protected areas occurred more frequently than large‐scale incompatibilities driven by larger economic interests. Extraction of nontimber forest products was reported in 85% of the protected areas and ranked highest among the 15 identified incompatibilities. Grazing, hunting, fuelwood extraction, and permanent settlements occurred in more than 50% of the parks surveyed. Forty percent of the protected areas had some infrastructure for reserve management (with significant gaps) but insufficient on‐site personnel to adequately perform management activities. Thirty‐five percent had approximately half their staff trained in basic field techniques, and 60% had a planning document that was yet to be implemented. Older protected areas were affected by a greater number of incompatibilities than recently established protected areas. Major recommendations include the critical need to address the issue of hunting; involving local communities in the management of protected areas and buffer zones; building the technical capacity of protected‐area staff; implementing a comprehensive land‐use plan focused on stabilizing land use; and amending existing wildlife laws to fulfill international treaty obligations.