WCS Myanmar https://myanmar.wcs.org RSS feeds for WCS Myanmar 60 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/12734/New-turtle-paper-BATAGUR-BASKA.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=12734 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=12734&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 New turtle paper: BATAGUR BASKA https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/12734/New-turtle-paper-BATAGUR-BASKA.aspx Here is our latest turtle paper just published today. The article is very brief but describes growth in a large Northern River Terrapin held for many years in Bothataung Pagoda Pond here in Yangon. We also discuss the dire conservation situation for this species in Myanmar (only two females now survive in Myanmar).Batagur baska (Platt et al. 2019).pdf swin Tue, 09 Jul 2019 08:02:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:12734 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/12355/elephant-tracks-and-frog-breeding-sites-at-Htamanthi-Wildlife-Sanctuary.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=12355 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=12355&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 elephant tracks and frog breeding sites at Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/12355/elephant-tracks-and-frog-breeding-sites-at-Htamanthi-Wildlife-Sanctuary.aspx Elephants are “ecosystem engineers” that impact other species of plants and animals by changing the environment. For example, browsing elephants remove trees causing grasslands to expand, dung left in wetlands has an important fertilizing effect, and seeds passed through the digestive tract are more likely to germinate. Elephants also deliver benefits to smaller fauna; browsing damages trees and creates cavities used by geckos as hiding places, and dung piles provide a home (and food) for many small animals. In a wildlife sanctuary in northern Myanmar, elephants trundling through the mud around seasonal wetlands leave deep tracks, some of which fill with water. Owing to their immense bulk, trampling by elephants probably changes the soil structure, making the tracks better able to retain water during the lengthy dry season (October through May) when most wetlands contain no water.  Taking advantage of these miniature pools, frogs lay their eggs and tadpoles develop in the tracks. Water-filled elephant tracks offer several advantages to breeding frogs. First, these tracks provide critical nesting sites that are available at a time of the year when most other small pools are dry. Second, tracks are free of predators such as small fish, that might consume eggs and tadpoles. Third, groundwater seepage appears to keep tracks filled with water through the dry season, providing ample time for tadpoles to complete metamorphosis into frogs. And fourth, water-filled tracks could function as “stepping stones” connecting different breeding populations of frogs across the landscape, an important consideration where gene flow is concerned. These observations provide yet another example of how environmental changes wrought by elephants can positively impact other species.  Platt, S.G., D.P. Bickford, Myo Min Win, and T.R. Rainwater. 2019. Water-filled Asian Elephant tracks serve as breeding sites for anurans in Myanmar. Mammalia 83:287-289. swin Fri, 17 May 2019 04:58:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:12355 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/11507/Ensuring-a-Blue-Future-for-Myanmars-Coastal-Communities.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=11507 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=11507&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 Ensuring a Blue Future for Myanmar’s Coastal Communities https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/11507/Ensuring-a-Blue-Future-for-Myanmars-Coastal-Communities.aspx By Kyaw Thinn Latt “It used to be quite easy to catch enough fish to feed my family and for me to sell the surplus in the market,” laments Mr. Than Zaw Htay, a coastal fisher in the Kyeintali area of Myanmar, “but these days it is harder and harder to catch enough.” This situation reflects a growing global trend - where overfishing, rising seas, warming waters, pollution, and poor ocean management, combined with increasing demand for fish, are quickly diminishing fish stocks.  Such trends are particularly worrisome for developing countries like Myanmar, the world’s ninth largest fishing nation. Nearly half of the country’s 53 million people live in coastal regions where local people directly depend on fisheries for their livelihoods and food security. Indeed, scientific surveys conducted here reveal that fish stocks have plummeted by about 80 to 90 percent over the last few decades.However, as the country’s democratic transition continues to unfold, there are encouraging signs of change that point to opportunities to reverse this trend. Our team at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is on the ground in Myanmar working with local people to solve this issue through sustainable, community-led management of marine resources.Working closely with local partners, and with support from the UK’s Darwin Initiative, WCS has been assisting ten coastal fishing communities to pilot a co-management model for their coastal fisheries. Our initial efforts focused on understanding the communities’ socioeconomic situation and analyzing their current and historic fishing practices.  Together, we have mapped fishing grounds and compiled information on preferred gear types, targeted fish species, and seasonal fishing activities. This has aided us in identifying a co-management area and establishing a committee comprising representatives from each of the participating villages to collaboratively oversee the area. Within the 280-square mile co-management area, specific zones – such as no take zones, seasonally-closed areas, and gear-restricted areas – have been delineated by the communities themselves and a co-management plan developed to guide implementation. Following a successful process of consultations with government agencies, on August 8 Myanmar’s Department of Fisheries formally designated the Kyeintali co-management area, one of the first such arrangements in the country.“We are very happy about this announcement” exclaimed Mr. Soe Lwin, Chairperson of the Kyeintali Inshore Fisheries Co-management Association, or KIFCA. “This improves our community rights over our traditional fishing grounds. And now, working together with the Department of Fisheries, it will be easier for us to manage this area more sustainably and to stop illegal fishing activities.” WCS is working side by side with communities such as these to strengthen their access to and rights over their local marine resources, aiding them in enforcing community regulations and prohibiting incursions from commercial fishing vessels.This co-management model offers a new type of collaboration between local communities and government agencies like the Department of Fisheries, and is a substantial change from the top-down, command-and-control norm of the previous decades of Myanmar’s militarized government. As part of a broader set of ongoing reforms, Myanmar is in the process of decentralizing natural resource management to state and regional levels, where new local fisheries laws in the country’s coastal states and regions are welcoming community involvement and community-based management in the fisheries sector.  