Publications on the environment of Burma/Myanmar
Websites/Multiple Documents
Description:
About 10 articles -- from 2008 to October 2016, whenn it closed.
Source/publisher:
Various sources via "BurmaNet News"
Date of entry/update:
2012-04-17
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
About 46,800 results (August 2017)
Source/publisher:
Various sources via Youtube
Date of entry/update:
2017-08-20
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English, Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
more
Description:
"The Burma Environmental Working Group (BEWG) brings together Burma focused ethnic environmental and social organizations. Each member organization monitors Burma development policy and advocates for alternative development policies meeting their specific traditional and comprehensive understanding of local sustainability. BEWG provides a forum for member organizations to combine the successes, knowledge, expertise and voices of ethnic peoples in pursuit of not just local livelihoods, but sustainable and peaceful national, regional and international development policy. Members collaborate on research, reporting, advocacy campaigns, capacity-building initiatives and policy formulation. BEWG also networks with non-member organizations to encourage harmony and diversity in its own activities as well as strengthen democracy and civil society in Burma..."
Source/publisher:
Burma Environmental Working Group (BEWG)
Date of entry/update:
2012-07-18
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English, Burmese/ မြန်မာဘာသာ
more
Description:
Includes sections on the major rivers of Burma
Source/publisher:
Burma Rivers Network
Date of entry/update:
2012-07-19
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Category:
Publications on the environment of Burma/Myanmar, Dams and other projects on the Kaladan and its tributories, Dams and other projects on the Chindwin and its tributories, Dams and other projects on the Irrawaddy and its tributories, Dams and other projects on the Paunglaung and its tributories, Dams and other projects on the Salween and its tributories
Language:
English
more
Description:
Another development for Burma:
Strengthening the capacity within the Burmese democracy movement for meeting future development challenges has been a recent major initiative. New capacity building activities will seek to strengthen further the democratic forces in the world...plus other related material
Source/publisher:
Dag Hammarskold Foundation
Date of entry/update:
2009-12-04
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Category:
Sustainable/alternative development in and for Burma, Publications on the environment of Burma/Myanmar
Language:
English
more
Description:
"EarthRights International?s Burma Project collects vital on-the-ground information about the human rights and environmental situation in Burma. Since 1995, ERI has worked in Burma to monitor the impacts of the military regime?s policies and activities on local populations and ecosystems. ERI?s staff has gathered a vast body of valuable, rare information about the state of the military regime?s war on its peoples and its environment. Through gathering testimonies, grassroots organizing, and distributing information through campaign work, the Burma Project has made a significant contribution to human rights and environment protection in Burma. Where possible, we link our grassroots fact-finding missions and community organizing with regional and international level advocacy and campaigning.
We work alongside affected community groups to prevent human rights and environmental abuses associated with large-scale development projects in Burma. Currently, the Burma Project focuses on large-scale dams, oil and gas development, and mining. We share experiences and resources with local communities, as well as provide assistance relevant to community needs. Over the past 10 years the Burma Project has raised awareness about the alarming depletion of resources in Burma and their relationship to a vast array of human rights abuses, as well as the local, national, and regional implications of these practices."...Sections on Dams, Mining, Oil & Gas and Other Areas of Work.
Source/publisher:
EarthRights International
Date of entry/update:
2010-08-20
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Category:
Political, social and economic dimensions of investment in Burma, Human rights organisations, networks: resources, training, methodology and other links, Publications on the environment of Burma/Myanmar, United States investment, Burma Action Groups, Expatriate Groups, Round Tables etc.
Language:
English
more
Description:
Replaced the spammed-up Greenburma in August 2011. Greenburma still has a very useful archive, back to 2001 (see Alternate URL)
Source/publisher:
Yahoogroups
Date of entry/update:
2012-07-15
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
''Myanmar is abundant in diverse natural habitats with a wide variety of wildlife originating from north, south, and southeast Asia, as well as lush forests and extensive river networks flowing from the northern Himalayan mountains southwards to the mangrove river deltas and the Bay of Bengal. It boasts the highest proportion of forest cover in mainland Southeast Asia with as much as 80% of the world’s teak reserves, and the most biodiversity in the Indo-Pacific region.
Despite low levels of industrialization and population density however, Myanmar’s rich natural environment - and particularly its large areas of natural forest and wetland habitat, are under threat by human activities and climate change. Myanmar’s rate of deforestation is one of the highest in the world: FAO statistics indicate that the area of forested land has dropped from 58% in 1990 to 47% in 2010, while 282 species of animals and plants are under threat according to the IUCN Red List. Contributing factors to this deterioration of the ecosystem include the degradation of forests, poor agricultural practices, illegal poaching, improper mining practices, and international demand for Myanmar’s resources for energy use and agricultural commodity exports...''
Source/publisher:
Myanmar Information Management Unit (MIMU)
Date of publication:
1970-01-01
Date of entry/update:
2019-02-07
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
Search for Myanmar
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
About 4,420 results (October 2017)
Source/publisher:
mongabay.com
Date of entry/update:
2017-10-26
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English (+?)
more
Description:
Useful archive from 2001 to mid-August 2011 after which it is full of spam...Replaced by http://groups.yahoo.com/group/enviroburma .....Message from the moderator: "Dear Green Burma list members,
Because the Green Burma Yahoo Group, in public operation since 2000, now has been attacked by spam, does not have a moderator and has many inactive "members" -- I have created a new, private Yahoo Group, which I will moderate, to cover the same topic.
The new group is called Environment Burma -- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/enviroburma
A summary of what the new group covers is below.
As a private group, only members of Environment Burma will be able to receive group messages, look at them online or view the archive of messages.
Environment Burma is the group to which I will post news of Burma environment topics from now on.
