Myanmar - Global Tiger Initiative

More documents

Recommendations

Info

A GUIDE TO USING THIS DOCUMENTThis document is divided into three sections. An executive summary of findings and generalrecommendations and a National Action Plan with specific recommendations, a schedulefor the implementation of these actions, and responsible agencies is provided in pages VII-X.This is minimum reading for decision makers. For readers with some time to appreciate thebackground and rationale for these actions, PARTS 1-5 of this document (pages 1-12) isessential reading. PART 6 (pages 23-35) provides details of the field program that was mountedto acquire the information that provides the foundation for the Action Plan, and is optional reading.EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ANDRECOMMENDATIONSBackground1. A hundred years ago the tiger (Panthera tigris) occurred across Asia from eastern Turkeyto the Russian Far East and south to the Indonesian archipelago. Myanmar is one of fourteencountries in Mainland Asia where tigers persist today.2. Reports and anecdotal information from surveyors, hunters, foresters, consultants andresearchers attest to the former widespread occurrence of tigers in Myanmar, except in higherelevation areas in the north. That tigers existed over wide areas in the past was partly due tothe existence of large expanses of intact habitat where human population density was lowand disturbance to tigers and their prey was minimal.3. Recent attempts to quantify Myanmar’s tiger population were hampered because whilerapid assessments for wildlife had been made in many areas, standardized surveymethodologies for tigers were not yet available.4. While tiger status remained uncertain, the trends for tigers and their habit ts are wellunderstood. Widespread loss of habitat with changing landuse patterns, and the uncontrolledhunting of tiger prey, along with sport hunting, and commercial hunting for tigers spurnedby a recent demand for traditional medicines in Asia led to the demise of tigers in the past.By the early part of the 20 th Century thousands of tigers had been reported killed in Myanmar.5. Myanmar lost 25% of its for est cover, potential habitat for tigers and other wildlife betweenthe 1940’s and 2000 (FAO, 2000). By 2002, 4.73% (31,792 km 2 ) of the country was eitherformally protected or proposed for protection. Tigers require large areas of contiguoushabitat, usually 3,000 – 15,000 km 2 in size for long-term survival. While forest areas of thissize exist in the country only three areas are currently protected. Nearly 80% of the protectedareas are less than 1,000 km 2 , with 10 areas less than 100 km 2 .Summary of activity and main findings1. As a first step towards long-term future planning for tigers in Myanmar, and to guideefforts to identify new areas for protection, a project to develop an updated National TigerAction Plan was initiated in 1998. The primary objective of the program was to determinetiger occurrence via direct field survey across potential tiger habitats, and use this informationto select areas for special protection for tigers.IV
2. Tigers may serve as conservation “umbrellas”. This is the concept that protecting places withtigers effects the conservation of other wildlife and biodiversity elements with smaller ranges.3. The Myanmar Forest Department and the Wildlife Conservation Society initiated theprogram with financial support from the “Save The Tiger Fund,” a joint project of the USNational Fish and Wildlife Foundation and ExxonMobile Corporation.4. A tiger conservation and survey techniques training workshop was conducted for ForestDepartment and NGO junior staff at Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park, historically knownfor its tigers. From the training, a team of seven participants was recruited to carry out fieldsurveys, and conduct awareness work in communities adjacent to survey areas.5. Using the results of a previous planning analysis for tigers, and updated maps of forestcover, a set of 17 potential tigers areas were identified from large blocks of forest.6. Interviews of local people were done to determine likely places where tigers existed inthese forest complexes and guide the selection of survey locations.7. Using a field technique first developed in India, and modified for use in Southeast Asia, a teamof trained staff conducted presence-absence surveys for tigers at each site. A field survey effortduring 1999-2002 involving >15,000 nights with camera-traps, and >1,300 hours of sign searchingacross 5,500 km 2 of potential tiger habitat revealed the following results:• Tiger occurred in less than a quarter of the potential areas;• Based on the results of field surveys, tigers have disappeared from five areas surveyed;Alaungdaw Kathapa, Thaungdut, Mahamyaing, Nankamu, Panlaung-Pyadalin:• Based on the results of field surveys, tigers have disappeared or occur at very lowdensity in eight of the areas surveyed; Paletwa and Kaladan river catchment area,Sumprabum, Khaunglanphu, Paunglaung, Momeik-Mabain, Central Bago Yoma,Rakhine Elephant Range, Saramati Taung and adjacent areas;• Based on reports from forestry officials, tigers may occur at low density in two otherareas that were not surveyed; Shan Yoma (Kayah-Kayin) and S. Kachin:• Based on the results of field surveys, tiger occur in Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary,Sagaing Division and surrounding areas. The population is small (
Page 3 and 4: A National Tiger Action PlanForThe
Page 5 and 6: 5.4 Improving forestry management t
Page 7 and 8: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSA vast number of pe
Page 9: FOREWORDIt is with great pleasure t
Page 13 and 14: TABLE 1: NATIONAL TIGER ACTION PLAN
Page 15 and 16: Organisation delivering Timeframe /
Page 17: Timeframe / to be completed by2003
Page 20 and 21: National Tiger Action Plan for The
Page 60 and 61:
National Tiger Action Plan for The
Page 62 and 63:
Page 64 and 65:
Page 66 and 67:
Page 68 and 69:
50.Record Name of site Latitude Lat
Page 70 and 71:
Page 72 and 73:
Page 74 and 75:
show all

Myanmar - Global Tiger Initiative

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?