Istituto Oikos is non profit organization, founded in BANCA is one of the major organizations active in Milan in 1996, operating in key biodiversity areas Myanmar in the field of biodiversity conservation in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America to and sustainable development. conserve and manage the natural resources as BANCA has managed donor-funded conservation tools of social and economic development. projects in collaboration with relevant and reliable After several years of field activities and more than international organizations. 100 projects implemented worldwide, Oikos has BANCA is partner of BirdLife International in gained a valuable experience in the definition and implementing the project Building Constituencies implementation of methodologies and strategies for Site Based Conservation in Myanmar, aimed at aimed at integrating the environmental dimension identifying networks of Important Bird Areas in the into the socio-economic processes. Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area and the Istituto Oikos is member of the International Union Sundaic Lowlands Secondary Area and promote for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and other community based approaches to the conservation With the support of local and international networks. of selected sites. STRENGTHENING ISTITUTO OIKOS BANCA ENVIRONMENTAL NGOs HQs : Via Crescenzago, 1 Milan (Italy) Biodiversity And Nature Conservation Association Tel: +39 0221597581 Fax: +39 0221598963 Address: 3-C, U Kyaw Hla Lane, 7th Miles Myanmar Representative: Lara Beffasti Mayangon Township, Yangon (Myanmar) Mob: +95 9 5076828 Tel: +951 666409 Email: lara.beffasti@istituto-oikos.org Email: banca@yangon.net.mm www.istituto-oikos.org collected in these key areas through specific field to the improved collaboration, networks and surveys; assessment of deforestation rate through information sharing among NGOs, grass roots satellite images is performed. organizations, protected areas managers, The existing monitoring and assessment academic institutions and forestry agencies. programmes in the country are analysed to • Needs assessment, and relative methodology, improve and develop a standardised programme, for future action plans improved. taking into account the existing ones. A • Coordination of programmes improved and comprehensive survey protocol and a rapid possibility to feed the results into national-level assessment programme to address advocacy increased. overexploitation of forest resources is defined as Increased capacity to coordinate sustainable output of participatory process. environmental development investments and DISSEMINATE INFORMATION activities. A publication with the main findings on the status • Reliable scientific and baseline information on of protected areas and forest resources in the status of the country forest resources, Myanmar, and specifically on the two selected key protected areas and important sites for areas, on identified threats for biodiversity and conservation, extension of deforestation and required actions and strategies for conservation logging, nature and severity of threats, type and and development, is produced and distributed to effectiveness of conservation actions, available. local and international relevant organizations, to • Detailed information on the two selected disseminate information and raise international conservation priority areas available. awareness/support. • Standardised monitoring and assessment BACKGROUND ACTIVITIES EXPECTED RESULTS programmes, procedures and protocols defined. • Database of protected areas and forest The Myanmar Environmental Project (MEP) is a BUILD KNOWLEDGE Increased capacity of local organizations to resources available. EC funded project (2009-2010) with the main Training and capacity building activities are engage in biodiversity conservation and • Mechanism to identify conservation priorities and objective to support biodiversity resources organised to facilitate exchange and transfer of sustainable development programmes. coordinate conservation actions improved. conservation in a sustainable development information, knowledge and best practices on • Experience and expertise of local organizations • Capacity to analyse development policies, plans framework. conservation and management of natural to develop, implement and take an important role and programs, evaluate their impact on forest Myanmar has one of the richest biodiversity in resources and sustainable development initiatives. in conservation and development activities resources and biodiversity and propose Asia, with many endemic species and over 1.400 Local stakeholders working in and around increased, due to the availability of skilled alternative development initiatives and mitigating tree species, 7.000 plant species, l.000 bird important forestlands and protected areas are personnel and necessary equipment. measure, improved. species, 250 mammal species and 400 species of involved in planning and implementation of the • Exchange of information on biodiversity status, • Publication on the status of forest resources and reptiles and amphibians. Although the economy of activities and, through a participatory process, in threats and impacts of land use improved, thanks protected areas prepared. Myanmar, half covered by forests, relies largely the identification of innovative stakeholder-based on the rich forest and natural resources, the ongoing unsustainable forestry, mining, conservation and development initiatives to integrate biodiversity conservation in management MYEIK ARCHIPELAGO RESEARCH PROGRAMME agricultural and fishing practices, is resulting in practices. Mechanisms to supply technical inputs The Myeik (Mergui) Archipelago Biodiversity environmental degradation and direct biodiversity to policy makers are jointly defined in order to Research Programme (MABR) was voluntarily launched loss. review and develop plans and policies taking into in 1997 by ECoSwiss, after getting endorsement from People whose livelihoods depend most on natural account forest and biodiversity resources. Ministry of Hotels & Tourism, to investigate the biodiversity, resources are affected by the effects of PROVIDE TECHNICAL INFORMATION environmental health and socio-economic aspects of the deforestation (floods, droughts and landslides) Data and information on biodiversity resources in archipelago, employing local and foreign researchers. and more vulnerable to natural disasters, thus Myanmar are collected, organised and analysed to The project is mainly focusing on Lampi Island Marine contributing to unavoidable poverty. set up an updated database of protected areas, National Park, one of the last remaining untouched Deforestation, biodiversity loss and development forestlands and important sites for conservation, environment of true wilderness left in the Myeik, Its habitats issues can be effectively addressed through as a key support mechanism to assess and are very much intact, and if measures are put into place coordinated programmes at different levels, from monitor important conservation areas status and soon, the representativeness and key attributes of this vast data collection, awareness raising and grassroots trends. The interdependence between natural island ecosystem can be conserved at this site. engagement of communities in sustainable use of ecosystems, socio-economic context and land use The project carries out scientific research in the archipelago natural resources. patterns is analysed to help in site selection for in order to gather the necessary information about the The project, through a capacity building process improvement of protected areas system and for ecological importance of the ecosystem. Parallel it targets and exchange of information, experience and best the identification of poverty reduction and the local communities and establishes a collaboration in practices, aims at contributing to ensure the environmental conservation strategies. The results order to involve them in the process. sustainable management of forest resources and aim to support local stakeholders to identify Final objective is to draft a Management Plan to ensure the protected areas while conserving wildlife and wild alternative options for sustainable development of sustainability in the Archipelago. plants and enhancing the ways of living of local communities and biodiversity conservation. indigenous people, as stated in the Myanmar Two priority key biodiversity areas (Myeik Forest Policy (1994). Archipelago and Rakhine Yoma Range) are used Supported by Foundation Third Millennium as case study areas. More detailed information is in collaboration with ECoSWISS