Members of Green Burma can request (at Yahoo Groups site) to join the Environment Burma group. As long as a membership request is not from a spammer, it will be approved. If commercial spam is sent to the EB group (very unlikely, since it is private) the message & sender will be deleted.
Any member of the new EB group can post messages and comments. Active participation is encouraged.
thanks and best wishes,
Edith Mirante
Here are the details on enviroburma:
Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/enviroburma
Group email address: [email protected]
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
432 results for a search for Myanmar AND environment (July 2012)
Source/publisher:
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
Date of entry/update:
2012-07-05
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
Formerly International Rivers Network (IRN)..."International Rivers? mission is to protect rivers and defend the rights of communities that depend on them. We oppose destructive dams and the development model they advance, and encourage better ways of meeting people?s needs for water, energy and protection from damaging floods. To achieve this mission, we collaborate with a global network of local communities, social movements, non-governmental organizations and other partners. Through research, education and advocacy, International Rivers works to halt destructive river infrastructure projects, address the legacies of existing projects, improve development policies and practices, and promote water and energy solutions for a just and sustainable world. The primary focus of our work is in the global South..."...Some articles and reports on Burma
Source/publisher:
International Rivers
Date of entry/update:
2008-04-26
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Category:
Publications on the environment of Burma/Myanmar, Dams and other hydropower projects (global, regional)
Language:
English
more
Description:
Watches ADB projects in the Mekong region
Date of entry/update:
2010-08-11
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Category:
Asian Development Bank (ADB) and its watchers (Burma/Myanmar), Publications on the environment of Burma/Myanmar
Language:
English
more
Description:
ABOUT KESAN:
"KESAN is a community based organisation with a central office in Chiang Mai, Thailand. We implement project activities on the Thai Burma border and in Karen and Kachin states in Burma. For the past eight years we have been working towards improving rural livelihood security using an approach that empowers and educates communities and institutions to sustain existing indigenous knowledge and practices to use and manage forest resources for the long term benefit of the community. KESAN also plays a leading role in addressing environmental and development concerns in environmental law and policy formulation in preparation for the post transition period in Burma. KESAN networks with local, regional and international organisations towards increased recognition of local and indigenous peoples rights to use and manage their natural resources for sustainable development.
Vision
Karen indigenous people in Burma live peacefully in a healthy environment and actively participate in maintaining ecological balance and livelihood security.
Mission
KESAN is a local organization working alongside local communities in Karen State and Kachin State, Burma to build up capacities in natural resource management, raise public environmental awareness, support community-based development initiatives; and collaborate with organizations at all levels to advocate for environment policies and development priorities that ensure sustainable ecological, social, cultural and economic benefits and gender equity
. Objectives
1.
To enhance capacities of local communities and community-based organizations to enable activities for environmental protection and social development
2.
To develop indigenous environmental education and materials to increase children and youth awareness and participation in environmental protection
3.
To support community-based development initiatives to preserve our environment, cultures and traditional livelihoods
4.
To advocate for environment policies and practices and development priorities that are environmentally friendly, socially equitable, culturally beneficial and economically viable
5.
To systematize and scale up ongoing efforts to mainstream a gender perspective in all aspects of KESANs program of work."
Source/publisher:
Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN)
Date of entry/update:
2009-11-19
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Category:
Publications on the environment of Burma/Myanmar, Sustainable/alternative development in and for Burma
Language:
English, Karen
more
Description:
Short abstract of a hard copy (sales?) doc
Source/publisher:
World Resources Inst.
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English
more
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
"Towards Ecological Recovery and Regional Alliance/Foundation for Ecological Recovery (TERRA/FER), believe that public debate on, and participation in, decisions concerning environment and development is a crucial first step in forging paths towards a more equitable and sustainable future for all people in the Mekong region. This means that civil society must play a strong role in shaping national and regional development policy process. In supporting the work of civil society groups in the region, we have undertaken a range of activities, including participatory research, internships, field studies and exchange. We also engage in campaign and monitoring activities to address development projects, programmes and policies that have negative implications for local people and the environment..."
Source/publisher:
TERRA
Date of entry/update:
2014-09-17
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Category:
Dams and other hydropower projects (global, regional), Dams and other projects on rivers in Burma/Myanmar (countrywide), Publications on the environment of Burma/Myanmar
Language:
English
more
Description:
B
► Biota of Burma (2 C, 3 P)
C
► Conservation in Burma (4 C)
E
► Energy in Burma (4 C, 4 P)
N
► Natural history of Burma (3 P)
P
► Protected areas of Burma (1 C, 20 P)
W
► Water in Burma (1 C)
List of ecoregions in Burma
H
Hengduan Mountains
N
Northern Triangle temperate forest
Y
Yadanabon Zoological Gardens
Categories: BurmaEnvironment by cou
Source/publisher:
Wikipedia
Date of entry/update:
2012-07-20
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
38,600 search results for "Myanmar" (July 2012)
Source/publisher:
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
A major resource. Several articles on Burma (use the Search and Info by country). Extremely good links page: NGOs, Intergovernmental Sites, Research Institutes; Other links. "The World Rainforest Movement is an international network of citizens? groups of North and South involved in efforts
to defend the world?s rainforests. It works to secure the lands and livelihoods of forest peoples and supports their
efforts to defend the forests from commercial logging, dams, mining, plantations, shrimp farms,
colonisation and settlement and other projects that threaten them..."
