THE TREASURE OF MYANMAR WILDLIFE

Patrick Cusick

The World Conservation Society has been given the green light for its plan to create a northern forest complex in Myanmar, a mega-sanctuary that will rival Thailand’s western forest complex and destined to become the largest contiguous protected forest in Southeast Asia.
 

Late in 2002 the WCS secured approval for Hponkhan Razi, a 1,000-square-mile reserve that links Hkakabo Razi to the Hukaung Valley. The sanctuary will keep a huge area of Myanmar remote and pristine with only the indigenous people living off the land. The project has garnered respect from environmentalists worldwide.
 

The WCS had previously outlined a plan for the creation of nature preserves, beginning with the Lampi Island Marine National Park in 1996. After several expeditions to Kachin State in the late 1990s support mounted for the demarcation of the Hkakabo Razi National Park and the Hukaung Wildlife Sanctuary – an area of some 4,000 square miles. A large stretch of splendor known as the Bhumba Bum to the southeast is also being earmarked for extra protection.
 

Other forests in Myanmar that are considered environmental treasures include the rain forests of the Chin Hills-Arakan Yoma Montane, an outstanding area containing rare birdlife and harboring many subtropical species distributed across its elevational gradients.
 

Likewise, the moist deciduous Irrawaddy Dry Forests – an area that has been under strain for hundreds of years – is on the priority list for rehabilitation as much of the large mammal fauna, such as the tiger, have perished. Conservationists claim that the remains of the Burmese tiger can, however, be protected is allowed to live in the wild unhunted by man. Whether hunted or not the region has a harsh climate and is extremely dry as there are rarely more than fifteen days of rain per year. When rainfall does occur, it falls in torrential showers.

One of the country’s most outstanding forests is the rain forests of Kayah-Karen Montane. This unique region harbors some outstanding levels of species and ranks second for its volume of bird species and fourth for mammal species richness in the region. The world's smallest mammal, Kitti's hog-nosed bat (Craseonycteris thonglongyai), equal in mass to a large bumblebee, lives in the limestone caves found in the forests. Due to the large portions of the region that remain unexplored it is certain to reveal many surprises. Overhanging cliffs, sinkholes, and caverns that are characteristic of the tropical karsts landscapes that are all features of this still mostly unspoilt forest land. The location includes the northern part of the Tenasserim Mountain Range, which forms the border between Thailand and Myanmar.
 

The Shan Plateau stretches far and wide and the huge area that encompasses mountain ranges is regarded as a natural wonderland. The area is considered to be one of the last frontiers for largely untapped natural resources. The under soil is particularly rich with silver, rubies, and sapphires. But the real gem is Lake Inle, the great freshwater lake of Myanmar with a wide expanse of fresh water containing many unique species of fish.
 

Lake Inle lies 900 meters above sea level on the Shan Plateau, an extensive region of high mountain ranges that are crisscrossed by streams and the mighty Salween River. Inle is a shallow mountain lake that contains several islands and is fed by mountain streams. It’s the delicate nature of the region that has given the area much f worldwide attention.
 

The Irrawaddy River flows into the Bay of Bengal. Its delta is made up of mangroves and freshwater swamp forests that are the breeding grounds for many indigenous animal species. Environmentalists are particularly interested in preserving this eco-region as it is extremely fertile area due to the river borne silt deposited in the delta. Like many of the region's lowland forests, the area of the Irrawaddy’s deciduous forests has been intensively cultivated.