Environmentalists of Burma/Myanmar

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Title: Myanmar’s arrested environmental activism
Description: "Authors: Adam Simpson, University of South Australia, Thomas Kean, International Crisis Group, and Susan Park, University of Sydney In the two years since the military coup in February 2021, Myanmar’s natural environment has deteriorated as the embryonic legal and regulatory regime that was emerging during the decade of political and economic reforms has unravelled. Gold mining has significantly increased, particularly in Kachin and Shan States, causing extensive social and environmental problems. The military has issued new mining permits while informal or illegal mining has also proliferated, causing deforestation, erosion and flooding while also damaging fisheries by polluting waterways with toxic sediment. Kachin State is also emerging as a key site for highly polluting rare earths mining. While the illicit export of rare earth elements across the border to China has been occurring for years, export activity has boomed since the coup. Attempts by previous governments to regulate these polluted areas have failed since the coup due to a lack of effective oversight. Some of the revenue may be helping the military crush dissent. But just when Myanmar’s environment needs its defenders the most, environmental activists find themselves facing a plethora of new pressures and security concerns. Myanmar’s environmental activists, and civil society more broadly, are no strangers to political restrictions. During half a century of earlier authoritarian military rule, activism was largely confined to ethnic ‘liberated areas’ or border zones beyond the reach of the military. This situation began to change during Myanmar’s decade of political and economic reforms starting in 2011, when environmental activists could openly challenge infrastructure projects, mines and government decisions for the first time. Since the 2021 military coup, the increasingly complex situation in Myanmar has severely impacted environmental movements. The safety of activists has become much more perilous under the new and highly restrictive Organisation Registration Law enacted in October 2022. The coup has resulted in three key impacts on Myanmar’s environmental movements — fracturing, fragmentation and transformation. A process of fracturing has occurred since the collapse of many environmental NGOs, civil society organisations and community-based organisations as a result of the coup and the subsequent societal conflict. Some activists have simply abandoned activism due to security concerns, cutting all communication with networks of former colleagues to avoid scrutiny from the security services. A similar fracturing process occurred after the 2014 Thai coup, which resulted in a dramatic reduction in environmental activism in Thailand. But the impacts of the coup in Myanmar on environmental activism have been significantly larger in proportion to the level of extreme disruption and repression across the entire society. Environmental movements have also experienced fragmentation since many activists have been forced to relocate for safety reasons. Activists have gravitated towards more liberal spaces beyond the reach of the military regime by fleeing to ‘liberated’ areas run by sympathetic ethnic armed groups or seeking refuge abroad, usually in Thailand, from where they can continue environmental activities through other means. Fragmentation has also occurred due to the additional difficulties in communication and transport since the coup. Internet shutdowns in various areas have made it difficult for networks to remain in contact and many activists have changed their phone numbers for security reasons, making it hard to reconnect. Even where the internet and mobile connections operate, new restrictions on major social media platforms have disrupted networks. Travel across Myanmar is also much more difficult due to higher costs, limited connections and regular checkpoints. Environmental activists and groups now often work on their own, or network in very limited ways. Environmental movements have been transformed in a variety of ways since the coup. Activists have adopted new strategies to continue their work inside nominally state-controlled areas of Myanmar. In regions where the military remains largely in control, activists have shifted their work to rural areas where the military’s reach is weaker. Some environmental activists have changed their role completely by shifting to the provision of humanitarian aid, while other activists have transitioned from working non-violently to joining the military struggle