New resource management models such as this – and others like community forestry - help to strengthen cooperation between communities and government officials, aiding local people in gaining greater control over their local resources—and thereby allowing them to derive greater benefits from them.While this new co-management designation is an important milestone, it is in fact just the beginning. “Now that the co-management area has been declared, we can focus our future efforts on improving fisheries management practices, monitoring fish catches, and keeping offshore boats from fishing illegally in inshore waters,” noted Mr. Thaung Htut, WCS’s Fisheries Monitoring Officer working on the project.As this early co-management model continues to advance, our goal is to help replicate the approach in new areas and with more local partners and communities. We are assessing new sites where we can help to expand this model across the country and address governance, ecological, and economic needs. The momentum is just beginning, but co-management has the potential to help thousands of fishers and local people along the country’s 2,800-kilometer coastline thrive. Over the long term, fish stocks can recover and local fishers like Mr. Than Zaw Htay will be able to continue putting fish on the family table, thus ensuring a blue future for Myanmar’s coastal communities.Kyaw Thinn LattSenior Strategy Marine ManagerWCS Myanmar swin Mon, 20 Aug 2018 08:35:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:11507 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/11362/World-Environmental-Day-Beach-Plastic-Clean-Up-Activities-in-Kyeintali-Rakhine-State.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=11362 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=11362&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 World Environmental Day :Beach Plastic Clean Up Activities in Kyeintali, Rakhine State https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/11362/World-Environmental-Day-Beach-Plastic-Clean-Up-Activities-in-Kyeintali-Rakhine-State.aspx Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time, with statistics showing that there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish by 2050. To change the future, we all need to play our part. Whether it is a bottled soft drink, a bag and fishing gear trash (ghost nets), single-use plastic has become embedded in our daily lives. The low cost, convenience and lightness of these products have revolutionized the packaging of goods. However, the catastrophic environmental cost of this convenience is now becoming increasingly clear. Celebrating World Environment Day is a way to inspire local fishers communities, governments and students (and parents) on how young people can take action to protect the environment. World Environment Day is an opportunity for local fishers communities, government and schools to teach students about single-use plastics and how they can reduce, reuse and recycle. For World Environment Day, we are inviting all our project partners, governments, communities and students to mobilize their networks to participate in a clean-up and find out where the waste is coming from. This could be along on a beach of Ponnyet Village, Kyeintali that is littered with plastic and fishing gear trash (ghost net). While beach clean-ups may only address the plastic issue at the end of its life cycle, they are a great way for communities and students to see the extent of plastic waste first-hand and rethink their behaviour.U Tun Aye Khaing, Staff officer, GAD, made an opening speech where he really expressed his gratefulness to Dr. Maung Maung Kyi (RCA), the responsible persons from WCS and RCA and the other participating in this. The GAD staff officer continued by emphasizing that WCS, RCA and KIFCA could support the World Environmental Day by cooperating with communities for Beat Plastic Pollution: Beach Plastic Clean-up Activities at Ponnyet Village. The main objective of the World Environmental Day is to reduce single-use plastic and inspirits to protect the environment. Finally, U Tun Aye Khaing concluded that he believes that the World Environmental Day at Ponnyet villages in Kyeintali will be successful and inspire local fishers communities, governments and students (and parents) on how young people can take action to protect the environment with the support of Rakhine State Government. And Dr. Maung Maung Kyi, Chairman, RCA was also explained about World Environment Day history when that day become and what we made activities that day by Global and RCA. He also explained about this year slogan: BEAT PLASTIC POLLUTION- the main objectives is to inspire local fishers communities, governments and students (and parents) on how young people can take action to protect the environment and to aware about single-use plastics and how they can reduce, reuse and recycle. He said that we all participate to support and protect our environment and natures.After that The World Environmental Day Ceremony was closed on 9:30 am local time and then was made the plastic latters and ghost nets around the beach of Ponnyet Villages until 11:30 am with Governments, INGOs, LNGOs, CSOs and Schools which is total 110 persons. swin Thu, 21 Jun 2018 00:45:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:11362 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/11361/Recent-Wildlife-Law-Enforcement-action-in-Myanmar.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=11361 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=11361&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 Recent Wildlife Law Enforcement action in Myanmar https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/11361/Recent-Wildlife-Law-Enforcement-action-in-Myanmar.aspx Following the publication of the MECAP, and the Voices for Momos campaign, there has been greater focus and awareness around Elephant poaching. The CID (Criminal Investigation Department) was directly assigned by the Ministry of Home Affairs. They organized a team to trace illegal wildlife trade and they traced the source from the killing of Elephants in Ayeyarwady Division. The Police have done investigation and taken coordinated action in 3 separate Divisions in the last week. Six men have been arrested and charged.7 June: Ban Bwegone, Myan Aung Township Ayeyarwaddy Division9 June: Pyay, Bago Division 9-10 June: Mandalay - was found to be the main location for wholesale trade. On 9th June, Myanmar Police and Forest Department seized at Chan Mya Tharzi Township, Mandalay Division:708 kilograms of Gaur horn, 667 kilograms of deer horn, 421 kilograms of Sambar horn, 12.4 kilograms of Serow horn, 9.8 Kilograms of Elephant skin, 4 cat skin, 4 barking deer skin, 1 snake skin, and 8 kilograms of 10 other wildlife heads.The owner claimed that he bought officially with bid form Custom Department. However during investigation, he was not able to show any single document. On 11th June 2018, the organized IWT trace team investigated again to the respondent house and found 2 bags of total cash amount MMK 93,400,000 (71,000 USD). At the same time, the team found out 3 Gaur horns, 7 deer horns and 28 Sambar horn hanging on the wall. In other raids: elephant hides, antlers of numerous deer species, bison horns, turtle shells and flesh, porcupine quills, bear bones, claws, and paws, and skulls of a variety of wild animals.Police and Forest Department are continuing to trace the source of the material for follow up investigation and punishment. “Due to the market demands of neighbouring countries, there are many people storing and trading these (wildlife parts),” said U Khin Maung Myint, Director of Forestry Department of Ayeyarwaddy Region. “This market emerged as the horns and hides of the animal are hung on the walls for decorative purposes, made into hand wear accessories, and mixed with other medicinal roots for medicine.” WCS is now collaborating with Forest Department in Mandalay on inventory of seizure and species identification. We will compile the confiscated wildlife parts from Mandalay after listing. All the confiscated are very large, with seizures in Mandalay the highest. We will closely follow these cases. WCS has met the CID Officer in charge of this case and discussed with him. He would like to work with us (Forest Department and WCS ) sharing information, collarboration to stop illegal wildlife trade. We will follow-up after the case is closed – they area still working on this case to follow up the leads. swin Wed, 20 Jun 2018 23:15:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:11361 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/11293/Steps-towards-Establishment-of-Protected-Area-Management-Plans-in-Alaungdaw-Kathapa-and-Natmataung-National-Park.