2020 ANNUAL REPORT WWF-MYANMAR
CONTENTS
AYEYARWADY RIVER LANDSCAPE
A MESSAGE FROM OUR COUNTRY DIRECTOR
1
KEY MOMENTS THIS YEAR
2
WHERE WE WORK The Ayeyarwady River Basin Dawna Tenasserim
4 6
HOW WE WORK
PROGRAMMES Environmental Education Freshwater Forests Sustainable Agriculture Wildlife Illegal Wildlife Trade Climate & Energy Sustainable Infrastructure Sustainable Industry (Tha Bar Wa) Sustainable Finance
10
MEET THE TEAM
54
OUR WORK IN CONTEXT
56
FINANCIALS
57
NETWORK CHAMPIONS
58
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
60
14 18 22 26
32 38 44 48 52
Investing in Nature: a New Era of Conservation at WWF-Myanmar Beyond the Classroom Voices for Rivers Community-Based Conservation Hope for Myanmar’s Betelnut Farmers The Wildlife Institute of Myanmar Meet the Heroes Behind Zero Sounding the Alarm on Illegal Widllife Trade Keep Them Wild to Keep Us Safe Access to Energy: from Dream to Reality Investing in a Resilient Future with Nature-Based Solutions Q&A Making Wastewater Treatment Plants Possible
8
NAYPYIDAW
12
DAWNA TENASSERIM
16 20 24 28
YANGON
HPA AN
30 34 36 40 42 46 50
DAWEI
A MESSAGE FROM NICK Despite the uncertainty and disruption this year, the WWF-Myanmar team has got on with the job in hand, and I am immensely proud of the urgency, good humour, adaptability, determination, and dedication you have brought to your work, even though most of it has been while working at home.
NICHOLAS COX COUNTRY DIRECTOR
Myanmar has faced more than its fair share of major challenges and upheavals in the past, and yet the resilience and adaptability of its people is one of its greatest enduring strengths. No one will question that 2020 has been an extraordinary year that took all of us by surprise, and not only because a pandemic was unexpected, but because it would change the world so rapidly. The events of this year have raised a multitude of questions. From how did this coronavirus escape into humans, to how we can prevent it happening again, to how can we use this dramatic turn of events to rethink society’s relationship with the natural world.
Cover photo © WWF/Shutterstock Ayeyarwady Delta as seen from above
In 1970, long before most of our WWF-Myanmar staff were alive, U Thant - then UN Secretary General, initiated the first ‘Earth Day’ and painted a picture with his words of a future
world in peril unless we used our genius, skill, and ideas to prevent the world collapsing around us. Even before Covid, our work in Myanmar was crucially important, but the growing climate and nature crisis means our mission is now more urgent than ever. Just as the virus has changed the world, we must seize the opportunity to help ensure it doesn’t happen again, and to help build a stronger, more resilient Myanmar, that uses naturebased solutions to overcome the challenges the country faces in its aspirations for peace, equality, growth, and prosperity. Our vision is clear, but Myanmar’s future is not set. We must be bold and courageous. We must seek out new partners and alliances. We must inspire others to join us on our journey to protect and restore Myanmar’s natural environment and wildlife populations, for all our sakes. We cannot do everything, but we can do anything - if we put our minds to it. Warmest wishes, Nick
KEY MOMENTS THIS YEAR WWF’S DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS TO REDUCE THE DAWEI ROAD’S IMPACT ON BIODIVERSITY AND WILDLIFE ARE ENDORSED by the Ministry of
Construction in Myanmar and the project developer, NEDA
MOU SIGNED
with the Ministry of Construction to collaborate on developing expertise on transport ecology within the ministry and transforming road projects into inspiring examples of sustainable infrastructure
WWF IS ONE OF THE LEAD ADVISORS TO THE MYANMAR GOVERNMENT in developing the Nationally Determined Contributions report for UNFCCC
SCULPTURES OF ENDANGERED WILDLIFE PARADE MANDALAY,
raising awareness as part of campaign to end illegal wildlife trade
MOU SIGNED with United
Amara Bank Limited Bank to develop and integrate an Environmental, Social and Governance policy
8 MORE ELEPHANTS COLLARED in Bago Yoma and Ayeyarwady Delta
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION INTEGRATED INTO NATIONAL EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN as part
of project by WWF in partnership with Save the Children, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation
7 INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES CONSERVED AREAS COVERING 54,000 hectares are mapped and documented