for democracy under the People’s Defence Forces, part of the armed resistance that emerged after the coup, or pre-existing ethnic armed groups. The ability of activists to openly challenge environmentally destructive activities has virtually evaporated. Activists can appeal to international actors for support, but the influence of international organisations is much reduced. During the decade of reform, civil society organisations could complain to the International Secretariat of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative if the government failed to consider their concerns. After the coup, Myanmar was suspended from the initiative due to political instability. These types of international actors simply no longer have any leverage over Myanmar. Two years after the military coup, with the international community’s attention focused on Ukraine, Myanmar’s environment is experiencing serious degradation and the communities that rely on it for their existence are facing threats to their safety and livelihoods. Meanwhile, Myanmar’s environmental activists who once shined light on these issues now face constant repression and threats to their own security. There is no easy solution, but if even a sliver of the world’s attention and resources that have been expended on Ukraine were directed towards Myanmar instead, then a way out of the present quagmire would seem more likely..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: East Asia Forum
Date of publication: 2023-02-13
Date of entry/update: 2023-02-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: As Myanmar farmers lose their land, sand mining for Singapore is blamed
Description: "From a boat on the Salween River in southeastern Myanmar, Than Zaw Oo pointed to a brown stretch of water he said was once full of lush paddy fields. “This used to be my land,” said the 51-year-old farmer, frowning at the murky waves. All but six of the 24 acres where he used to grow rice and vegetables have slipped into the water in recent years, he said. Another farmer, Than Tun, said he had lost 15 acres of his land to erosion. While official records were not available, other villagers backed their accounts. Farmers and politicians in Chaungzon township, just outside the southern town of Moulmein, worry that erosion in the area is being exacerbated by the ships that dredge its bed for sand each night. The sand is mainly bound for Singapore, the world’s biggest importer, for use in reclamation and construction projects. Both the Myanmar government and the company whose ships do the dredging in Chaungzon deny the dredging is causing the erosion. But the dispute highlights the fractious issue of sand-mining in Southeast Asia as Singapore is forced to look farther afield to slake its thirst for the mineral following bans on the trade in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia over environmental concerns..."
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Source/publisher: "Reuters" (UK)
Date of publication: 2020-03-04
Date of entry/update: 2020-03-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Giant Myanmar Irrawaddy Dolphin Died of Old Age: Environmentalists
Topic: Conservation, Economy, Environment, Fishing, illegal fishing, Irrawaddy Dolphin, Madaya Township, Mandalay Region, Unesco, Wildlife Conservation Society
Topic: Conservation, Economy, Environment, Fishing, illegal fishing, Irrawaddy Dolphin, Madaya Township, Mandalay Region, Unesco, Wildlife Conservation Society
Description: "An Irrawaddy dolphin was found dead on Tuesday in Madaya Township, Mandalay Region, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). The male dolphin died of old age and was 220cm long and 132cm in circumference, the NGO said. U Hkyaw Hla Thein, who is responsible for dolphin conservation at the WCS, said it was about 6cm longer than the next biggest dolphin they had found. “Its teeth show it was quite old and, to confirm it, we examined its stomach and found it was empty. We do not know how long it had been since it ate. So we concluded it died of old age,” he added. The Fisheries Department and WCS said it was the biggest dolphin ever found dead between Mandalay and Bhamo. Some residents and civil society organizations suggested the dolphin died because of electrofishing. “Fish are abundant where the dolphin was found dead, which attracts electrofishers. And there are also fishing lakes in the area. Those working at the fishing lakes downstream said the dolphin died due to electrofishing,” said U Maung Maung Oo, leader of the Sein Yaung So environmental group. Fisherman U Maung Lay of Sin Kyun Village also suggested that the dolphin died of electrofishing..."