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=11293 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=11293&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 Steps towards Establishment of Protected Area Management Plans in Alaungdaw Kathapa and Natmataung National Park https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/11293/Steps-towards-Establishment-of-Protected-Area-Management-Plans-in-Alaungdaw-Kathapa-and-Natmataung-National-Park.aspx The Republic of The Union of Myanmar is a golden country, blessed with natural resources, unique ecosystems and biodiversity richness. However, in recent decades, increase in population, unsustainable overexploitation of natural resources had led to steady decline of natural resources. To prevent such deplorable situations, Forest Department, under the administration of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, established protected areas to conserve precious natural resources and biodiversity of Myanmar. In present, 40 protected areas were notified, covering 5.79% of the country’s area. Many more protected areas will be established in the future, with a goal for 10% of Protected Area coverage across the country. As of NBSAP ( 2015-2020), Myanmar is trying to establish new protected area including ICCAs to cover 8% of total land area by 2020. Community participation in the protected area management is also a one of the NBSAP’s targets followed by the specific actions. Biodiversity is not protected because of plans or international agreements but because Myanmar citizens rely on it for their daily needs, food, shelter and livelihoods. Although the strategic and management plans were developed for some protected areas in the past, these are need to be updated and some protected areas still do not have the plans yet. In order to fill up the gaps, with the combined efforts of the Forest Department, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and WCS-Myanmar Program, 5-year management plans (2018-19 to 2022-23) have been developed for Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park(AKNP) and Natmataung National Park (NMTNP) respectively. During the management plan developing process, a series of coordination meetings were also convened with aim to form Protected Area Management Supporting Unit (PAMSU) in related townships linked with the park. These meetings were conducted a total of 16 times in AKNP and 14 times in NMTNP to ensure public participation. The draft management plans were also submitted to PAMSU and local communities for their comments and agreements. Management plans were improved further based on comments and suggestions received during the meetings. Community based biodiversity conservation trainings were also convened to increase capacity and participation of the local communities in conservation activities. It was a wise and successful move, the local communities enthusiastically participated in the process. With the united efforts of all stakeholders, strategic management plans for both AKNP and NMTNP came into fruition in late 2017. Immediately afterwards, park conservation and law enforcement activities were conducted in accordance with management plans. As participation and cooperative approach was the core of the management plan development process, the coordination among local communities, related government institutions, parliament members and park authorities are found to be more harmonic and mutualistic than ever before. Without the unity and coordination among local communities, parliament members and related government institutions, such achievements would not have become a reality. The successful implementation of strategic and effective management plans for protected areas in Myanmar is a huge enforcement for biodiversity and natural resources conservation. All must join hands and cooperate to build a better future with sustainable resources for thousands of generations to come!Ye Lin Aung Kyaw Khaung Thant Zin WCS Myanmar swin Tue, 22 May 2018 02:10:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:11293 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/11292/Turning-adversity-into-a-bright-future-hundreds-of-Big-Headed-Turtles-confiscated-in-Burma-Myanmar-used-to-establish-a-new-conservation-breeding-programme.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=11292 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=11292&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 Turning adversity into a bright future: hundreds of Big-Headed Turtles confiscated in Burma (Myanmar) used to establish a new conservation breeding programme https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/11292/Turning-adversity-into-a-bright-future-hundreds-of-Big-Headed-Turtles-confiscated-in-Burma-Myanmar-used-to-establish-a-new-conservation-breeding-programme.aspx A species that has greatly benefited from conservation efforts is the Big-headed Turtle (Platysternon megacephalum). Native to the hills and mountains of eastern and southern Myanmar, the Big-headed Turtle is subject to increasing demand from wildlife markets in southern China. Indeed, it appears that most of the illegally collected turtles are destined for alleged “turtle farms” operated by unscrupulous Chinamen who use these operations to launder wild-caught turtles, passing them off as “captive-bred” offspring to unsuspecting buyers. This illegal harvest has resulted in dramatic declines of Big-headed Turtles throughout their range in Myanmar. Two very large confiscations of Big-headed Turtles being transshipped to China have occurred in the past two years. The first confiscation occurred in 2016 when almost 1000 Big-headed Turtles were discovered in the compound of a clandestine wildlife trafficker. Most of the turtles were near-death when found, the result of criminal neglect – all too typical among wildlife traffickers who generally provide only minimal care for their charges – and it was only through the heroic efforts of a combined Myanmar and international team of wildlife veterinarians and turtle husbandry men that any of the turtles were saved. In 2017 a second confiscation of Big-headed Turtles took place and this time quick action saved almost every turtle from a grizzly death. The surviving turtles from both confiscations are now being housed in temporary quarters at the Turtle Rescue Center at Bambwe. Because the Big-headed Turtles have exacting requirements in captivity, plans are underway to construct a facility specifically tailored to meet the demands of difficult to keep species. Even more exciting, funding has been secured to conduct an experimental reintroduction of Big-headed Turtles in a fast-flowing stream near Bambwe. The results of this trial-release will then be used to plan an ambitious reintroduction program with the objective of reestablishing wild populations within the national protected area system.  Dr. Kalyar Platt, TSA swin Tue, 22 May 2018 02:05:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:11292 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/11291/Survey-and-Conservation-of-Myanmars-rarest-birds-River-Tern-and-Black-bellied-Tern-in-the-Ayeyarwady-and-Chindwin-Rivers.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=11291 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=11291&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 Survey and Conservation of Myanmar’s rarest birds: River Tern and Black-bellied Tern in the Ayeyarwady and Chindwin Rivers https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/11291/Survey-and-Conservation-of-Myanmars-rarest-birds-River-Tern-and-Black-bellied-Tern-in-the-Ayeyarwady-and-Chindwin-Rivers.aspx Myanmar is very rich in freshwater biodiversity. The inland water ecosystem of Myanmar is associated with four major rivers, the Ayeyarwady, Chindwin, Thanlwin and Sittaung. Freshwater and wetland biodiversity and ecosystems provide essential ecosystem services to the Myanmar people. Sadly, many freshwater species and habitats are rapidly being degraded and destroyed, due to several threats. Some species face habitat lost and dramatic population declines due to human activities. Conservation is urgently needed to protect freshwater habitats and populations of important threatened species. The River Tern and Black-bellied Tern are two rare Tern species that occur in Ayeyarwady River and Chindwn Rivers in Myanmar. The Black-bellied Tern is smaller and slimmer than the River Tern, and has a distinctive black underside during the breeding season. The River Tern has been categorized