Myint Aung U
Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division (NWCD), West Gyogone, Insein, Yangon, Myanmar.
J Environ Manage. 2007 Jul;84(2):188-203. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2006.05.016. Epub 2006 Sep 18.
Myanmar's protected area (PA) system began nearly 150 years ago under royal patronage. Park policies and practices, embodied in 19 pieces of legislation developed sporadically during and after the colonial period. As a result of the FAO-UNDP's Nature Conservation and National Parks Project (1981-1985) the government established the Nature & Wildlife Conservation Division and placed it within the Forest Department as the agency responsible for PA management. As a consequence the number of parks increased from 14 to 33. Myanmar's median park size is less than 50 km(2), but only five parks (15%) are larger than 1000 km(2). Most parks conserve terrestrial habitats; parks encompassing inland wetlands, mangrove, and marine habitats are limited in number and size. Existing PAs unequally represent Myanmar's ecosystems; the Malay Transition, Burmese coast, Burmese Transition and Cardamom Mountains bio-units are under-represented within the system. The effective total PA size (i.e., area of all parks less the area of 13 paper parks) is currently about 2.1%. Budgetary support for parks increased 11% since 1996, but is insufficient to address park needs, particularly in remote parks that are understaffed. Limited education and training of PA staff is a major factor limiting effective park management. Fifty-eight percent of park wardens are educated as foresters, and 42% have university degrees. The average posting in a park is 4 years, which is less than ideal for management continuity. Recommended actions to secure Myanmar's PAs include evaluation and reformulation of policies, increasing representation of Myanmar's habitats within the PA system, management planning, and standardizing protocols for anti-poaching patrols and other forms of law enforcement. Improved leadership training for wardens and range forest officers can also improve park management. Funding for community relations and more integrated management of parks and people can reduce conflicts, while environmental education and outreach activities can provide some needed services. Finally, new ways and means are needed to support these activities. Myanmar's PAs need creative and sustainable means of support, including partnerships with non-government organizations to supplement traditional means of support.
缅甸的保护区系统始于近150年前，在王室赞助下建立。公园政策和做法体现在殖民时期及之后零星制定的19项立法中。由于粮农组织-开发计划署的自然保护和国家公园项目（1981 - 1985年），政府设立了自然与野生动物保护司，并将其置于林业部内，作为负责保护区管理的机构。结果，公园数量从14个增加到33个。缅甸公园的平均面积小于50平方公里，但只有5个公园（15%）面积大于1000平方公里。大多数公园保护陆地栖息地；涵盖内陆湿地、红树林和海洋栖息地的公园在数量和面积上都很有限。现有的保护区未能平等地代表缅甸的生态系统；马来过渡区、缅甸海岸、缅甸过渡区和豆蔻山脉生物单元在该系统中的代表性不足。保护区的有效总面积（即所有公园面积减去13个名义上的公园面积）目前约为2.1%。自1996年以来，对公园的预算支持增加了11%，但仍不足以满足公园需求，特别是在人员配备不足的偏远公园。保护区工作人员的教育和培训有限是限制有效公园管理的一个主要因素。58%的公园管理员接受过林业方面的教育，42%拥有大学学位。在公园的平均任职时间为4年，这对于管理的连续性来说不太理想。确保缅甸保护区的建议行动包括评估和重新制定政策、增加缅甸栖息地在保护区系统中的代表性、管理规划以及规范反偷猎巡逻和其他执法形式的协议。改善对管理员和护林员的领导力培训也可以改善公园管理。用于社区关系以及公园与民众更综合管理的资金可以减少冲突，而环境教育和宣传活动可以提供一些所需服务。最后，需要新的方式和手段来支持这些活动。缅甸的保护区需要有创造性和可持续的支持方式，包括与非政府组织建立伙伴关系以补充传统的支持方式。