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Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" (Thailand)
Date of publication: 2020-01-09
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-21
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: From scorched earth to parched earth (Shan)
Sub-title: Conflict and dams on the Nam Teng in Shan State
Description: "... Table Contents: Summary, Historical and cultural significance of the Nam Teng River: flowing through contested lands, Birthplace of Shan “Romeo and Juliet”, An artery of Shan resistance, 1996-1998: forced depopulation along the Nam Teng, Burma Army build-up in central Shan State, Background of Kengtawng, Militarization in Kengtawng, The Kengtawng hydropower project, Impacts of the Kengtawng project, Downsized waterfalls, Decreased fish stocks, The Upper Kengtawng dam, Feared impacts, Parched agriculture, Health risks due to changed water quality, Further decrease in fish stocks, Disappearance of waterfalls, Unpredictable water releases, Dam breakage, Centralized energy planning and foreign investment fueling conflict ..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF)
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-19
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Format : PDF
Size: 27.19 MB
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Title: Stop Coal Mining in Nam Ma (Shan)
Description: "... Table Contents:Introduction, Background of Nam Ma, Mining in the Nam Ma area, Na Koon coal mines, Pieng Hsai coal mines, Parng Nga coal mines, Overall impacts of mining in Nam Ma, Villagers’ attempts to stop the mining, and company responses, Demands ..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: shanhumanrights.org
Date of publication: 2017-06-28
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-19
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Format : PDF
Size: 14.11 MB
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Title: Chin Environmental Activists Call on Burma Govt to Halt Laymyo Dam Projects
Description: "Two hydropower dam projects proposed on the Laymyo River in Chin and Rakhine states would negatively affect more than 20,000 people, according to Chin Rivers Watch (CRW). The dams on the Laymyo—one near Ko Phe She village in Chin State’s Paletwa Township and one near Sai Din village in Rakhine State’s Mrauk-U Township—have been under consideration since 2007. They were initially backed by neighboring Bangladesh, and set to be built by the Chinese company Datang. The projects were put on pause in 2014. In 2016, after the current National League for Democracy government came to power, the French government allocated US$1 million for a feasibility study on the Laymyo dams, which was carried out by the Belgian-French company Tractebel-Engie. In a press conference in Yangon on November 4, CRW representatives said that the feasibility study had again been resumed. CRW secretary Mang Za Hkop said that the pursuit of such mega development projects was inappropriately given the current political circumstances in Burma. “We don’t want the government to start projects like this until protection laws have been drawn up for ethnic rights and citizens’ rights,” Mang Za Hkop, the CRW secretary, said..."
Source/publisher: "Network Media Group" (Thailand)
Date of publication: 2019-11-07
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Environmental awareness is rising in Myanmar
Description: "How long does it take garbage to decompose? Do you know it? According to scientists, plastic items could take up to 500 years to decompose in landfills. Plastic pollution is one of the biggest issue worldwide, with statistic showing that there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish by 2050 if we do not change our habits. A simple example of the consequence of this ecological disaster, this year, a whale has died in southern Thailand after swallowing more than 80 plastic bags. In Myanmar, 80 million plastic bags are used every day and over 1690 tons of garbage is generated per day on the average from townships in Yangon Region, and 10 % of them are plastic waste. The situation is certainly not going to improve. Indeed, plastic bottles and solid waste production tripled in the last 5 years. In 2014, The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) - which is a method of quantifying and numerically marking the environmental performance of a state's policies- ranked Myanmar 164 out of 178 countries analyzed. According to the EPI, almost every aspect of performance related to regulation or infrastructure has scores among the lowest globally. For instance, Wastewater treatment was ranked 145. In addition, ecosystem vitality and protection of terrestrial biodiversity come out as particularly weak as Environmental health was ranked 137 with a score of 41.39. Forest and water resources as seen as the main Environmental Concerns basing on the Environmental Performance Assessment funded by the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Environment Programme. However, Myanmar government tries to tackle this issue through law and regulations. In its Constitution of 2008, Sec. 45 states that “The Union shall protect and conserve natural environment” and according to Sec. 390 (b) “Every citizen has the duty to assist the Union carrying out the environmental conservation”. Moreover, in his report, Dr. San Oo Director of Environmental Conservation Department, describes “sustainability Roadmap for Myanmar” whose legal framework is mainly based on two laws..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "CCI France Myanmar"
Date of publication: 2018-06-20
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-18
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: World Elephant Day: UK aid supports Myanmar’s endangered elephants
Topic: A major British government-backed initiative has helped over 70,000 people and protected hundreds of elephants in Myanmar, supporting local livelihoods, ecosystem function and the country’s rich biodiversity.