as Near Threatened and Black-billed Tern as Endangered according to the IUCN Red List. Both species are rapidly declining in Myanmar, and the Black Bellied tern is probably Myanmar’s rarest bird. These two species are mainly found in big rivers and adjacent wetland areas. They breed on sandbars in the rivers when the water level is low between February to March. They nest directly on the ground, often in a small scrape on bare sand, and lay two to three greenish-grey eggs, which are blotched and streaked with brown. Our research has found an incubation period of 22 to 28 days and 25 to 30 days between hatching and fledging of the chicks. The first survey was conducted in 2012 at along the Chindwin River, from Monywa to Khamti. One hundred individual River Terns were recorded. In 2016, with WCS’ new project focusing on freshwater conservation, a survey was completed which covered more than 2000 km along the Ayeyarwady (Bamaw to Pyay) and Chindwin (Badumone to the confluence) Rivers. The survey found a total of 58 River Terns (upper Chindwin River) and six Black-bellied Terns (Ayeyarwady River - near Takaung). In 2017, the WCS survey team recorded a new sub population of Black-bellied Tern with six individuals near Yaynanchaung, and located 12 individuals and two nests along the Ayeyarwady River. For River Tern, 101 individuals and 29 nests were recorded in both rivers.During the 2018 survey, the River Tern population seemed to decrease due to intensive human activities on the sand bars: 24 nests were recorded at the Chindwin River. A total of 14 Black-bellied Terns, as well as eight fledging juveniles were recorded at the two breeding grounds in the Ayeyarwady River. All of these nests were protected by local people working with the WCS team.Threats that these species face include human settlement and migration into their breeding areas, the collection of eggs for food, predation of eggs and chicks by dogs, cats, predators and crows, flooding of nesting sites by unusual weather conditions, habitat conversion to agriculture, sand and gravel dredging and gold mining.Survey and conservation activities were conducted in collaboration with the Forest Department and local communities. Across the breeding grounds, the team collaborated with local communities to protect nesting beaches from human and animal disturbance, predators and gold mining during the breeding season from February to March. A major conservation success for such a rare freshwater species, in 2017, the team protected nests of 43 River Tern chicks were protected until fledging in seven different areas. For Black-bellied Tern, the team protected two chicks in 2017, and eight in 2018, until confirmed fledging. An Education Program was also conducted in the upper Chindwin near the River Tern’s main distribution and breeding grounds. A total of 2,100 people from 42 villages attended events on River Tern awareness and conservation, resulting in increased collaboration from local communities following the program.  Naing LinWCS Myanmar swin Tue, 22 May 2018 01:57:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:11291 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/11268/Cambodia-Myanmar-Exchange-visit-to-support-freshwater-grassland-and-wetland-conservation.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=11268 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=11268&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 Cambodia – Myanmar Exchange visit to support freshwater, grassland and wetland conservation https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/11268/Cambodia-Myanmar-Exchange-visit-to-support-freshwater-grassland-and-wetland-conservation.aspx An exchange visit was organized for 17 Myanmar government officials, community members, and WCS field staff to visit Cambodia, and learn from their experience with community-based approaches to conservation. Two back-to-back visits saw Department of Agriculture officials and community members visit the Ibis Rice field site, a grassland conservation area and flooded forest, and the SRP pilot site, where they met directly with farmers and officials implementing a conservation agriculture pilot project. A mixed team from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism and Department of Fisheries then visited community-based conservation initiatives, including at the Mekong Dolphin site in Kratie, as well as community tourism in Tmat Boey. The team were also amazed by the stunning water-bird colonies at the Prek Toal Biosphere reserve.We are also considering a sustainable-agricultue approach to our work in the Ayeyarwady Delta in Myanmar, learning the lessons from the Mekong, and led a visit by 11 Myanmar government officials, community members, and WCS field staff to visit Cambodia, where they met directly with farmers and officials implementing the SRP pilot, and learned from their experiences. The return visit of Cambodians to Myanmar occurred in February 2018. A Ministry of Environment official, two WCS staff, and the Sustainable Rice Platform coordinator visited three key sites in Myanmar, sharing their experiences with conservation agricuture, as well as learning about the Ecotourism approaches being taken in Myanmar, and also Wetland and grassland management. It was very exciting for both sides to have this return visit, and it has catalysed major progress on several community conservation programs in both countries. swin Wed, 25 Apr 2018 03:02:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:11268 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/11071/The-government-takes-decisive-action-to-ensure-future-of-Myanmars-elephants.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=11071 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=11071&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 The government takes decisive action to ensure future of Myanmar’s elephants https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/11071/The-government-takes-decisive-action-to-ensure-future-of-Myanmars-elephants.aspx Press ReleaseThe government takes decisive action to ensure future of Myanmar’s elephantsNaypyitaw (15th-16th February 2018)The Myanmar Elephant Conservation Action Plan (known as the MECAP) was launched today at a ceremony in Nay Pyi Taw. The MECAP will guide efforts by the Government, civil society, wildlife biologists and conservationists to create the social, economic, and biological conditions that allow elephants to co-exist with humans in the same landscapes.The purpose of the MECAP is to provide a focused elephant conservation strategy for the next 10 years (2018–2027) with the overall aim of securing viable and ecologically functional elephant populations in Myanmar for the next century and beyond. Most importantly, the MECAP also comprises detailed implementation plans with actions, targets, and monitoring and evaluation plans.“We intend to have the MECAP fully implemented, it is our responsibility to our elephants and to the people of Myanmar” said His Excellency U Ohn Winn, Union Minister for MONREC, in the foreword to the document. “Policies and laws are just words on paper, if they are not fully implemented or complied with. We must all realize that wild elephants are ecologically, culturally, and symbolically significant for Myanmar and will continue to be so for our future generation. Time for action is short, but we owe it to history and future generations to show that we took responsibility for our elephants and other wildlife through carrying out the actions and recommendations of the MECAP”Myanmar has large expanses of elephant habitat and an unusually strong bond between Myanmar’s elephants and its people. With less than 2000 Elephants in the wild, and over 5000 captive elephants, the future for this magnificent creature needs to be planned for as a matter of urgency. The MECAP’s four main themes and summaries of their respective strategies are - • Protection of Myanmar’s wild elephants and their habitat• Mitigation of human–elephant conflict• Combatting the illegal trade in elephants and elephant body parts including ivory in Myanmar• Management of captive elephants and captive–wild elephant interactions in Myanmar“As Myanmar develops, the management of our natural resources needs to be carefully managed and NWCD will use strategic documents like the MECAP to guide national and regional decision-making and ensure that conservation and development are in balance.” said Dr. Nyi Nyi Kyaw, Director General of the Forest Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation. “The conservation of our elephants is an immensely challenging task, but we consider our responsibility to succeed in this task to be a vital duty on behalf of the nation”.