ECo-News

Malaria a serious threat to the local population

We were grateful to have Dr Siang Chin Teoh, a public health specialist (also Chair of the Medical Associations of South-east Asia (MASEAN) accompany our January 2007 expedition. Upon arrival at Ma Kyone Galet village it was clear that malaria was a major concern to the local nurse, who uses a rapid test kit to distinguish the more dangerous falciparum malaria from the 'ordinary' malaria. This way she finds an average of 25 falciparum cases each month. However, she is usually short of  the required medication for all the patients. Falciparum is particularly dangerous because of the potential fatal cerebral and renal complications. The nurse copes quite well otherwise and is evidently very capable and confident. She has also considerable experience in midwifery delivering 45 babies in the past year. The clinic receives supplies and sends regular reports from area health office in Kaw Thaung. Further discussions with locals revealed that many of the affected patients were Moken men, in fact some villages reported losses of many men. 

A combination of reasons are believed to have attributed to the pandemic, firstly as mentioned above the lack of available medication, secondly the Moken are traditionally a nomadic people of the sea, but recently more and more are taking up permanent residence in the villages. The once seasonal villages are stabilizing and are also attracting a growing population of Burmese from the mainland. It is suspected that increasing pressure on the local ecosystem is forcing the Moken men to venture further into the forest to hunt and cut timber, and consequently come in contact with the malaria vector.
		Doctor Siang Chin Teoh visits a Moken

Hornbill discovery

During the first expedition of the 2007 season our team was delighted to find hornbills, some of the most interesting and rare birds of Asian forests. While anchoring at Poni Island, a large Fig Tree growing on the beach came alive with several individuals of Oriental Pied Hornbills (Anthracoceros albirostris) and Plain-pouched Hornbills (Aceros subruficollis), along with other frugivorous birds such as Green Imperial Pigeons (Ducula aenea), Orange-breasted Green Pigeons (Treron bicincta) and Black-naped Orioles (Oriolus chinensis). All birds were feasting on ripe figs, which are known to be a very important source of food for a wealth of other animals - in fact that night the tree was engulfed with a swarm of Flying Foxes (Pteropus hypomelanus).

We were especially pleased to observe the Plain-pouched Hornbills, which are endangered birds listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. From the literature it was known that the species inhabits the archipelago, but its status was still un-determined.

Informed by our Burmese guide on board that: "there are many such birds on a small island further north, near Lampi", a few days later we were very excited to discover the night roost of over 150 Plain-pouched Hornbills on the island indicated by the guide. This discovery is very important as the species has a very restricted range of distribution shared between Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia, and prior to this discovery the overall known world population was of only about 3000 birds.
		Plain-pouched Hornbills (Aceros subruficollis) flying to the roosting site at dusk

The Mergui Archipelago might therefore turn out to be a major stronghold for the species, and our team aims at further investigating its hornbills populations in order to propose conservation measures that will assure their survival on the long term.

Hunting of wildlife

The Moken have been hunting and gathering in the Mergui Archipelago for thousands of years. Although traditionally their diet mostly consisted of sea produces such as oysters and other mollusks, the Moken also hunted mammals on land including Wild Boars and Lesser Mouse Deers. The latter was observed to be 'the animal most frequently hunted' (Ivanoff 2001), it was no surprise then to find this old favourite being prepared by a Burmese hunter during one of our visits to Lampi Island Marine Park. We also came upon an orphaned Dusky Langur whose parents had been recently eaten (unfortunately after being bought from the hunter and despite efforts from dedicated carers she passed away). The new wave of permanent settlements has Moken and Burmese alike searching the forests for food all year round.

	A Lesser Mouse Deer ending up in the pot...		Michel Viet with the orphaned baby Dusky Langur

A Status Review of Myanmar's Protected Areas revealed hunting as evidently the most serious threat to long term persistence of wildlife (Rao et al. 2002). Admittedly hunting for the wildlife trade is the greatest threat, as yet this activity has not been identified in the park. Lampi Island Marine Park is one of Myanmar’s smaller protected areas covering just over 200 sqkm and is approximately 18 km from the mainland. The geographic isolation and economic situation of local people present a need for hunting for subsistence.

However the size of the Park and isolation makes it particularly vulnerable and unregulated hunting could cause local extinctions. As little studies have been undertaken there is urgency to undertake a comprehensive biodiversity assessment. Information gathered in the assessment will be used to identify species most threatened by hunting and to develop altenative income generating activties for the hunters.

An overview of Biodiversity Conservation in Myanmar (adapted from Birdlife
International 2005)

Due to the political climate of the country, efforts for biodiversity conservation in
Myanmar have been lower than in other countries of South-eastern Asia. At a state level,
the National Commission for Environmental Affairs (NCEA) is responsible for the
development and coordination of environmental policy in Myanmar. With the assistance
of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), NCEA has drafted an
Environmental Protection Law. This law has three main components: control of
pollution; natural resource management; and integration of environmental considerations
into economic development. The Forest Department is the primary responsible for the
protection of the terrestrial biota and habitats. Within the Forest Department, the Nature
and Wildlife Conservation Division (NWCD) has overall responsibility for wildlife
conservation and protected area management, while the University of Forestry and the
Forestry Research Institute are responsible for applied forestry research. For the
management of protected non-forested habitats, including freshwater and marine habitats,
the Ministry of Forestry shares responsibility with the Ministry of Livestock and
Fisheries and the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation.
Besides governmental agencies, a small number of NGO’s are active in biodiversity
conservation in Myanmar. Again because of the political climate and the chronic lack of
funds very few are the NGO’s involved, both foreign and Burmese. At present three are
the Burmese NGO’s active in the field, all less than 10 years old: BANCA (Biodiversity
and Nature Conservation Association), FREDA (Forest Resources, Environment,
Development and Conservation Association) and MBNS (Myanmar Bird and Nature
Society). Foreign organizations include WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society),
Conservation International, PRCF (People, Resources and Conservation Foundation) and
WildAid. WCS in collaboration with the Forest Department is the most active foreign
organization which since 1993 assisted the government to establish four new protected
areas, including the proposed Lampi Island Marine National Park in
the Mergui Archipelago.

Updated 20.06.07 - Copyright 2007 ECoSwiss - Photos: Andrea Bonetti

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