Integration of human well-being-biodiversity nexus into environmental management strategies for poverty alleviation in the wetlands of Myanmar | |
| Author | Mo Aung Nay Chi |
| Call Number | AIT RSPR no.EV-11-09 |
| Subject(s) | Biodiversity--Myanmar--Environmental aspects Well-being--Myanmar--Environmental aspects |
| Note | A research study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Management, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), a major internationally developed approach to assess the health of the Earth's ecosystems in relation to human well-being, is a vital tool helping to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals. The MA links human wellbeing to that of ecosystems to ensure improved management and sustainable services of natural ecosystems while maintaining ecological integrity. Myanmar has diversified ecosystems due to its wide variety of landscape found with its borders. A category 3 cyclone, Nargis affected more than 50 townships, mainly in Yangon and Irrawaddy Divisions on 2 and 3 May 2008. The cyclone's impacts were exacerbated by earlier damage to the environment, including deforestation and degradation of mangroves, over-exploitation of natural resources such as fisheries, and soil erosion in the Irrawaddy delta. Inle Lake is facing rapid deterioration due to many environmental issues and stresses such as deforestation, increased population density, increased practice of floating gardens and its impacts. Another area Indawgyi Lake is still not yet facing catastrophic situation but if the environmental issues going on are not mitigated soon, it will surely face irreversible impacts. The issues are all contributing to the degradation of the valuable natural ecosystem services that people rely on. The study was done in 3 focal areas: 1) Irrawaddy Delta, (2) Inle Lake and (3) Indawgyi Lake. This study is comprised of three components: 1) specified environmental issues relating with biodiversity- human well-being nexus; 2) overview of the organizations currently working in the study areas and 3) identified gaps for intervention in local capacity building for integrated biodiversity conservation and livelihood development in the study areas. Field visit to Inle Lake was done to provide a clearer picture of the current situation of the Lake and the activities addressing biodiversity conservation and livelihood development. Interviews with personnel from some key NGOs and organizations were done to identify key issues and critical gaps in the activities being done. Gaps not yet addressed by post-Nargis development efforts, various organizations' conservation measures and priority areas were identified for intervention in local capacity building for integrated biodiversity conservation and livelihood development. Many environmental issues contributing to the degradation of environmental services of the study areas were identified to be considered in the future Environmental Management Strategies. Recommendations were made for possible future AIT research and the Wetlands Alliance poverty alleviation interventions. |
| Year | 2011 |
| Type | Research Study Project Report (RSPR) |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shipin, Oleg; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Preeda Parkpian ;Ebers, Theo; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD), Germany - AIT Fellowship ; |
| Degree | Research Studies Project Report (M. Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2011 |