FINAL DRAFT OF NATIONAL ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE ACTION PLAN COMPLETED together with National Illegal Wildlife Trade Law Enforcement Task Force to provide authorities with a framework for targeted and coordinated work
2 YEARS ZERO POACHING: BAGO MYANMAR’S FIRST TRACEABILITY SYSTEM FOR SUSTAINABLE NATURAL RUBBER SUCCESSFULLY DEPLOYED
NATIONAL TIGER ACTION PLAN APPROVED for 2020-2025 is by the government
(since February 2018)
2 YEARS ZERO POACHING: YANGON (since April 2018)
5 MONTHS ZERO POACHING: AYEYARWADY (February - June 2020)
4 WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS INSTALLED with a total
capacity 47.4 m3/day where these plants are reducing the equivalent amount of wastewater flowing to rivers
DESIGN FOR WILDLIFE INSTITUTE BUILDINGS APPROVED
by the Forest Department
WORKING IN
THE AYEYARWADY RIVER BASIN TO SAVE THE VITAL RIVER THAT SUSTAINS A NATION Myanmar’s magnificent Ayeyarwady River is one of the only remaining very long, free-flowing rivers in all of tropical Asia. The beating heart of the nation, its waters nourish the country with crucial protein from fish, enable transport from north to south, irrigate the agricultural land where 50% of Myanmar’s rice is grown, and are home to around 70 critically endangered Irrawaddy River dolphins. Beyond the river’s muddy banks, five of Myanmar’s major cities share the wider basin with an abundance of wildlife in thriving ecosystems that vary dramatically from montane and alpine in the north, to temperate and subtropical in the south. Asian elephants still roam here as they have for generations, and where the river basin meets the warm ocean, a critical ecosystem acts as a nursery to countless fish species, and protects villages from raging storms: mangroves. Although a growing population and economy means that pressures are mounting on the Ayeyarwady, we have the opportunity to invest in protecting, restoring and ensuring that Ayeyarwady river remains free-flowing essential in the face of climate change.
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© Shutterstock / WWF-Myanmar
THE LANDSCAPE IN NUMBERS COVERS
61%
OF MYANMAR’S LAND
CONTRIBUTES
PROVIDES
TO MYANMAR’S ECONOMY ANNUALLY
OF THE POPULATION’S PROTEIN INTAKE
2-7 BILLION USD
60%
HOME TO
50%
OF THE COUNTRY’S RICE
AROUND
61% 388 50% 1,400 +100 70 OF MYANMAR’S POPULATION
FISH SPECIES, OF WHICH
ARE ENDEMIC MAMMAL, BIRD & REPITLE SPECIES
OF THEM ARE GLOBALLY THREATENED
IRRAWADDY RIVER DOLPHINS
2020 ANNUAL REPORT |5
WORKING IN
DAWNA TENASSERIM TO PROTECT THE FRAGILE FOREST WHERE NATURE STILL THRIVES
Straddling the international border between Myanmar and Thailand, the forests of Dawna Tenasserim are among the last of their kind. Beneath the canopy of centuries-old teak trees, rare wildlife still roam this mountainous wilderness, including some of Southeast Asia’s last wild tigers. They share this uniquely intact landscape from north to south with indigenous communities who have relied upon its abundant biodiversity for food and resources for generations. Far beyond the forested perimeter, urban populations also reap the benefits of this thriving ecosystem - with millions of people in Bangkok and Yangon breathing the air it cleans, drinking the water it provides, and eating the food it grows. W From agricultural expansion to infrastructure projects, Dawna Tenasserim - like all forests on earth - is under threat. The window to act is short, but if we invest now we can save this critical ecosystem, maintaining a balance for both people and wildlife.
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© Adam Oswell
THE LANDSCAPE IN NUMBERS COVERS
180,000KM
2
AN AREA ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF CAMBODIA HOME TO
568
BIRD SPECIES
HOSTS
6 SITES
OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE
168 7 MAMMAL SPECIES
SPECIES OF WILD CAT
1300
SPECIES OF ORCHIDS
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FROM ‘CONSERVATION OF’ TO ‘INVESTMENT IN’ NATURE A NEW ERA AT WWF-MYANMAR THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC MADE US SO VULNERABLE.
I HAVE NO MORE FEAR OF STORMS AND FLOODING.
I HAVE NO MORE FEAR OF POVERTY.
I NO LONGER FEAR THE MARKET.
in 2020
by 2021
by 2022
In 2023
That was the year my community, NGOs and local government decided to invest in restoring the mangroves where we live...
With the efforts invested in restoring the mangroves, I know they will protect us from the next storm. In the past this has cost my government US$15 million.
