Greening China's Belt & Road Initiative in Myanmar

Road projects proposed as part of the One Belt One Road Initiative (BRI) in Myanmar would provide transport infrastructure to areas of the Ayeyarwady River Basin and surrounding mountain areas — home to approximately 25 million people.

Road projects proposed as part of the One Belt One Road Initiative (BRI) in Myanmar would provide transport infrastructure to areas of the Ayeyarwady River Basin and surrounding mountain areas — home to approximately 25 million people. These people rely on natural capital—including forests, rivers, land, and biodiversity—for a range of benefits, including clean drinking water and protection from natural disasters.

There is a risk that the benefits of BRI road projects could be undermined by substantial social, environmental and economic costs if roads are constructed in ways that fragment ecosystems, endanger wildlife, or contribute to deforestation, landslides, flooding and pollution.

Through better road planning and design, there is a great opportunity for the benefits of the BRI to become much more far-reaching.