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Category:
Deforestation, Publications on the environment of Burma/Myanmar, Forests and forest people - Alliances, support groups, conferences and other resources
Language:
English, Espanol (WRM Bulletin)
more
Description:
About 440 results (9 November 2017)
Source/publisher:
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Date of entry/update:
2017-11-09
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English
more
Individual Documents
Description:
"The way the environment has been historically perceived in Myanmar (Burma) is strongly
linked to its turbulent and authoritarian political history (Simpson et al., 2017). Concepts
such as ‘the environment’ and ‘environmentalism’ have appeared relatively recently in
mainstream Myanmar discourses, with traditional interpretations of nature tending to focus
on exploitable natural resources. Myanmar is extremely geographically and ecologically
diverse, stretching from northern snow-capped mountains through the flatlands of the cen-
tral dry zone to the palm-dotted beaches of the southern tropical coasts and islands. Gover-
nance of the ecosystems in these complex environments is still in its infancy. While most
countries in the world have well-entrenched laws ensuring that public participation, envi-
ronmental impact assessment (EIA) and social impact assessment (SIA) are key components
of any major development activities, these types of legislated requirements have historically
been absent from Myanmar. Between 1962 and 2011, Myanmar was ruled by authoritarian
governments that had little interest in or inclination for environmental protection or com-
munity consultation. While there existed forestry laws, including those that recognized
community forests, and a Land Acquisition Act, which was meant to regulate compensation
for farmers, there were no laws that adequately regulated pollution or protected biodiversity
and no law existed that took a holistic approach to the management or protection of the
environment overall.
This dire situation first began to shift during the quasi-civilian government of President
Thein Sein between 2011 and 2016, with an Environmental Law, which had been drafted and
redrafted over 15 years, finally passed in March 2012 (Government of Myanmar, 2012). The
various rules and procedures that were to implement this law took several years to be finalized,
with implementation of, for example, the EIA Procedures left to the newly formed National
League for Democracy (NLD) government, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, from 2016. Due to these
governments’ lack of experience and expertise in this area, the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
assisted with the drafting of the EIA Procedures, Rules and National Environmental Quality
Standards through a Technical Assistance Grant under the Greater Mekong Subregion Core
Environment Program (ADB, 2014). 1
Although the ADB itself is regularly criticized for not
having adequate public participation and environmental safeguards, the historical lack of any environmental protections in Myanmar makes the standards of international financial institu-
tions such as the ADB look relatively thorough (Simpson and Park, 2013).
Following promulgation of the Environmental Law, draft Environment Conservation Rules
(Government of Myanmar, 2014a), draft EIA Procedures (Government of Myanmar, 2014b)
and draft EIA Rules (Government of Myanmar, 2014c), which established the operation of the
law, began circulating in Myanmar. Workshops were held with public and private stakeholders
during Thein Sein’s government in a consultation process that until the political reforms was
entirely foreign to Myanmar. According to an environmental lawyer who was involved with
the process:
the EIA Regulations do reflect best practice but there are huge hurdles to effective
implementation. There needs to be a refocus on sustainable development and environ-
mental protection to avoid further significant and long-term environmental disasters
in Myanmar. A key element will be the effective participation of the community and
civil society in the EIA process. 2
When these regulations are finalized and implemented, they may finally initiate a process of
formalized and comprehensive state-led environmental governance in the country. Even
allowing for the dramatic reforms currently taking place, however, the military’s traditional
dominance in both the political and economic spheres is likely to limit the effectiveness of
measures nominally designed to increase participation and ensure sustainability (Farrelly,
2013; Jones, 2014; 2016; Macdonald, 2013). That a country in Asia with a population of
53 million is only just initiating a package of environmental protections indicates the distance
that the country needs to travel before effective environmental governance can occur
(Simpson, 2015b).
This state-led environmental governance is desperately needed in Myanmar, both to address
the historical environmental degradation that occurred under the economic mismanagement of
the military dictatorship and due to the environmental strains being unleashed by the current
political and economic reform process. In some respects, the lack of economic development in
the country throughout five decades of authoritarian rule resulted in a less disastrous environ-
mental impact on the local environment than in its neighbour, Thailand, which developed large
and highly polluting heavy industries over the same period (see chapter 28 and Simpson, 2015a).
Likewise, fragile coastal areas have not been degraded to the same extent as in Thailand because
mass tourism remains in its infancy. In other respects, the lack of coherent environmental gov-
ernance and policymaking resulted in widespread and ad hoc mining, logging and energy proj-
ects that were undertaken without regard for the adverse environmental consequences, a
situation compounded by civil conflict between the central government and ethnic minorities
in the mountainous and resource-rich border regions. Although upland regions, such as Kachin
State in the north and Kayin (Karen) State in the east, face a plethora of environmental prob-
lems, it is deforestation from unchecked logging that is of most concern for local communities
and is often blamed for increased flood events (MacLean, 2003; Tint Lwin Thaung, 2007).
Likewise, large-scale, artisanal and small-scale mining put together have an enormous environ-
mental impact due to the lack of environmental regulations, resulting in deforestation and the
pollution of rivers from mine tailings. Mines are spread throughout Myanmar and produce zinc,
lead, silver, tin, gold, iron, coal and gemstones, particularly jade (Global Witness, 2015). One
of the biggest and most contentious mines is the Letpadaung (Monywa) copper mine in Sagaing
Region, which has been the site for recent protests and conflict (AFP, 2013; Fortify Rights and
International Human Rights Clinic, 2015; Smith, 2007)..."
