Presentation on .

National Ecotourism Workshop held in Yangon, August 2011

Presented by

U Ye Myint Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, Republic of the Union of Myanmar

National EcoTourism Workshop was held for 2 whole days (4-5 August 2011)

at Traders Hotel, Yangon, Myanmar

17 presenters. about 100 participants

Map showing Myanmar Protected Area

The existing protected area : 7.3 percent of the country 7 National Parks 22 Wildlife Sanctuaries 6 Bird Sanctuaries 1 Mountain Park 1 Nature Reserve 1 Tiger Reserve 1 Elephant Range 1 Wildlife Park and 2 Protective Areas

First dolphin survey of the entire Ayeyarwady River

Survey conducted between 25th November to 20th December 2002, with scientists from related Ministries such as Forestry, Fisheries, Education and Information. Started from confluence of the Maykha and Maylikha Rivers to the delta covering a total of 1,800 km of river length in the main channel and 200 km in the side channels.

Yearly systematic direct-count surveys conducted throughout the range of the population in 2002-2009 indicated a population size of 59-72 individuals.

During studies we found that dolphins are generally revered by local people in Myanmar and they provide direct economic benefits to cast-net fishermen via their role in a human-dolphin cooperative fishery.

A fisherman signals to the dolphin that they want to fish.

The dolphin signals the fisherman to follow.

If the fishermen are lucky the dolphins herd the fish.

Fluke push serves to herd the fish towards the fishermen.

This interspecies cooperation improves the catch for both.

Fisherman let the dolphin eat the fish from the net.

Fluke push also signals the fisherman to throw his net.

Dolphins are vital to the livelihoods of more than 100 fishing families in the Ayeyarwady.

The animals appear to benefit too by increased foraging efficiency.

During studies they discovered that the dolphins and cooperative fishery are threatened by electric fishing, accidental entanglement in gillnets, and mercury poisoning and habitat degradation from gold mining.

These enforce prohibitions on illegal fishing techniques especially the ban of electric fishing.

This enforcement activity has the full support of legal fishermen due to a fear that their livelihoods will be lost if fish stocks become further depleted.

Ban on Gold Mining in the Ayeyarwady

Also in 2005, in part due to

the results of investigation on

mercury concentrations in fish

from the Ayeyarwady, the

Government of Myanmar

banned gold mining

throughout the river.

During 2006-2009, they conducted 40 patrols and over a period of 747 hours and covering 6,115 km in the PA. During these patrols, they made 75 dolphin sightings and estimated the population size to be 16-18 dolphins with a mean group size of 5.9 individuals During the same time period they confirmed one mortality, probably due to electric fishing, and 2-3 newborn calves each year.

Monitoring the dolphin population

Three types of flower tourism

Scientific Oriented flora tour

Armature and Nature Sight-seeing flora tour

Commercial Oriented flora tour

( Tourism is an Industry that contributes not only for the economy but also for mutual understanding and appreciation).

(Tourism that is sustainable ecologically friendly, conservation oriented with the desired goal of poverty alleviation and employment generation should be welcomed and encouraged).

Asean- Japan High Level Flower Tourism Seminar

(10th December, 2005, Dalat, Vietnam)

Joint Statement To promote the creation of tourist destinations full of

charm making the best use of flowers. To promote new types of travel fully notifying the

charm of flowers. To enhance the communication of information on

flowers and their charm, focusing on the potential role that can be played by people who cultivate flowers or people who adore flowers and

To widely promote an integrated approach among people concerned for the development of effective linkages between tourism and flowers.

Orchid & Flora Tour Destination

1. Hkakabo-razi National Park

2. Hponkan-razi Wildlife Sanctuary

3. Hukaung Valley Tiger Reserve

4. Nat-ma-taung National Park

5. Popa Mountain Park

6. Inlay Lake Wildlife Sanctuary

7. National Kan-daw-gyi Garden

8. Lampi Marine National Park

Beauty of Cloud, Nat-ma-taung National Park

Scenic Beauty of Hkakabo - razi National Park,

Kachin State, Northern Myanmar

Life on the Boat

Moken, one of the few remaining groups of sea-gypsies in the world

The Moken live in family groups on boats made from hollowing out large trees. They roam the archipelago collecting mollusks in the tidal flats, diving for shells and foraging for other food on the islands

How Moken Live

Beauty of Nature

Rhizophora candelaria

The under-water world

@ UKMG @ UKMG

@ UKMG

@ UKMG

Nowadays on

the islands

Threats to Eco-tourism

Dynamite fishing

Major destruction of

Marine life

CURRENT CHALLENGES AND PROBLEMS

The challenges to the eco-tourism sites in Myanmar are being listed as follow; Inadequate in Staff strength Limited fund for development activities Poor facilities and infrastructure Lack of knowledge Lack of participation

Suggestions

need to develop a proper ecotourism package

more involvement and participation of the local people in ecotourism

balancing economic development of tourism and conservation as well as protecting the natural resources

keeping in mind that such culture and natural biodiversity is to be conserved

More Ecotourism Education Programmes

Conclusion pro-poor tourism related to ecotourism is set up in

developing countries

as a means to improve the local economy

assist people as best as possible

the linkages between tourism businesses and poor people,

as a result poverty is reduced

able to participate more effectively in tourism development

Thank you

U Ye Myint

Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, Myanmar

Building No. (33), Nay Pyi Taw, Union of Myanmar.

Tel: (+95 67) 406129, 406061

Email: mo.moht@mptmail.net.mm , mohtmail@gmail.com

Website : www.myanmartourism.org