“According to estimates, one of Myanmar’s elephants is killed in every week in the wild. If it continues with this momentum, Myanmar will lose its wild elephant within a few years,” said Christy Williams, Country Director of WWF-Myanmar, “The MECAP, if implemented effectively, will ensure the future of Myanmar’s elephants.” In support to the MECAP and response to the Myanmar elephant poaching and skinning crisis, local and international organisations including WCS, WWF, Friends of Wildlife and SCBI have launched an awareness raising campaign named VOICES FOR MOMOS late last year. VOICES FOR MOMOS calls on individuals and organisations to use their voice to speak up for elephants before these noble giants are silenced forever. The campaign got huge media attention and created numbers of conversations among Myanmar people on conserving those heritage animals.The MECAP, led by the Forest Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC), has been developed in collaboration with eight government departments and agencies, including the Myanmar Timber Enterprise (MTE) which is the largest owner of elephants in the country. The development process has been supported by numerous international and local experts and organizations including WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society), WWF, Fauna & Flora International (FFI), International Elephant Foundation (IEF), Elephant Family, Friends of Wildlife and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI). About WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) www.myanmar.wcs.org WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in nearly 60 nations and in all the world’s oceans and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos, and aquarium to achieve its conservation mission.Swe Zin Myo Win – swin@wcs.org (09795956050)About WWF www.wwf.org.mm/en WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organisations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. WWF-Myanmar opened in 2014. Its work programmes include wildlife, habitats, green economy, renewal energy, freshwater, and sustainable business. WWF stands for the World Wide Fund for Nature (previously known as the World Wildlife Fund)Saw Linn Htet – sawlinn.htet@wwfgreatermekong.orgAbout Fauna & Flora International www.fauna-flora.orgFFI protects threatened species and ecosystems worldwide, choosing solutions that are sustainable, based on sound science and take account of human needs. Operating in more than 40 countries worldwide, FFI saves species from extinction and habitats from destruction, while improving the livelihoods of local people. Founded in 1903, FFI is the world’s longest established international conservation body and a registered charity. FFI Myanmar has engaged in elephant conservation in Southern Tanintharyi since 2015, working with the Myanmar Forest Department, international organisations, and local government agencies, CSOs, schools, and Myeik University.About the International Elephant Foundation www.elephantconservation.orgThe International Elephant Foundation is a U.S. based non-profit organization supporting conservation, awareness, and scientific programs that enhance the survival of elephants and protect their habitats worldwide. In addition to other elephant conservation support, IEF provides grants-in-aid for elephant conservation, research, health, management, education and improvements in husbandry of elephants in human care. Since its inception, IEF has supported more than 200 projects in over 20 different countries. Deborah Olson - dolson@elephantconservation.orgAbout Elephant Family www.elephant-family.orgElephant Family is an NGO dedicated to protecting the Asian elephant whose population has dropped by 90% in the last 100 years. To date it has funded over 150 pioneering projects in 6 countries across Asia to protect this forgotten species from extinction. For more information, please visit www.elephant-family.org. Follow: @elephantfamilyAbout the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute www.nationalzoo.si.edu/conservationThe Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) plays a leading role in the Smithsonian’s global efforts to save wildlife species from extinction and train future generations of conservationists. SCBI spearheads research programs at its headquarters in Front Royal, Virginia, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and at field research stations and training sites worldwide. SCBI scientists tackle some of today’s most complex conservation challenges by applying and sharing what they learn about animal behaviour and reproduction, ecology, genetics, migration and conservation sustainability. swin Mon, 19 Feb 2018 23:55:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:11071 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10937/LTP-Toolkit-Community-Resource-Documentation.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=10937 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10937&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 LTP Toolkit: Community Resource Documentation https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10937/LTP-Toolkit-Community-Resource-Documentation.aspx Participatory mapping is an approach used to document the land resources of rural communities in Myanmar. This toolkit describes procedures and tools that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Myanmar Land Tenure Project (LTP) team developed and tested in 11 village tracts across the country. The project conducted pilot site activities to demonstrate how articles of the National Land Use Policy (NLUP) could be implemented on the ground.LTP created this toolkit for an audience of local groups: civil society organizations (CSOs), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), and private companies. The results of this exercise are of value to the communities involved, local authorities at the township and village tract administrative levels, and, potentially, regional authorities.This toolkit presents the steps required to implement a community resource documentation approach. These include community profile interviews, participatory mapping, and engagement activities. The main output of this approach is a collection of the information assembled on community land resources (maps and a village folio) made accessible to relevant stakeholders. This documentation will increase transparency between stakeholders and may provide greater tenure security for communities.The community resource documentation process provides communities with an opportunity to engage with local authorities and contribute their voices to the land rights conversation. At the completion of activities, communities receive a map of their boundaries and land uses as well as a village folio documenting the process. Communities can use the map and folio as tools for planning, management, and engagement.Local organizations take on the role of facilitator throughout the community resource documentation process. Staff from these organizations meet frequently with local authorities and community members in the village tract to learn about land uses and resource constraints. Local organizations work hand-in-hand with communities to map their village boundaries and their resource uses, and then present that information to local authorities for discussion and acceptance.This toolkit is part of USAID’s Mobile Applications to Secure Tenure (MAST) approach, which is USAID’s broad array of technology-related tenure strengthening tools. This toolkit does not prescribe specific technologies to undertake this process. An ever-expanding array of technology options can be used to document community resources. The toolkit provides some background on the options, but LTP encourages readers to find the best