Earth is home to many forms of life, including humans. Humans live in places such as cities, villages, neighbourhoods, and homes. Similarly, other living things also have their own habitats, many of which remain highly beneficial to humans.
Among the habitats where other living things reside, forests, mangroves, and fields are widely recognized as crucial for human survival. In addition to these, it has been understood for about sixty years that wetlands are also vital for the long-term survival of humanity. As a result, wetland conservation has become a global effort to protect these important ecosystems.
Myanmar became a member of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands on March 17, 2005. The country is rich in natural resources and diverse ecosystems, including wetlands. According to the Department of Forestry, Myanmar has identified 99 significant wetlands: 85 in the Irrawaddy and Chindwin River basins, 6 in the Salween River Basin, 5 in the Sittaung River Basin, and 3 in the Rakhine coastal region.
In 2004, Moe Yungyin (Moe Yungyi Wild Animal Sanctuary) was designated as a Ramsar Site, followed by Indawgyi (Indawgyi Wildlife Sanctuary) in 2016. In 2017, Mein Ma Hla Kyung (Mein Ma Hla Kyung Wildlife Sanctuary) and the Muttama Gulf area gained recognition, and in 2018, Inlay Lake (Inlay Lake Wildlife Sanctuary) was also added. By 2020, Nantha Island and the Mayu River estuary were included as Ramsar Sites. Collectively, these internationally recognized wetlands now cover over 27,000,000 acres (688,382 hectares).
These wetlands, rich in water and food, provide safe havens for a variety of bird species. Native birds thrive in these areas, and many migratory birds from colder regions also come to seek refuge. Among the endangered species that frequent these wetlands are the Spoon-Billed Sandpiper and Baer’s pochard. Additionally, migratory species like the Great Knot and Black-Bellied Tern come to feed here.
According to the Forestry Department’s 2023 bird census, over 20,000 birds from 120 species were recorded in the Wetland area of Indawgyi Wildlife Sanctuary. Moe Yungyin Wildlife Sanctuary saw more than 36,000 birds from 139 species. Inlay Lake Wildlife Sanctuary hosted over 16,000 birds across 184 species, while Meny Hla Kyun Wildlife Sanctuary recorded 181 species and more than 10,000 animals grazing in the area.
Nantha Kyun, located between Sittwe Township and Rathedaung Township in Rakhine State, was designated as a Ramsar site on May 21, 2021, and Myanmar’s second marine national park on March 1, 2022. It sits between the Mayu River’s mouth and the Bay of Bengal, home to rare bird species and a nesting site for endangered sea turtles.
The “Convention on Wetlands,” established in Ramsar, Iran, on February 2, 1971, aims to ensure the long-term conservation of wetlands. Wetlands designated under this agreement are known as “Ramsar Wetlands.” Currently, 172 countries are part of the convention, and, according to the latest data, 2,503 wetlands of international importance, covering 250 million hectares, have been recognized and protected globally.
Wetlands encompass various water-rich environments, including both stagnant and flowing fresh or saltwater areas. This includes marine waters no deeper than six meters at low tide, as well as both natural and artificial areas such as muddy lands, peat bogs, marshes, and other water-covered regions. They are categorized into three types: coastal wetlands, human-made wetlands, and inland freshwater wetlands. Examples include rivers, creeks, lakes, ponds, aquifers, muddy lands, wet grassy plains, sea sandbanks, small offshore islands, estuaries, delta areas, tidal beaches, mangroves, coastal zones, coral reefs, fish ponds, shrimp ponds, rice fields, salt fields, dam areas, and irrigated lands.
Experts highlight that wetlands are crucial not only for one country but also for regional and global climate stability and environmental health. They play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance, supporting biodiversity, and protecting against environmental changes.
Experts emphasize that wetlands are crucial ecosystems for ensuring food security, supporting the socio-economic development of local communities, and protecting against natural disasters. They enhance carbon storage in soils, mitigate climate change, and provide flood protection. Wetlands also contribute to biodiversity conservation by supporting a wide range of plant and animal species, offer fresh water, and help in water purification. They yield aquatic products like fish, shrimp, and crabs, support agriculture and livestock, and foster tourism and transportation, creating job opportunities and benefiting local economies.
In biogeographically unique regions, wetlands that are naturally or nearly natural and support biodiversity can be recognized as Ramsar sites if they meet at least one of nine criteria set by the Ramsar Convention. This includes wetlands where 20,000 or more waterfowl regularly congregate.
Conservationists warn that the sole Ramsar wetland in Rakhine State, once a valuable and pristine area, is now facing severe threats. Since the region’s designation as a Ramsar Wetland, conservation efforts have been hindered by the military takeover and ongoing conflict. The Forestry Department has struggled to access the site, citing security concerns. Ko Yan Naung Soe, an environmentalist from Sittwe City who has been actively involved in conservation, reports that this situation has led to significant damage. Nets set up near the island have killed sea turtles, and illegal activities such as turtle egg poaching and sand digging by ships have increased.