Source/publisher:
Adam Simpson
Date of publication:
2016-10-04
Date of entry/update:
2022-03-02
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Publications on the environment of Burma/Myanmar, The impact of climate change on the environment of Burma/Myanmar, The impact of natural disasters on the environment and people of Burma/Myanmar
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
396.27 KB (Original version) - 12 pages
more
Description:
"...I would like to begin this concluding chapter with a statement from an elderly Karen woman: “We have hope as long as we have the Salween River.” This statement is emblematic – it is not only a pithy reflection of an elderly woman whose life has been interwoven with the struggle, but it is also an insight into the intimacy that local people share with the Salween River. The Salween is no longer merely a source of the local people’s livelihoods, but it has become more than that; it represents a hope, a struggle, and a challenge. From this, I am concerned with border people’s negotiation processes, those that take place beyond the Salween borderlands and allow a broader possibility for them to invent a strategy which functions as a connection between diverse groups of people, from many places and on different scales – to enhance their network and strengthen their struggle for a common goal. The issues and questions posed by the border people’s everyday survival struggles are the central points of this study. The Salween River has been targeted by capitalist markets and states as a resource frontier – to generate capitalist expansion along the Thai-Burmese border in a form of frontier capitalization. Frontier capitalization at the Salween borderlands, in terms of social construction of ‘nature’, can be characterized as the commodification of the Salween resources, namely forests and rivers, that have been transformed into commodities for trade in particular markets. It has taken place in that the landscape of Salween borderlands have been read by the capitalist market and the states as empty lands where they can turn nature into a commodity, which in turn facilitates and generates economic growth and progress. This commodification takes place in different forms, and has been produced by different forces at various points in history...."
Date of publication:
2012-02-00
Date of entry/update:
2020-04-04
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Publications on the environment of Burma/Myanmar, Natural Resource Use, Burma/Myanmar - reports, articles etc.
Language:
Format :
PDF
Size:
2.35 MB
more
Description:
"National Statement of Myanmar at the fourth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly
Delivered by Dr. San Oo, Head of Delegation of Myanmar, Deputy Director General, Environmental Conservation Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation of Myanmar..."
Source/publisher:
UN Environment
Date of publication:
2019-03-13
Date of entry/update:
2019-08-18
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Publications on the environment of Burma/Myanmar, The impact of natural disasters on the environment and people of Burma/Myanmar, The impact of climate change on the environment of Burma/Myanmar
Language:
more
Description:
"The Government of Myanmar today announced its vision for the country’s environmental protection and climate action, launching two new policies that will guide Myanmar’s environmental management and climate change strategy.
Myanmar is widely considered one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the impacts of climate change, and its renowned biodiversity and natural resources are under increasing pressure as the country develops. More intense and more frequent floods, cyclones and droughts have caused immense loss of life and damage to infrastructure and the economy.
President U Win Myint announced the two new policies – the National Environmental Policy and the Myanmar Climate Change Policy – at an event marking World Environment Day in the capital. More than 400 attended the announcement, including senior government officials from Union ministries, states and regions and representatives from civil society, academic institutions, businesses and the international community, including the acting UN Resident Coordinator and EU Ambassador..."
Source/publisher:
"UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)"
Date of publication:
2019-06-05
Date of entry/update:
2019-08-10
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), Climate Change - Burma/Myanmar: general, Burma/Myanmar reports to international bodies and mechanisms, Publications on the environment of Burma/Myanmar, Biodiversity - Burma/Myanmar-related
Language:
more
Description:
"Myanmar, the largest country in Southeast Asia, has the least developed economy in the region
(UNDP 2013)1 despite having some abundant natural resources and a relatively low population
density. The current level of development is illustrated by Myanmar’s substantial shortfall in energy
supply, with only 33% of households connected to grid electricity supply.
Recognising that access to electricity is an important pillar in raising livelihoods (particularly in rural
areas where 70% of Myanmar’s poor live) and achieving broad economic development, the
Government of Myanmar (GoM) aims to rapidly increase power generation and electrification across
the country over the next 10-20 years to provide affordable and reliable energy. Key sector targets
include increasing national generation capacity by 500-1,000 MW per year over the next 10 years to
reach 16,665 MW of installed capacity, and increasing the electrification rate to 75% by 2021/2022,
then to 100% by 2030, and increasing increase energy exports to increase foreign exchange earnings.
To meet these targets the government is considering a mix of power generation options, including gas,
hydropower and other renewable energy alternatives. Given that the country is rich in hydropower
resources, being home to major river basins and high annual rainfall in most areas, hydropower looms
as an important contributor to the provision of affordable electricity. Almost the entire Ayeyarwady
River Basin (91%, covering ~372,907km2
) lies within Myanmar, as well as close to half of the
Thanlwin basin (42%, covering ~127,745km2
) and a small area of the Mekong basin (2.7%, covering
~ 22,070 km2
). In addition, the Sittaung River Basin and the Rakhine and Tanintharyi coastal basins
are other notable resources.
But these substantial aquatic resources provide a range of essential ecosystem services that will be lost
or degraded by inappropriate large-scale hydropower development, including maintaining river
ecological and geomorphic processes, and providing important livelihood resources, therefore
hydropower development must be sustainable.
Hydropower development is at an early stage in Myanmar, with 29 hydropower projects (HPPs)
greater than 10 MW capacity in operation, totalling 3,298 MW installed capacity, while an additional
six HPPs are under construction with an installed capacity of 1,564 MW, the largest being the 1,050
MW Shweli 3 hydropower plant in the Ayeyarwady Basin (Figure 1.1). In contrast, GoM has received
proposals for the development of a further 51 hydropower projects totalling 42,968 MW. There are
also an additional 18 sites have been identified for potential hydropower development by
state/regional governments totalling 994 MW. The sector is moving towards larger projects and away
from Government-dominated development towards being driven by private enterprise..."
Source/publisher:
World Bank
Date of publication:
2019-01-30
Date of entry/update:
2019-07-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
World Bank Group - Burma/Myanmar, Assessment of hydropower projects in Burma/Myanmar, Publications on the environment of Burma/Myanmar
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
2.04 MB
more
Description:
"The aim of social and livelihood baseline report is to provide background information for an enhanced
understanding by decision makers and other stakeholders of the range of stakeholder values and
priorities that need to be taken into account in formulating the sustainable hydropower development
pathway.