tools for their needs. While LTP used mobile technology and geographic information systems (GIS) to gather and map data on village boundaries and land uses, less-technology-centric options are possible to gather the same information. Local organizations may not have experience in or be comfortable with mapping techniques, and this toolkit is not intended as a substitute for GIS training. However, LTP pilots demonstrated that local organizations without prior mapping experience can be supported through training and technical assistance to create community maps. LTP recommends that local organizations reach out to mapping resource organizations for assistance or training (i.e., the Myanmar Information Management Unit or OneMap Myanmar).LTP hopes that this toolkit is viewed as a step toward a more standardized approach to participatory mapping that will allow the comparison of outputs from across the country, irrespective of who conducted the work. As such, the toolkit describes the spatial data produced to help inform the development of modern land administration systems. LTP recognizes that participatory mapping in Myanmar will grow and evolve. The project is also aware that Myanmar is a very diverse country and most pilot locations were in primarily Bamar areas; the toolkit should be adapted for use in parallel administrative areas. This toolkit documents LTP’s efforts to date, and it is the project team’s hope that organizations will build upon and update it as methods are further tested and refined. swin Mon, 08 Jan 2018 02:31:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10937 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10844/Translocation-of-Burmese-Star-Tortoise-eggs-from-the-assurance-colony-to-natural-sites-in-Minzontaung-Wildlife-Sanctuary-and-preparations-for-a-large-release-of-captive-reared-Burmese-Star-Tortoises.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=10844 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10844&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 Translocation of Burmese Star Tortoise eggs from the assurance colony to natural sites in Minzontaung Wildlife Sanctuary and preparations for a large release of captive-reared Burmese Star Tortoises https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10844/Translocation-of-Burmese-Star-Tortoise-eggs-from-the-assurance-colony-to-natural-sites-in-Minzontaung-Wildlife-Sanctuary-and-preparations-for-a-large-release-of-captive-reared-Burmese-Star-Tortoises.aspx In December, the WCS/TSA Turtle Team was occupied with two major conservation projects. The first project involved the translocation of Burmese Star Tortoise eggs from the assurance colony to natural sites in Minzontaung Wildlife Sanctuary. Although egg translocation is a technique widely used in sea turtle conservation, to our knowledge this is the first application of this strategy to tortoise conservation. Translocating eggs is relatively straightforward; freshly deposited clutches are excavated from within the assurance colony, transported to an area within the heavily-guarded Star Tortoise Conservation Zone, and reburied in an artificial nest constructed at either a shady or open site. The reason for positioning some nests in shady sites and others in open sites is to produce an approximately equal sex ratio among the hatchlings. Tortoises exhibit what is known as “Temperature-dependent sex determination” (TSD); i.e., the sex of the offspring is determined by the temperature at which the eggs are incubated. Warmer incubation temperatures tend to produce females while cooler temperatures produce males. Thus, we expect the shaded nests to produce primarily males while those placed in the open will produce mostly females. Each translocated nest is covered with a heavy wire mesh screen to protect against predators such as jackals and monitor lizards.Our second project involved preparations for a large release of captive-reared Burmese Star Tortoises planned for early 2018. To this end, we selected 800 juvenile tortoises from the assurance colony at Lawkanandar Wildlife Sanctuary with the assistance of the Park Warden, U Shwe Htay Aung and his staff. We selected an equal number of males and females from cohorts hatched in 2012-14. Each of these tortoises was then given a cursory health examination by WCS/TSA staff veterinarian, the Sayar Dr. U Tint Lwin. Afterwards, each tortoise was permanently marked by notching a unique series of marginal scutes. Later this month and during early January Buddhist icons and an individual identification number will be tattooed on the shell of each tortoise and then group will be transported to Shwe Settaw Wildlife Sanctuary where it will await release. swin Fri, 22 Dec 2017 04:41:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10844 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10822/Releasing-crocodile-in-the-wild.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=10822 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10822&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 Releasing crocodile in the wild https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10822/Releasing-crocodile-in-the-wild.aspx Saltwater Crocodile or Estuarin Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) was kept in mini-Zoo for long time in Dawei since juvenile. This mini-Zoo is not suitable to keep any other animals and illegal facilities. Forest Department has been taken action since 2011 and force to shut down but some people are still visiting and 200kyat per person for entrance fees. This crocodile is about 10feet long. Forest Department and WCS Myanmar team are working together to release this crocodile near Bokepyin Township in Tanintharyi Region.5 species of Crocodile can be found in Myanmar and these are Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis), Indian Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), False Gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii) and Marsh Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris). Saltwater Crocodile or Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) only exist in Myanmar and the other species were extinct in the wild. This species can be found in Ayeyarwady Delta region, Rekhine Costal and Tanintharyi coastal areas. Their Status: Lower Risk/least concern ver 2.3 in IUCN Red list. swin Wed, 13 Dec 2017 02:14:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10822 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10806/WCS-training-and-review-at-Rakhine-Yoma-Elephant-Reserve-RYER.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=10806 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10806&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 WCS training and review at Rakhine Yoma Elephant Reserve (RYER) https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10806/WCS-training-and-review-at-Rakhine-Yoma-Elephant-Reserve-RYER.aspx Main aims of this field trip were to join the Rakhine Yoma Elephant Reserve (RYER) warden in inspecting the patrol elephant team and the upgraded guard post on the Kyeintalie stream. The visit provided an opportunity to provide refresher training for existing staff and basic training for the new community guards. The park warden supervised improvements including new water management and installation of solar panels, radio and antenna mast to make the guard-post more effective. There was then a general introduction for the training, led by the warden. The training with patrol teams at Kyeigarkhon Guard-post for 4 days starting from 1st December to 4th December.Martin Tyson, WCS technical advisor, gave a presentation on how WCS and donors support the conservation efforts of NWCD in RYER. This was followed by discussion of patrolling strategies among the teams.U Htet Arkar Aung, WCS Research Assistant, gave a presentation on the theory and practice of Global Positioning Systems (GPS). WCS staff carried out practical refresher training on GPS with Forest Rangers. The Rangers and WCS staff guided the new community staffs, who were learning about use of the GPS for the first time, through ‘hands-on’ experience. U Saw Htoo Tha Phoe, Senior Technical Coordinator, presented the background of camera trapping (CT) development and its use for scientific