Myanmar’s wetlands are critical hotspots for biodiversity upon which local communities depend for their livelihood. SEI is working with local communities in the wetlands of Myanmar’s Upper Chindwin Basin to design community action plans to improve biodiversity conservation and build community capacity for resource management.
Myanmar, located in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, has an abundance of ecological variety and extensive biological diversity. More than two-thirds of Myanmar’s population live in rural areas and depend on natural resources for daily survival. For biodiversity conservation measures to work, the cooperation and inclusive participation of the local communities are needed. In the wetlands of the Upper Chindwin Basin, SEI is designing community action plans (CAP) to identify alternative livelihood opportunities, design mechanisms to support and build the capacity of communities and ensure long-term wetlands conservation.
What goes into designing a community action plan?
In our work in the Upper Chindwin Basin, we undertook a basin-wide assessment to identify priority wetlands threatened by degradation. The assessment process included village-level meetings and discussions with local policymakers, highlighting the need for conservation and sustainable natural resource management practices.
There are many threats to the wetlands including unsustainable farming and fishing practices. One fisher from Nar Myitter village shared his concern over the declining number of fish which is the main source of protein for the community. He said that illegal fishing methods such as electric shock and use of explosives, poisoning, overfishing in spawning season and fishing by blocking the flow of water by outsiders is affecting the fish stocks.
In close consultation with the communities, we selected villages and designed action plans to alleviate pressure on the wetland ecosystem, enhance awareness, and encourage community involvement to manage sustainable livelihoods. The first site we selected is Nar Myitter village, and the lessons learned will be used to scale up our approach to design CAP in other villages.
Ko Thein Kywal Htay, head of the Maing Naung village, said: “There used to be ninety-nine wetlands surrounding the village since a long time ago. These are now facing great risks from unsustainable practices as well as effects of climate change. The community is lacking in technical and financial resources to conserve these wetlands.Our community hopes if this project will provide suitable conservation methods and alternative livelihood opportunities, communities can effectively focus on wetland management. Many outsiders have mining sites nearby the village, including wetlands. But after joining this project, we became more aware of unsustainable practices and set up sign boards to prohibit them.
Our local partner, Naga Social Network Organization’s (NSNO) Chairman stated: “CAP is suited for the community’s needs in wetland conservation. Our community has become more aware of wetlands their importance. We want to use the wetlands with stronger interest in their conservation. We have been participating in capacity building trainings, group discussion and meetings organized by the project.
Our community is concerned that some companies have started mining activities in Maing Naung and Tharyarkone villages. As of now, the village administration and the community do not agree with the mining operations, since the wetlands will be affected.
NSNO Chairman
The CAP focused on three pathways: conservation practices, sustainable livelihoods and communication, education, participation and awareness program (CEPA).
The community action plan helps to demonstrate effective practices in conservation and sustainable resources use in wetland habitat conservation.
We demarcated specific conservation zones in five selected wetlands in the basin. These zones are demarcated on the basis of their importance to maintain populations of critical species such as catfish, Asiatic softshell turtle, black giant squirrel, Chinese pangolin, Eurasian otter, Sambar deer, Garjan oil tree and hairy-leafed apitong.
The local rules for wetland conservation are established in the selected villages. One of the key restrictions is that communities agree to stop any unsustainable fishing practices or logging of forests. The community also has set up a community-led monitoring initiative to ensure the long-term sustenance of the wetland habitats.
Ensuring conservation can go together with local livelihoods
Wetlands conservation poses many challenges, the principal one being that a majority of the basin population are rural and depend on natural resources for their daily livelihoods. Thus, biodiversity protection cannot be separated from local livelihood practices as local communities depend on the wetland forests, streams and lakes for farming, fishing and gathering forest products.
Initially, we identified some livelihood options such as pig farming as an alternative livelihood for the communities in Nar Myitter village.
Local mechanisms are needed for guiding biodiversity plans. The village working committee (VWC) helped to choose farmers and manages the CAP mechanism in operating livelihood support, revolving the fund and following the established guidelines. A 45-day old piglet was provided to each selected household, ensuring the farmers commit to completing the production and as an incentive to participate in wetland conservation. The selected farmers repay their loans with a small percent as interest, allowing the funds to secure multiple beneficiaries. This pig farming initiative is expected to increase the livelihood by around 20 per cent in the coming months.
Daw Win Win Maw, one of the 19 pig farmers in Nar Myitter village said: “The women in the village are mostly staying at home. So we need job opportunity and income from alternative livelihood options. The number of households dependent on wetland resources is decreasing.”
By supporting pig farming, our participation in project activities has become stronger along with our awareness and interest in wetland conservation. I have learnt knowledge and technical skills that I did not know before that I can apply to my existing traditional knowledge.
A pig farmer from the community
Empowering communities in wetland conservation
Empowering community ability in conservation and sustainable practices is a critical feature of SEI’s work in the Upper Chindwin Basin. We undertake training workshops on conservation of wetlands, biodiversity and ecosystem services at township and village levels. These workshops include capacity building on fish farming, aquaculture and food processing of fishery products to provide livelihood and food security options. The local partner, Naga Social Network Organization (NSNO) led the community trainings to share essential knowledge and skills for fish farming, aquaculture and food processing.
In order to boost information about the area’s wetland and its importance, signage boards were installed in Wetlar, Naung Taw and Naung Loam wetland areas. The VWC is supporting the community-led approaches in the entire basin.
One of the major challenges is that sudden disasters frequently occur such as floods that impact community livelihoods and incomes. The community is becoming more aware of why wetlands conservation is important and is becoming active in wetlands management.
U Nyunt Win, village head and VWC patron of Nar Myitter village
Community leadership is a critical component for successful community-based wetlands conservation. SEI’s work is ensuring that the basin’s wetlands management goes together with the close engagement with the community to build a sense of local ownership of the wetlands. This has resulted in greater local commitment, long-term participation and self-management capacity. The community has mobilized itself to lead on the wetlands conservation and stop any unsustainable practices.
We are paying greater attention to managing natural resources after gaining knowledge and awareness from the trainings in this program. Pig farming and other community livelihood activities can help us gain income. So, the community can invest their time and fully participate to conserve the wetlands.
Ms. Khan Ei Ei Aye, an active member of the VWC of Nar Myitter village