Selected policies, plans and priorities for social issues and livelihoods are briefly described. These
include: 20-year National Comprehensive Development Plan 2011-2031 (NCDP); Comprehensive
Development Vision of 2010-35; 2nd 5-Year National Plan from 2016-17 to 2020-21; Framework for
Economic and Social Reforms" (FESR); National Social Protection Strategic Plan; and National
Urban System of Myanmar and the Urban Development Prioritization. National Strategic Plan for the
Advancement of Women. National Land Use Policy (NLUP).
Demographics, urbanization, migration are relevant for hydropower sector planning as they are
issues that sets the backdrop for energy demand assessment and broader energy supply planning. By
2040, the population is forecast to be 62.8 million. The annual population growth rate has decreased
from 2.1 in 1985 to 0.9 in 2015. The average household size, indicating degree of modernization, is
significantly higher in predominantly ethnic minority areas than in Barma dominated areas.
Population density, indicating general pressure on, and demand for resources, is significantly lower in
predominantly ethnic minority areas. Two million people live outside Myanmar (2014), 70% in
Thailand. 1.2 million are men. The largest numbers of emigrants are from Mon, Kayin, Shan, Bago
and Rakhine. Employment and search for employment is the main driver of migration. The urban
growth rate is at 2.5%, rural growth rate 0% (2015). There is strong rural to urban migration with
Yangon and Mandalay being the main centres of attraction. Yangon has 4.7 million people (36% of
urban population), while Mandalay has a population of 1.2 million (9%). 40% of the town population
live in towns with between 25,000 and 250,000 people and 25% of the town population live in around
100 towns of less than 100,000 people.
Occupations and livelihoods are relevant for potential impacts on livelihoods that are directly
dependent on rivers and related natural resources. However, Census 2014 aggregate occupations in
agriculture, forestry and fishing into one category, and this constrains the analysis of livelihoods that
are mainly dependent on river resources. The largest category in Census 2014 data on ‘usual
activities’ of people is ‘own account worker’ (‘self-employed’). A measure of the dependence on
rivers for livelihoods is attempted through the proxy indicator of ownership to boats, which was
included in the Census 2014.
Poverty, vulnerability to flooding, food security: hydropower plants’ potential direct impacts on
poor people can be significant with both negative and positive effects. The latest nation-wide poverty
data from 2010 are sample based not allowing for basin level analysis. The poverty incidence
decreased between 2005 and 2010 in all State/Regions, except Chin urban. However, many
households fluctuate around the poverty line and temporary, or transitory poverty, affected 28% of all
households vs. 10% of all households that are chronically poor between 2005-2010. Transitory
poverty is linked to the extensive dependence of the majority of the population on agriculture and
natural resources with the associated vulnerability to floods and droughts, storms and diseases. The
potential for flood protection measures is an important consideration in Myanmar. Between 1970 and
2016, 12.4 million people were affected by floods; of these 11.2 million were affected by riverine
floods in 15 events. Large parts of rural Myanmar are still vulnerable to food insecurity especially
caused by natural disasters. About half a million people were in need of food assistance in Myanmar
in January 2017. 35% of children under the age of five suffer chronic malnutrition. Vulnerabilities
with direct linkages to hydropower development include: storm surge, flood, drought, earthquake and
landslides. Other vulnerabilities include under-and malnutrition and trafficking/migration..."
Source/publisher:
World Bank
Date of publication:
2019-01-30
Date of entry/update:
2019-07-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
World Bank Group - Burma/Myanmar, Assessment of hydropower projects in Burma/Myanmar, Publications on the environment of Burma/Myanmar
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
4.82 MB
more
Description:
"Residents of several villages close to Dawei, the capital of Tanintharyi
Region, say that a nearby tin mine is contaminating their water supplies and affecting their livelihoods and their children's health.
This week, in partnership with Dawei Watch, Doh Athan travels to these villages to hear about the concerns local residents have.
တနင်္သာရီတိုင်းဒေသကြီးရဲ့မြို့တော်ဖြစ်တဲ့ ထားဝယ်မြို့အနီးက
ကျေးရွာတွေက ဒေသခံတွေအသုံးပြုတဲ့ ရေတွေဟာ
သတ္တုတွင်းတစ်ခုကြောင့် ညစ်ညမ်းမှုတွေဖြစ်တဲ့အပြင် သူတို့ရဲ့
လူနေမှုဘဝတွေနဲ့ ကလေးငယ်တွေရဲ့ ကျန်းမာရေးတွေပါ ထိခိုက်နေပါတယ်။
ဒီတစ်ပတ်မှာတော့ ဒို့အသံရဲ့ မိတ်ဆက်မီဒီယာဖြစ်တဲ့ Dawei Watch နဲ့ ဒို့အသံတို့က
အဲဒီကျေးရွာတွေကို သွားရောက်ပြီး ဒေသခံတွေရဲ့ စိုးရိမ်ပူပန်မှုတွေကို
နားထောင်ခဲ့ပါတယ်။
ဒီဆောင်းပါးအပြည့်အစုံကို မနက်ဖြန်မှာထုတ်လွှင့်ပေးမှာဖြစ်လို့ ဒို့အသံ
အစီအစဉ်ကိ စောင့်မျှော်နားဆင်ကြဖို့ ဖိတ်ခေါ်လိုက်ပါတယ်ရှင်။..."
Source/publisher:
Doh Athan via Frontier Myanmar
Date of publication:
2019-01-16
Date of entry/update:
2019-07-11
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Dawei (economic, social, cultural, political), Publications on the environment of Burma/Myanmar
Language:
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Description:
"Myanmar?s environmental administration faces an enormous challenge as the country?s economy opens up. Last year, Finland supported an assessment to identify the administration?s development needs, carried out in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Myanmar?s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation..."