monitoring, followed by a demonstration of how to set up a camera trap in the field. The teams then had a hands-on session to learn how to configure and check cameras before they are place in the field. The group then deployed four CT cameras to test their understanding of the procedures. A patrol review discussion, including a presentation and analysis of SMART patrol data over four years, led to a debate about the strategy for the recently increased patrol capacity and identification of new methods to detect hunters. Following the evening meal, the teams enjoyed a series of wildlife videos featuring Asian species.The team took three boats upstream to reconnoiter a potential new camp location, which is likely to be used as an additional control point for law enforcement and/or as a research base. Then they continued further upstream, checking trails for signs of people and animal tracks, until it was time to return to Kyeigarkhon.On the return to the guard-post, a patrol review discussion, including a presentation and analysis of SMART patrol data over four years, led to a debate about the strategy for the recently increased patrol capacity and identification of new methods to detect hunters. The warden and forest rangers developed new patrol plans for the coming five months, which aim to enhance protection in the reserve. After dinner the teams again watched wildlife videos.On the last day of the training, the teams retrieved the CTs in the early morning, and reviewed the results − only one large Indian civet was photographed − but the teams learned about the effective capture of the cameras (and that moths can trigger the cameras). Martin Tyson reviewed images collected by the rangers during SMART patrols, and led a discussion of ways to improve clarity and consistency in photography. The teams then packed up and loaded the boats, returning to Kyentalie by noon. swin Thu, 07 Dec 2017 02:58:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10806 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10805/Recent-births-of-claves-to-two-patrol-elephants.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=10805 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10805&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 Recent births of claves to two patrol elephants https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10805/Recent-births-of-claves-to-two-patrol-elephants.aspx Main aims of this field trip were to join the Rakhine Yoma Elephant Reserve (RYER) warden in inspecting the patrol elephant team and the upgraded guard post on the Kyeintalie stream. The visit provided an opportunity to provide refresher training for existing staff and basic training for the new community guards. Training with patrol teams at Kyeigarkhon Guard-post for 4 days starting form 1st - 4th December. Before the training, on 30th Nov, the team visited, with RYER warden, U San Win, to Kyar Chaung Camp to meet mahouts and discuss elephant health and welfare and changes needed in patrolling because of the recent births of calves to two patrol elephants. swin Thu, 07 Dec 2017 02:39:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10805 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10804/Building-Capacities-for-Marine-Spatial-Planning-in-Myanmar.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=10804 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10804&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 Building Capacities for Marine Spatial Planning in Myanmar https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10804/Building-Capacities-for-Marine-Spatial-Planning-in-Myanmar.aspx During November 27 – December 1, WCS initiated training on marine spatial planning to 20 representatives of Myanmar’s inter-agency National Coastal Resource Management Committee (NCRMC). In collaboration with trainers from the GIZ-supported Blue Solutions Initiative, the training workshop introduced participants to key blue planning concepts through case studies, presentations, discussions, and participatory exercises. Co-hosted by the Department of Fisheries and Forest Department, participants represented a wide range of government agencies involved in coastal and marine issues, including the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise, Land Administration and Record Department, Marine Administration Department, and Ministries of: Hotels and Tourism; Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement; Transportation and Communications; Electricity and Energy; and Planning and Finance. The event was opened by U Khin Maung Maw, Director General of the Department of Fisheries (reference news media).The training represents WCS’s ongoing technical support to the Government of Myanmar to help advance their recent public commitment to develop a marine spatial plan by 2021. This builds off a recent Marine Spatial Planning strategy, along with an accompanying Marine Biodiversity Atlas that pulls together numerous data sets to help inform decision making. With expanding investments in offshore gas exploration, shipping and trade, industrial development and ports, coastal tourism, and other development projects, marine spatial planning offers a potentially important tool to help plan for rational sea uses, avoid or mitigate conflicts, inform the establishment of new marine protected areas, and help support a sustainable blue economy for Myanmar. swin Wed, 06 Dec 2017 04:51:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10804 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10546/Statements-of-Wildlife-Conservation-Society-Myanmar-Program-on-The-protests-of-Indigenous-people-and-local-communities-on-Hkakabo-Razi-National-Park-Southern-Extension-Establishment-and-Hkakabo-Razi-Landscape-World-Heritage-Nomination-Process.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=10546 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10546&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 Statements of Wildlife Conservation Society Myanmar Program on The protests of Indigenous people and local communities on Hkakabo Razi National Park Southern Extension Establishment and Hkakabo Razi Landscape World Heritage Nomination Process https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10546/Statements-of-Wildlife-Conservation-Society-Myanmar-Program-on-The-protests-of-Indigenous-people-and-local-communities-on-Hkakabo-Razi-National-Park-Southern-Extension-Establishment-and-Hkakabo-Razi-Landscape-World-Heritage-Nomination-Process.aspx • Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has actively collaborated with Forest Department and UNESCO for the World Heritage Site nomination process for Hkakabo Razi Landscape. As the world heritage process is lengthy and complex, WCS has sympathized with indigenous peoples and local communities on their worries and concerns for the potential negative impacts on customary land tenure and tradition natural resource use practices.• WCS has practiced Participatory Land Use and Resource Use Mapping tool since 2005 in buffer zone management of protected areas to mitigate the potential negative impacts on customary land tenure and tradition resource use practices of indigenous peoples and local communities.• WCS has collaborated with all relevant departments, organizations and stakeholders to achieve "Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC)" of indigenous peoples and local communities for the World Heritage Site nomination process for Hkakabo Razi Landscape. In Forest Department's land settlement process which is a part of Hkakabo Razi National Park Southern Extension establishment, WCS has collaborated with Forest Department and all relevant departments and organizations and practiced Participatory Land Use and Resource Use Mapping tool to be able to document the customary land tenure and tradition natural resource use practices of indigenous peoples and local communities and to register thme as the "Rights and Privileges" in the land settlement procedure.