Topic: A major British government-backed initiative has helped over 70,000 people and protected hundreds of elephants in Myanmar, supporting local livelihoods, ecosystem function and the country’s rich biodiversity.
Description: "As a result of increased deforestation, wild Asian elephant numbers in Myanmar have dwindled from 10,000 in the 1960s to under an estimate of 2000 by 2004. Myanmar still has the largest tract of intact elephant habitat in Asia and could support a larger number of wild elephants than the current estimated population. With Myanmar’s human population projected to increase, elephants in the nature are being pressured for loss of habitat. A programme from Elephant Family, an NGO protecting Asian elephants from extinction, and partners aim to work by educating school children and also having a scheme to inform local communities about land management. Elephants are known as “keystone species” for their crucial role in the ecosystem to maintain the biodiversity in which they live. The Asian elephant’s habitat ranges across 13 countries in Asia, but it is an endangered species with less than 40,000 remaining worldwide, which is less than one-tenth of the African elephant population. According to government statistics, during the eight-year period from 2010 to 2018, a total of 227 elephants died across the country, of which 124 were killed by poachers..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times"
Date of publication: 2019-08-12
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-12
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Plastic crisis in Myanmar: New survey reveals 119 tons of plastic enter Ayeyarwady River every day
Description: "A new survey on plastic pollution in Myanmar conducted by Fauna and Flora International (FFI) in collaboration with Thant Myanmar reveals that 119 tons of plastic waste enter the Ayeyarwady River every day. A related study conducted by the Fridtjof Nansen research vessel found that Myanmar's coastlines are heavily affected by micro plastics. On the 9 th of July 2019, these findings were discussed by experts and policy makers in Nay Pyi Taw. Keynote speaker, Deputy Minister of MONREC Dr. Ye Myint Swe, who opened the workshop "Plastic pollution in Myanmar: Focus on the Ayeyarwady River", accused plastic pollution of damaging the beauty of Myanmar and affecting people's health. He believes that the government and private sectors can make a change by encouraging and supporting a national reduction of plastic waste. The findings of the survey confirmed that the Ayeyarwady River is one of the most polluted rivers on the planet. Navigating its flow from Mandalay to Pyay and taking water samples along the way, experts found that the most polluting region is the Delta Region, which is responsible for around 32 tons, followed by Yangon where approximately 29 tons of plastic waste enters the river every day. Another striking fact presented in Nay Pyi Taw is that the ocean surrounding Myanmar – especially in the Bay of Bengal – is heavily impacted by micro plastics. The researchers of Fridtjof Nansen research vessel recorded high contamination rates on Myanmar's coasts, reaching up to 28,000 microplastic particles per square kilometer. During a panel discussion, the majority of the audience agreed that reducing plastic at its source has to be the first priority. The event successfully stimulated and contributed to the general debate on how to tackle the urgent plastic pollution issue Myanmar is facing. Different tools and policy options were discussed, including plastic taxation and bans, improved focus on awareness raising, and giving incentives to businesses through tax exemptions when switching to environmentally-friendly practices. Reducing packing was another option discussed with actors from the private sector. At the workshop, large scale producers of plastic packaging such as Nestlé, Unilever and Coca-Cola gathered to form an industry-led movement to step up the recycling of plastic. This initiative can be supported by policy makers by forcing producers to use recycled plastic in their products. The Environmental Conservation Department is currently in the process of drafting their "Master Plan for Solid Waste Management"..."