Source/publisher:
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
Date of publication:
2016-05-13
Date of entry/update:
2018-04-27
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.46 MB
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Description:
"...Building a power system prizing efficiency around solar and wind means breaking with the legacies of earlier times when the environment and health impacts were not so well understood. If Myanmar chooses to break with the past, the door opens to the possibility of an energy leapfrog.
It is a path worth pursuing. It leads to accelerated access to sustainable electricity by exploiting the flexibility of solar coupled with advanced batteries and small hydro integrated into micro-grids, built simultaneously nationwide. Taking this pathway opens up the possibility of electric motorcycles, cars and buses with lower cost, pollution and noise. Life in towns and cities will be all the better. Lots of jobs will be created.
Surprisingly, enabling the leapfrog need not unduly burden the public purse. Local and foreign investors, possibly in partnership with communities, could finance energy options around solar, wind, microgrids and electric buses if policy and regulation are clear, simple and stable..."
David Fullbrook
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy"
Date of publication:
2016-02-18
Date of entry/update:
2016-02-19
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
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Description:
Introduction: "This
might
refer
to
our
relationship
with
the
environment
just
as
well
as
to
that
between
a
man
and
a
woman.
Our
relationship
with
the
environment
requires
careful
attention
for
we
must
take
care
of
it
if
we
want
it
to
reciprocate.
Around
the
globe
today,
that
relationship
is
being
challenged.
We
are
here
in
a
wondrous
and
wonderful
part
of
the
world.
This
sketch
of
Asia?s
major
rivers
flowing
down
from
the
Tibetan
plateau
illustrates
just
how
central
our
location
is,
both
geographically
and
in
terms
of
the
hundreds
of
millions
of
human
lives
and
other
biological
phenomena
impacted
by
the
flow
of
these
waters.
The
river
of
concern
for
me
today
is
the
Salween,
in
some
locations
called
the
Nu Jiang
or
the
Thanlwin.
Lately
my
focus
has
been
on
Myanmar
(Burma)
and
its
current
struggles
to
emerge
form
a
long
period
of
difficult
political
and
economic
conditions.
Many,
dare
I
say
all
of
us,
desire
to
help
this
great
country
to
achieve
higher
levels
of
prosperity
and
sustainable
well-being.
One
focal
point
for
many
has
become
the
Salween..."
.....Paper delivered at the International
Conference
on
Burma/Myanmar
Studies:
Burma/Myanmar
in
Transition:
Connectivity,
Changes
and
Challenges:
University
Academic
Service
Centre
(UNISERV),
Chiang
Mai
University,
Thailand, 24-25
July
2015
James Lin Compton
Source/publisher:
International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-25 July 2015
Date of publication:
2015-07-25
Date of entry/update:
2015-08-06
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Publications on the environment of Burma/Myanmar, Preservation of the environment in Burma/Myanmar, Hydropower projects, Dams and other hydropower projects (global, regional), Dams and other projects on the Salween and its tributories, International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies (ICBMS) 23-26 July, 2015
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
85.38 KB
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Description:
"Myanmar is well endowed with natural resources on which economic development
and people?s livelihoods are largely dependent. Despite the low levels of industrialization and
the relatively low population density, the country?s environment is under threat from both
human activities and climate change. Natural resources and environment status and trends
as documented in Myanmar?s current National Environmental Performance Report 2007-
2010 prepared under ADB?s GMS CEP-BCI
are summarized hereinafter..."
Source/publisher:
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Date of publication:
2012-09-00
Date of entry/update:
2012-09-28
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
64.52 KB
Local URL:
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Description:
A report on the first environmental performance assessment (EPA) conducted in Myanmar. The assessment covers seven environmental concerns: forest resources, biodiversity, land degradation, management of water resources, waste management, air pollution from mobile sources, and climate change....EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "Like its Greater Mekong Subregion neighbors, Myanmar
has been trying to reconcile the demands of
economic growth with the integrity of its physical
environment and the long-term health of its citizens.
This Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA)
report evaluates the degree of success that national
stakeholders have had in achieving this objective, expressed
in a number of different ways in official policy
documents. The assessment is confined to seven
key environmental concerns, viz., forest resources,
biodiversity, land degradation, management of water
resources, waste management, air pollution from
mobile sources and climate change. The assessment
uses a structure of performance indicators and is
supported by detailed statistical information.
Reinforced by policy and institutional support,
progress has been made towards safeguarding the
forest resources despite evidence of increased pressure
on them during the last three decades. Following
a period of rapid loss between 1975 and 1995,
the forest cover stabilized around 51 per cent at the
turn of the last decade. The expansion of the Permanent
Forest Estate is a strong positive feature. It is
too early to say what the effect of recent
re-orientation of forest management towards
community management and greater attention to
reducing fuelwood consumption has been.
Myanmar?s exceptionally rich biodiversity could not
escape the effect of the pressure on habitats during
the last two decades, in particular the rapid loss
of natural forest in the 1980s (and its continuation to
this day), and loss of mangroves. The authorities?
response has been to expand the protected area
system to about 6.5 per cent of the total land area
by 2004.
Although the country is well endowed with land
suitable for agriculture, it is not immune to different
forms of land degradation. Soil erosion is serious in
the uplands on about 10 per cent of the country?s
cultivated areas. The authorities? land rehabilitation
schemes have not kept pace with new cultivation
by the upland farmers, the trend sustained by high
rates of population growth.
Myanmar is perceived as a low water stress country.
Nonetheless, the dominant role of rice in the cropping
systems and several other factors has made
irrigation a priority concern. The volume of irrigation
water storage capacity has increased 27 times since
1988. Given the continued policy and strategic preference
for more paddies, the pressure on supplying
more water for irrigated farming is set to remain
high in the foreseeable future. Sustained funding of
the irrigation water storage capacity and irrigation
management has made it possible to improve the
percentage of total lands effectively irrigated.