“Working as a private organization, our role is limited to raising awareness. Despite our efforts, people have continued to hunt birds and dig for turtle eggs on Nantha Kyun Island. The lack of intervention from the Forestry Department has resulted in considerable damage. As a result, I found myself in a difficult position, trying to stop these activities on my own,” he explained.
Amid these ongoing challenges, the situation worsened when Cyclone Mokha struck the Rakhine coast on May 14, 2023. Yan Naung Soe, the primary conservationist for the island, reported that the cyclone caused severe damage to the already vulnerable Ramsar wetland.
“The storm resulted in widespread destruction,” Soe explained. “The mangrove trees, crucial for bird habitat, were buried under sand. The cyclone’s force also caused the sea to erode the island, splitting Nantha Island into two parts. We estimate that 80 percent of the island has been damaged. Additionally, some of the remaining bird feeding areas were affected. The natural disaster rendered our maintenance efforts impossible.”
On November 14, 2023, Operation 1027 resumed in Rakhine State amidst ongoing damage and restoration efforts. This operation led to further territorial losses for the Rakhine State government under the military council and resulted in a sea travel ban. Consequently, Yan Naung Soe was restricted from leaving Sittwe and could no longer access the Ramsar wetland area.
The Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation Association (BANCA), which played a key role in the global recognition of Nantha Kyun and the mouth of the Mayu River as a Ramsar Wetland region, also reported halting its conservation activities due to the instability in the region.
An official from the Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation Association (BANCA) stated that while Rakhine had plans, funding, and resources to preserve the Ramsar region, these efforts have been halted due to regional instability. Most Ramsar sites in Myanmar have had to suspend some maintenance, but the Rakhine Ramsar site has faced a complete cessation of activities.
The Forestry Department was unable to compile data on bird migration at the mouth of the Mayu River for 2023. Historically, the site hosted around 100 bird species and over 10,000 birds annually. However, in 2024, only 50 species and about 2,000 birds were recorded. Notably, the Spoon-Billed Sandpiper, a rare bird species, which once had 23 to 36 individuals visiting the site, is now reported in much smaller numbers.
Since the start of Operation 1027, intense city-occupation battles have caused heavy artillery fire from military council troops targeting various townships. The loud explosions and vibrations from these weapons are believed to have negatively impacted the Ramsar site’s hibernating birds and sea turtle hatchlings.
The ongoing civil war has caused significant damage to the nesting areas of migratory birds and sea turtles on the island. Aircraft attacks, weapons fire, and gunshots have created substantial noise pollution, disrupting the local bird species, including migratory ones. These disturbances often force birds to relocate to other areas for feeding. Similarly, sea turtles that regularly come to the sandy beaches of Nantha Island are severely affected by the noise, which has significantly impacted their habitat.
Daw Thiri Dae We Aung, managing director of the Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association (BANCA), explained that the noise pollution interferes with crucial behaviors like finding breeding partners, building nests, and foraging for native bird species, leading to a reduction in the number of birds and animals that come to the area.
Additionally, the instability caused by the civil war has weakened conservation efforts, as relevant organizations are unable to operate safely. This has led to increased illegal activities such as mangrove cutting and excessive sand extraction, further damaging the habitats of both birds and sea turtles.
Bird hunters are reportedly able to capture birds everywhere due to the absence of law enforcement. A study by the University of East Anglia highlights that in countries affected by civil war, illegal wildlife trade, hunting, and habitat destruction are prevalent, with the availability of firearms making hunting more accessible. Daw Thiri Dae We Aung stated that people fleeing the conflict into the forests and shooting from both sides have significantly harmed wildlife, resulting in a reduction in animal numbers.
Wetland areas are encountering several challenges, such as changes in land use, declining water quality, overfishing, invasion by foreign species, and unsustainable tourism, which may impact the ecological sustainability of wetlands. Additionally, watershed areas are overexploited for various purposes, including excessive water extraction for agricultural activities, electricity production, and mining. The destruction of mangroves in coastal regions also affects water flow into wetlands, leading to alterations in floodplain areas, including lakes, rivers, and creeks.
The Forestry Department of Myanmar’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection started drafting the “National Wetland Policy and Strategic Activities” in January 2019. This policy aims to protect wetland areas, promote their beneficial use, integrate their values into development projects, and encourage participation in both regional and international wetland programs. The National Wetland Committee, established in 2016, is working with various departments on these efforts.
Similarly, the Arakha Army (AA) announced on March 27, 2022, that it is in the process of drafting environmental laws. Currently, the Ramsar site in Rakhine, situated between Sittwe Township and Rathedaung Township, falls under the jurisdiction of both the Arakha Army and the Military Council. However, effective management from both sides has yet to be observed.
Despite the ongoing conservation efforts, national strategies, and laws in place, the Ramsar Wetland in Rakhine State is continuing to suffer significant deterioration amid the ongoing crisis. Timely preservation is critical to prevent further damage, and there is growing concern that if these preservation efforts are not executed promptly, the extent of the damage may become irreversible.