Source/publisher: Myanmar Water Portal via "Thant Myanmar & Flora and Fauna International"
Date of publication: 2019-07-19
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-24
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Manual
Description: "Vulnerability is the degree to which a system is susceptible to, or unable to cope with, the adverse effects of climate change, including climate variability and extremes. This notion is used to describe socio-economic, physical and environmental factors, which determine the sensitivity/susceptibility of a country, town, community or individual to the impact of climate change (e.g. change in seasonal patterns) and/or hazard (e.g. flood). For example, socio-economic factors of vulnerability are poverty, low level of awareness on climate change, and dependence on climate-sensitive agricultural production. Land degradation and unsustainable natural resources management are environmental factors of vulnerability. For instance, cutting mangroves in populated coastal areas increases the vulnerability of communities because mangroves help in reducing wind speed, flooding and coastal erosion. Physical vulnerability relates to the state of infrastructure and human settlements. Countries and communities are more vulnerable when they have low adaptive capacity. The latter specifies their ability to adjust to climate change (including to climate variability and extremes) and moderate or cope with its potential negative impacts. Adaptive capacity also relates to the ability of people to take advantage of opportunities and benefits from climate change. For example, a longer growing season due to changing climate offers opportunity to farmers to increase their income. However, their adaptive capacity is often constrained by the limited access to knowledge and technology on how to increase their production under longer growing season conditions. Adaptation to climate change aims at reducing vulnerability and building climate resilience. Climate resilience is the ability of a system to (i) absorb stress and cope with climate change and hazards, including maintaining its basic structure, functions and adaptive capacity, and (ii) recover, adapt and transform in ways that improve its sustainability, leaving it better prepared for future climate change impacts. In this context, climate-resilient development of townships of Myanmar suggests development that ensures townships' ability to cope with current climate and its impact and to adapt to future climate change, by preserving development gains and minimising damages..."
Source/publisher: HABITAT (United Nations Centre for Human Settlements)
Date of publication: 2019-03-26
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-14
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 2.21 MB
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Title: Myanmar Country Environmental Analysis – Sustainability, Peace, and Prosperity : Forests, Fisheries, and Environmental Management – Fisheries Sector Report
Description: "Fisheries and aquaculture make a significant contribution to Myanmar’s economy. The fisheries sector contributes roughly 2 percent of Myanmar’s gross domestic product (GDP), 50 percent of animal protein consumption, 6 percent of employment—rising to as high as 34 percent in some coastal areas—and up to 56 percent of state/regional government revenue. Marine fisheries, freshwater fisheries, and aquaculture contribute to production in roughly equal proportions, for a total annual production of 3 million tons. Fisheries’ contributions to economic output and employment in Myanmar still lag behind other countries in the region. For instance, the aquaculture sector alone contributes more to the GDP of Bangladesh and Vietnam (at more than 3 percent and more than 5 percent, respectively) than the entire fisheries sector’s contribution to GDP in Myanmar. There is a scarcity of scientific data on which to base the management of Myanmar’s fisheries. Official catch estimates show an inexorable rise in marine fisheries’ production, but these are contradicted by stock assessment data suggesting that between 1979 and 2013 pelagic stocks fell by as much as 90 percent and demersal stocks by around 50 percent..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: World Bank
Date of publication: 2019-06-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Format : pdf
Size: 2.04 MB
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Title: Myanmar Country Environmental Analysis – Sustainability, Peace, and Prosperity : Forests, Fisheries, and Environmental Management – Forest Resources Sector Report