The country has achieved substantial progress in
providing its population with safe drinking water and
Myanmar scores well in comparison to other GMS
countries. In rural areas, access increased from 50%
in 1995 to 74% in 2003. In urban areas the increase
was from 78% in 1995 to 92% in 2003.
Solid waste management in Myanmar presents a
mixed picture of clear improvements in the country?s
two premier cities (Yangon and Mandalay)
combined with stagnating or deteriorating collection and
disposal in other States and Divisions. In Yangon, a
reduced volume of waste per capita has resulted in
an overall decline in the volume of waste generated.
The authorities? greater efforts at collecting the
waste disposal fees are believed to be largely responsible
for this outcome.
Unsystematic and insufficient information on air
quality in Myanmar limits the authorities? and the
public?s knowledge about the principal trends and
the contributions that vehicles make to
atmospheric pollution in the principal cities. What
can be said with a greater degree of confidence is
that the ?vehicle density? has been on the rise in
Yangon and Mandalay. At the same time, it appears
that the fuel consumed per vehicle has been
declining.
The National Commission for Environmental Affairs
(NCEA) is the central body tasked to manage the
environment in concert with sectoral agencies such
as the Ministry of Forestry. Since its establishment NCEA has achieved some progress in integrating
environmental concerns into the economic
development mainstream. This included the
ormulation of the national environmental policy
(1994), and drafting of ?Myanmar Agenda 21? as a
framework for a multi-pronged approach to
sustainable development. However, NCEA requires
more administrative and financial support to further
increase its effectiveness. The enactment of the
draft national environment protection law might be a
key step in that direction."
U Win Myo Thu, U Maung Maung Than
Source/publisher:
Govt of Union of Myanmar (NCEA), ADB, UNEP, ETC,
Date of publication:
2008-01-00
Date of entry/update:
2012-09-28
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
5.13 MB
Local URL:
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Description:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
"Burma has extensive biodiversity and abundant natural resources, which have in recent
years been threatened by militarization, large-scale resource extraction, and infrastructure
development. Burma has some laws and policies related to protecting people and the
environment, but the country lacks the necessary administrative and legal structures,
standards, safeguards and political will to enforce such provisions. The country is also a
party to several international treaties relating to the environment, including those on
protection of biodiversity and indigenous peoples, wildlife, and countering climate change.
It is unclear, however, how the contents of those treaties that have been ratified have been
incorporated into domestic law.
Many organizations are active in Burma on projects and programs related to environmental
protection and sustainable development. This includes a broad range of community-based
organizations, grassroots organizations, national and international NGOs, UN agencies, and
church groups both based in government-controlled areas of Burma (?inside?) and those
based in the Thai and Chinese border regions (?border groups?). Many organizations take
the ?traditional? conservation approach or the rights-based approach or both. Organizations
that are using a rights-based approach work from a perspective of sustainable development
and livelihoods and subsequently focus on issues such as food security, land tenure and
rights, and community development and organizing. Conservation organizations tend to
focus specifically on environmental protection, although with varying strategies to achieve
their common goal. Organizations working on environmental issues also focus on
environmental awareness, education and training, policy development, advocacy and
networking.
Communities continue to be excluded from protected forest areas, threatening their forestbased
livelihoods. The 1990s and 2000s witnessed severe logging, first along the Thai-Burma
border and then along the China border in northern Burma. Although the logging rush has
somewhat subsided along these borders, the government and military continue to allocate
logging concessions to Chinese and Burmese business people, irrespective of national and
local laws regulating sustainable forestry practices. Timber, however, contributes much less
to GDP as other resource sectors boom. Community forestry is positioned to challenge the
manner in which timber resources are managed, providing some promising devolutionii
trends.
Land tenure remains very weak in Burma. The state owns all the land and resources in
Burma, with most villagers having no formal land title for their customary agricultural land.
New policies have been put in place allocating land concessions to private entities which
do not respect customary land rights or informal land holdings. There are no safeguards to
protect farmers from the onslaught of capitalism or mechanisms to help them benefit.
Control over natural resources is a major cause of conflict in ethnic areas, where the majority
of Burma?s natural resources remain. Foreign direct investment in Burma is concentrated
in energy and extractive sectors and often results in militarization and displacement. Recently
ii a delegation of authority by a central government to local governing units
The Burma Environmental Working Group (BEWG)
08
there has been heightened interest from countries in the region for more investment
opportunities. Given the lack of sound economic policy and unwillingness of the state to
reconcile with ethnic armed groups, an increase in foreign investment could have a major
impact on the environment and communities living in these areas.
While they do not provide loans, international financial institutions such as the World Bank
and International Monetary Fund remain engaged in Burma. The Asian Development Bank
in particular provides assistance through various channels and facilitates private investment.
Burma is currently facing many threats to the natural environment and sustainable
livelihoods, such as construction of large dams, oil and gas extraction, mining, deforestation,
large-scale agricultural concessions, illegal wildlife trade and climate change. The majority
of Burma?s income comes from selling off natural resources, including billions of dollars
from gas and hydropower development. Investment comes from countries within the
region– most significantly China, India and Thailand. Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Vietnam
and Korea are also key investors looking to increase investments after the elections. These
resource extractive investments damage the environment and threaten local resource-based
livelihoods, particularly in ethnic areas.
In order to take steps towards ecologically and socially responsible development in Burma,
Burma must have a sound policy framework for environmental protection and sustainable
development that enables citizens to take part in decision making about their own
development, and ensures responsible private sector investment. Until then, new foreign
investors investing in energy, extractive and plantation sectors should refrain from investing.
