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SHRINKING FORESTS

© shutterstock

Our forests are home to communities and wildlife.
They are protection from climate change.
Providers of clean air and water.

But Myanmar has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world.

UNSUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

© Min Zayar Oo WWF-Myanmar

Agricultural expansion is one of the biggest threats facing Myanmar’s wild landscapes.

The great mountains of Northern Myanmar were once covered in dense green trees. Now, enormous stretches of forest have been cleared to grow crops. Rubber and palm oil plantations are the biggest drivers, but rice and corn are also major players.

Poorly planned roads

© Min Zayar Oo WWF-Myanmar

Roads are good news for development, but often have devastating impacts on nature.

Roads to connect regional economies are essential, but these roads often slice through untouched forest. This fragments wildlife habitats and gives both poachers and illegal loggers easier access. Unless well planned, roads bring more disadvantages than advantages.

MINING

© Chit Ko WWF-Myanmar

Mining not only reduces forest cover, but also leads to long term consequences such as pollution and infrastructure development.

Oil and gas, gold and silver, ruby and jade: they are all tribute to Myanmar’s natural wealth, but they have also lead to extensive mining. Right now 585 mines across the country are decimating huge patches of forest.

THE GOOD NEWS

© Chit Ko WWF-Myanmar

Myanmar still has abundant, pristine forest cover. Together we can find the balance that allows Myanmar to develop whilst protecting this critical ecosystem.

THE LAST GREAT WILDERNESS

© Adam Oswell

The Dawna Tenasserim Landscape is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world.

The huge Dawna Tenasserim Landscape (DTL) sprawls 78,896km2, straddling the border between Myanmar and Thailand. It is one of the world's most biodiverse regions home to incredible species nad rural communities, and it is still under 83% forest cover. With so much worth protecting in the DTL, WWF has made it one of thier priority landscapes.

Communities caring for nature

© Chit Ko WWF-Myanmar

Local communities heavily rely on the forests and rivers for their livelihoods.

Communities in rural Myanmar care about nature. They understand forest's significance from first hand experience. For generations they have provided food, shelter and livelihoods. Now villages are taking action to protect the forest, their home, so it can continue to support their families for generations to come.

The demand for sustainable rubber

© Hkun Lat WWF-US

Could Myanmar become the first country to produce sustainable rubber?

Rubber presents yet another unique opportunity for Myanmar. As international demand for sustainably sourced rubber grows, Myanmar is perfectly poised to become the world's first producer of verifiable sustainable rubber.

Our Forest Programme team in Dawei is working toward perserving Myanmar's precious forests.