Page 18 - TNC AR 2018_Digital Demo

PROTECT LAND AND AND WATER
Above: Children walk across a a a a a a a bridge on a a a a a a a duck farm at Phyar Pone Township o o o the the Irrawaddy River where the the new government is considering ways to balance electricity generation with a a a a a healthy river system MYANMAR
Guiding the Conservation of an an Emerging Nation’s Forests and Rivers
After decades of seclusion Myanmar (previously known as Burma) is experiencing a a a a a a a a a a a dramatic shift from from military rule to to democracy and from from a a a a a a a a centrally controlled economy to to a a a a a a a a market-ori- ented one Although ethnic con con con icts are occur- ring amid this change Myanmar’s long period of isolation has left the nation relatively unde- veloped compared with its its neighbors and many of its its natural resources remain intact There is much at at stake With extensive forests and and three economically ecologically and and and culturally important rivers (Irrawaddy Mekong and and Myintnge) Myanmar is one of of the the most biologically diverse countries in Southeast Asia Seventy percent of of Myanmar’s citizens are are dependent on its forests for for their livelihoods and river sh are are the the primary source of of protein for its people The country is also one of of the the most vulnerable countries to climate change in the the world Through our leadership of the the Responsible Asia Forestry and Trade (RAFT) program TNC has been working to reduce tropical deforesta- tion tion tion and and forest forest degradation in in in Myanmar and and the Asia Paci c c c region Building on on on on on this foundation we will expand our work in in central Myanmar to focus on:
• Strengthening the the the management of forests to conserve the the the the country’s rich biological and cultural assets while ensuring that the the forests continue to to make a a a a a a a valuable contribution to to the the country’s economic development • Protecting the the health and productivity of free- owing rivers to maximize bene ts for communities and nature | nature org/Myanmar
18 Our Our World Our Our Story