• In accordance with Forest Department's procedure, six teams which consisted of representatives from government departments, non-governmental organizations and local organizations have conducted discussions with local communities and documentations of traditional tenure, livelihoods, practices, rights and privileges of indigenous peoples and local communities in each village. This activity will be conducted up to third week of October 2017. The boundary of Hkakabo Razi Southern Extension will be demarcated with the agreement of local communities.• Main objectives of management of protected areas including Hkakabo Razi National Park intend not only to achieve conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems, but also to distribute benefits from conservation to local communities. Particularly, to receive benefits from ecotourism development by indigenous peoples and local communities, WCS collaborated with local communities, relevant departments and organizations.• In the World Heritage Site nomination process of Hkakabo Razi Landscape, ensuring no displacements, no inclusion of villages in the proposed extension and no restrictions on customary land tenure and traditional natural resource use practices of indigenous peoples and local communities, only critical biodiversity areas will be identified and conserved and managed with the participation of local communities. WCS will collaborate with all important stakeholders, indigenous peoples, local communities, government departments, organizations on the World Heritage Site nomination process of Hkakabo Razi Landscape for the wellbeing of indigenous peoples, local communities and Myanmar as a whole. swin Sun, 29 Oct 2017 04:17:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10546 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10597/Slow-and-Steady-a-Tortoise-Is-Winning-Its-Race-With-Extinction.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=10597 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10597&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 Slow and Steady, a Tortoise Is Winning Its Race With Extinction https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10597/Slow-and-Steady-a-Tortoise-Is-Winning-Its-Race-With-Extinction.aspx The Burmese star tortoise was almost history.By the early 2000s, the natives of central Myanmar’s deserts had dwindled to such low counts in the wild that ecologists declared them functionally extinct. About the size of a football when mature, the animals sported yellow polygon patterns across their shells that helped them camouflage in dry grasses but also made them attractive as exotic pets, smuggled for thousands of dollars to the United States, Europe and other parts of Asia.Now, it appears that an eleventh-hour effort has pulled the species from the edge of extinction, according to a recent paper in the journal Herpetological Review. Steven Platt, a herpetologist for the Wildlife Conservation Society, and his collaborators outlined how setting up captive-bred assurance colonies in Myanmar has boosted the tortoise’s prospects... swin Tue, 10 Oct 2017 06:21:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10597 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10535/Conservation-Back-From-the-Brink-Ex-situ-Conservation-and-Recovery-of-the-Critically-Endangered-Burmese-Star-Tortoise-Geochelone-platynota-in-Myanmar.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=10535 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10535&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 Conservation-Back From the Brink: Ex-situ Conservation and Recovery of the Critically Endangered Burmese Star Tortoise (Geochelone platynota) in Myanmar https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10535/Conservation-Back-From-the-Brink-Ex-situ-Conservation-and-Recovery-of-the-Critically-Endangered-Burmese-Star-Tortoise-Geochelone-platynota-in-Myanmar.aspx Geochelone platynota - Captive propagation (2017).pdf swin Wed, 27 Sep 2017 00:32:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10535 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10534/NATURAL-HISTORY-NOTES--Batagur-trivittata--dichromatic-coloration-2017.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=10534 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10534&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 NATURAL HISTORY NOTES - Batagur trivittata - dichromatic coloration (2017) https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10534/NATURAL-HISTORY-NOTES--Batagur-trivittata--dichromatic-coloration-2017.aspx Batagur trivittata - dichromatic coloration (2017).pdf swin Tue, 26 Sep 2017 23:43:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10534 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9053/DNA-testing-challenges-traditional-species-classification.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=9053 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=9053&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 DNA testing challenges traditional species classification https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9053/DNA-testing-challenges-traditional-species-classification.aspx Through DNA testing scientists at WCS and NUS have made a surprising discovery that could subvert the significance of traditional criteria used for species classification. rwong Fri, 24 Jun 2016 06:55:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:9053 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/8616/Endangered-Tiger-Killed-in-Myanmar-Came-from-Thailand.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=8616 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=8616&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 Endangered Tiger Killed in Myanmar Came from Thailand https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/8616/Endangered-Tiger-Killed-in-Myanmar-Came-from-Thailand.aspx Experts from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) say that a tiger killed on Feb 25th in Myanmar came from a protected area in neighboring Thailand that currently hosts between 60 and 70 tigers. rwong Wed, 09 Mar 2016 10:39:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:8616 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/8443/International-Wildlife-Crime-Operation-Rescues-Stolen-Burmese-Star-Tortoises.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=8443 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=8443&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 International Wildlife Crime Operation Rescues Stolen Burmese Star Tortoises https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/8443/International-Wildlife-Crime-Operation-Rescues-Stolen-Burmese-Star-Tortoises.aspx An Investigation on Facebook Leads to the Arrest of Two Suspects in Connection to the Theft of Critically Endangered Burmese Star Tortoises rwong Tue, 29 Dec 2015 11:19:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:8443 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/8283/Survival-of-Myanmar-Endangered-Species-Rely-on-Sustainable-Protected-Areas.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=8283 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=8283&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 Survival of Myanmar Endangered Species Rely on Sustainable Protected Areas https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/8283/Survival-of-Myanmar-Endangered-Species-Rely-on-Sustainable-Protected-Areas.aspx Myanmar’s protected areas are facing critical funding shortages, with several unable to cover the costs of essential equipment, maintenance, and operational activities, in addition to needing more dedicated staff with increased technical capacities. A new report offers an assessment of the financial status, constraints, and opportunities for financing of these areas. rwong Mon, 19 Oct 2015 07:29:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:8283 https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/8176/Introducing-Myanmars-Sustainable-Blue-Economy.aspx#Comments 0 https://myanmar.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=15683&ModuleID=12277&ArticleID=8176 https://myanmar.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=8176&PortalID=126&TabID=15683 Introducing Myanmar's Sustainable Blue Economy https://myanmar.wcs.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/8176/Introducing-Myanmars-Sustainable-Blue-Economy.aspx rwong Thu, 17 Sep 2015 12:37:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:8176