Existing investors should immediately cease all project-related work - particularly in sensitive
areas throughout Burma - until adequate safeguards are in place to ensure investment does
not lead to unnecessary destruction of the natural environment and local livelihoods. At
the same time, International NGOs and UN agencies should ensure people are recognized
as key actors in their own development, rather than passive recipients of commodities and
services; and civil society organizations should empower communities throughout Burma
to understand their rights..."
Source/publisher:
The Burma Environmental Working Group (BEWG)
Date of publication:
2011-06-00
Date of entry/update:
2011-08-16
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English, Burmese (executive summary)
Format :
pdf
Size:
3.39 MB
Local URL:
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Description:
"Burma is a country rich in biodiversity, with a wealth of natural resources. This biodiversity
however, is under threat in many ways, but particularly from the impacts of the projects
which exploit natural resources for energy. Oil, gas and hydroelectric projects are all a
valuable source of income for the regime, which exploits the country?s abundant natural
resources by signing deals with neighbouring countries for the extraction and export of these
resources. Seldom do those Burmese citizens living in the areas of the projects see any
benefits. Instead, they are often subjected to a wide variety of human rights abuses
associated with increased militarization around the projects; abuses including forced labour,
land confiscation and resettlement, among others. In addition, their drinking water supplies
are threatened, as is the fertility of their farmlands..."
Source/publisher:
Human Rights Docmentation Unit (HRDU)
Date of publication:
2009-11-23
Date of entry/update:
2009-12-05
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
975.6 KB
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Description:
This collection of reports is the result of the hard work and dedication of fourteen young men and women from diverse ethnic groups and regions in Burma who attended EarthRights International?s year-long leadership school for human rights and environmental advocacy, the EarthRights School of Burma (ERSB). The students are eager to expose ongoing human rights abuses and environmental destruction in Burma under the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). While conducting research the students took great risks, often placing themselves in danger, to reveal the truth about Burma and the perspectives of the people directly affected by abuses.
The students were instructed in such subjects as human rights law, environmental monitoring, advocacy, and nonviolent social change. During coursework, each chose a topic and developed a thesis around it. During their fieldwork, students conducted grassroots investigations, gathered primary source information, and worked directly with victims of human rights abuses, while witnessing firsthand the pain and destruction caused by the SPDC and armed groups in Burma and on its borders.
This is only the second such volume produced by ERSB; for most students this represents the first time they have conducted in-depth research and writing and seen their work in print. It is a significant step on their way to becoming committed human rights and environmental activists. With their new skills the Class of 2008 now joins previous graduates of the EarthRights Schools of Burma and the Mekong in becoming a significant force for positive change, ready to meet the challenge of bringing much-needed peace, justice, and democracy to their troubled nation...... TABLE OF CONTENTS:-
The Environment:
The Potential Impact of the Salween Dams on the Livelihoods of Villagers on Chaung Zon Island,
Mon State by Nai Tiaung Pakao...
Mountains Become Valleys and Valleys Become Mountains in Phakant Township, Kachin State,
Burma by John...
The Impact of Gold Mining on the Environment and Local Livelihoods in Shing Bwe Yang Township, Hugawng Valley, Kachin State, Burma by Myu Shadang...
Social and Environmental Impacts of Deforestation in Northern Chin State, Burma by Icon.....
Forced Labor:
The SPDC Use of Forced Labor on the Electric Power Lines and the Effects on Villagers in De Maw Soe Township, Karenni State by Khon Nasa...
The Impact of Land Confiscation on the Palaung People in Namkham and Mantong Townships, Northern Shan State, Burma by Mai Naw Jar.....
Social Issues:
?If you cut the tree it will be scarred forever?: Domestic Violence in Karenni Refugee Camp #1 by Tyardu...
The Impact of Drugs on Palaung Children in Namkham Township, Northern Shan State by Lway
Poe Taung...
?The price is getting very high?: The Reasons Behind the Lack of Education for Children in Northern
Shan State, Burma by Wallace...
The Impact of the UN Resettlement Program for Karenni People in Camps 1 and 2 on the Thai-Burma Border by Mar Ry...
?Hungry for Education?: Villagers Living in Ceasefire Controlled Areas Struggle to Educate Their
Children in Boo Tho Township, Papun District by Day Day...
The Negative Impacts of Jade Mining on Women in Hpakant, Kachin State by Cindy. .....
Food Security:
The Food Security Crisis for People Living in Toungoo District by Dawn Flower...
Causes of Food Insecurity in Rathidaung Township, Northern Arakan State by Zaw Zaw.
Source/publisher:
EarthRights School of Burma, EarthRights International
Date of publication:
2008-00-00
Date of entry/update:
2009-02-07
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
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Description:
Burma?s rulers have shown little inclination to learn from the environmental mistakes of their neighbors...
"WHILE the world ponders the continuing repressive policies of the Burmese junta, a different crisis is looming across the country.
The health and welfare of large numbers of the country?s 50 million or so population is endangered by the consequences of a deteriorating natural environment.
Scavengers collect garbage floating on a sewage pool in central Rangoon in order to earn their livelihood. (Photo: AFP)
A combination of water pollution, land degradation through forest slashing, and badly thought out infrastructure projects is threatening to displace hundreds of thousands of people and put the lives of many others in danger, say environmentalists.
The lawless pursuit of profit is wrecking good farm land, poisoning drinking water and depleting natural resources such as fish, on which millions depend for food.
Several international NGOs have sent out warnings that years of wanton plunder by the military and its business affiliates—plus massive new projects being pursued without proper technical assessments—are coalescing to create an ecological disaster..."
William Boot
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" Vol. 16, No. 4
Date of publication:
2008-04-00
Date of entry/update:
2008-04-27
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
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