Description: "Myanmar’s forest and timber sector has been central to the country’s economy and society, particularly over the last century. Myanmar’s forests contain some of the most valued species in the world—particularly rosewood, ironwood, and teak. Myanmar also has one of the most longstanding forest management systems in the tropics. Today, despite reduced timber extraction revenues, wood industry still generates over 8 percent of formal government revenues. Beyond timber, rural society largely depends on non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and agroforestry for food, medicine, and wood fuel, which is by far the most important energy source in rural Myanmar, with between 60 percent and 80 percent of communities relying on this source. Some of Myanmar’s forests also form some of the world’s most critically important biodiversity ‘hotspots’. The importance of Myanmar’s forests is not limited to their wood products alone: • Forest governance and the peace process are directly intertwined: Two-thirds of Myanmar’s remaining forested areas are managed by ethnic groups, in many cases through customary tenure systems, with much of this forest located in conflict areas. It is evident that inclusive forest governance and natural resource management and empowering local agents will contribute to the national peace-building process and reduce conflict. • Community forestry (CF) and smallholder plantations are financially and socially viable and can meaningfully contribute to rural income generation, provided the appropriate institutions, rights, incentives, and technical support are in place. Community-based forestry programs represent international best practice, providing tenure to communities to stimulate investments and creating trust, income, and business opportunities. • Wood processing can enhance exports and rural jobs creation. Myanmar currently loses economic value from limited or wasteful low-quality timber processing of some of the world’s most valuable timber. Looking to other countries in the region, Vietnam invested heavily in high value-added processing and forest small and medium enterprises (SMEs) over the last 10 years, and today is the fifth largest exporter of wood products with revenue exceeding that of Myanmar more than twentyfold in value. The looming global supply gap for wood products will most likely boost this sector even more in the future. • At the same time, forests and mangroves provide significant ecosystem services for water catchment, habitat for flora and fauna, carbon storage, soil nutrient recovery, and increasingly important disaster risk protection. With accelerating climate change, forests’ role in both mitigation and, more crucially, adaptation will be increasingly essential (improving basin-level hydrological functions, especially maintaining moisture recycling and rainfall and reducing droughts and floods), especially for downstream/lowland populations. In the years before the democratic transition, forest areas were largely over-logged to maximize timber revenues with little consideration for sustainability, which resulted in widespread degradation of the Permanent Forest Estate (PFE). Illegal logging and corrupt practices are still ongoing, but in 2014, a log export ban (alongside other policy measures) was imposed to stop the plundering of production forests. Since then, the forest and timber sector is undergoing a series of reforms to better control and manage the resources in a more socially inclusive and transparent way. Although the current direction is positive, and there is high political ownership by the government and society, progress is still slow..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: World Bank
Date of publication: 2019-06-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Format : pdf
Size: 3.02 MB
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Title: Myanmar?s ?green princess? is a humble activist on a mission
Description: " Thant Cin, the great-granddaughter of Burma?s last royal family, King Thibaw and Queen Supalayat, is considered one of Myanmar?s first environmentalists and works to fight deforestation and environmental degradation in the Southeast Asian nation. She is the founder of the environmental activist organizations Global Green Group (3G) and the Myanmar Green Network. Despite having lived the life of a commoner, Thant Cin still considers it her royal duty to look after the interests of the Burmese people by fighting to protect the environment. Devi Thant Cin lives on one of the most prestigious roads in Myanmar, just a few feet from the famous Shwedagon Pagoda and next to the tomb of the country?s last queen, but her humble home is more difficult to find than you would expect. As well as being an environmental activist ? possibly Myanmar?s first, and certainly one of its most prominent ? Thant Cin is also a princess. She is the great-granddaughter of Burma?s last royal family, King Thibaw and Queen Supalayat. They were deposed and exiled by the British colonialists in 1885, just over 130 years ago. She lives not in a palace but in a modest two-story, half wooden, half concrete house in Yangon. But Thant Cin finds it funny that people are surprised by this. ?I have lived here for 50 years,” she said simply. ?It was given to my grandfather for religious purposes, to look after the tomb [of Queen Supalayat].” She shares the house with two other royally descended families, and her attitude toward the house is indicative of her approach toward her glittering genealogy. For Thant Cin, royalty ? even remembered royalty, like her own ? is more about duty than palaces. ?What I do is as important as who I am,” she said. By all measures, her chosen contributions have been significant. Thant Cin, 69, is a leading light in Myanmar?s fledgling green movement. In a country where the focus is on much-needed development of the economy rather than protecting its resources, the work of environmentalists like her is vital.
Creator/author: Jennifer Rigby
Source/publisher: Mongabay
Date of publication: 2017-01-10
Date of entry/update: 2017-10-26
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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