Our healthy mangroves are producing 27% more fish than before, and the mangroves keep our farms safe from salt-water.
The restored mangroves are now producing 7-12 tons of crab a year, and there’s always plenty to sell at the market. We have expanded trading into China, where we can sell for higher prices, too.
© Shutterstock / WWF-Myanmar
by 2030 I HAVE NO FEAR OF THE FUTURE, BECAUSE NOW I CHOOSE MY OWN. With the mangroves restored, now we’re using the tree bark to produce luxury hand made fabrics. We’ve just signed a business deal with a Paris-based fashion designer. My family’s income has increased by 57%, and next year we’re going on holiday.
*The example given is based on figures from real examples of mangrove restoration across the world.
THIS IS WHAT INVESTING IN NATURE LOOKS LIKE
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ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION The need for environmental education has never been more urgent.
KEY MOMENTS
The COVID-19 pandemic, wildfires, extreme weather resulting from climate change, are all results of our destructive relationship with nature. To repair this relationship, we need to fully understand the essential role nature plays in our lives, and that understanding starts with education.
Current environmental education in Myanmar is very ad-hoc and so to address this WWF has partnered with Save the Children, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation to produce an innovative project-based environmental education run via extracurricular Green Generation Clubs. To be piloted in 130 schools, the aim is to roll it out to 37,000 schools reaching 7 million children and communities.
October 2019 - June 2020
November 2019
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
CURRICULUM PILOTED
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in 8 schools
December 2019
MoU SIGNED BETWEEN WWF AND SAVE THE CHILDREN
December 2019 - January 2020
PRE-TEST CARRIED OUT IN 8 SCHOOLS COVERING 200+ STUDENTS
OUR NEXT STEPS 2020 Fundraise USD 500,000 to scale-up the pilot to complement and
support the MoE
2020-21 Expand covering of the Environmental Education
Programme to 320 schools and 11,000+ people including students, teachers/schools heads, PTA members/partner volunteers
“WE ARE NOT JUST EDUCATING CHILDREN, WE ARE EDUCATING MYANMAR’S LEADERS OF TOMORROW, FUTURE PRIME MINISTERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, THE NEXT GENERATION OF CUSTODIANS FOR MYANMAR, FOR THIS PLANET.” Saw Linn Htet Senior Communications Officer
February 2020
July 2020
August 2020
PROJECT INTEGRATED INTO THE NATIONAL EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN 2 (2021-2030)
VALIDATION WORKSHOP
LETTER OF AGREEMENT SIGNING CEREMONY WITH MoNREC, MoE, SAVE THE CHILDREN & WWF
with Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MoNREC), Ministry of Education (MoE), Save The Children and WWF
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© Thet Lwin/ WWF-Myanmar
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© Thet Lwin/ WWF-Myanmar
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Environmental Education for the future It is 5 AM when Daw Din Zay Soe gets up. She sweeps the floor and prepares breakfast for her family. Normally, she would be getting ready to go to school, but with schools being temporarily closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, she will stay home instead. “I miss my students and the school,” she says. Daw Din Zay Soe is a 26-year-old teacher at a primary school in Yin Mar Kone’s village in the Magwa division. She teaches Myanmar, mathematics, and social science at Grade 4. Last year, her school was one of eight chosen to test the Green Generation Environmental Action Club materials. It is a project designed and implemented by WWF-Myanmar and Save the Children, in conjunction with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environmental Conservation, with the goal to strengthen Myanmar’s environmental education. “Environmental Education is important for us all to connect with the earth. I am honored to now share what I’ve learned with my students.”
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY!
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FRESHWATER Rivers are indispensable to Myanmar’s society and economy. Providing a huge range of services and benefits they irrigate crops, provide water to drink and fish to eat, act as a means of transport and support for tourism. They support industrial development, critical sediment transport, and provide habitats for aquatic life. In fact, they support life in all its forms.
KEY MOMENTS
But like rivers all over the world, the Ayeyarwady and Salween are under threat from overdevelopment. Rapid economic
and population growth is increasing water demands for irrigation, domestic and industrial use. Energy demands are rising, and so is the push for hydropower dam development. These developments threaten not just the rivers, but communities and biodiversity that depend on them.
have also been supporting a move toward adopting Environmental Flows into the policy framework for Myanmar’s rivers, and supporting communities to monitor their local water bodies and to call on industries to combat negative impacts using evidencebased information.
This year, WWF has been committed to raising the profile of Myanmar’s unique free-flowing rivers, and advocating to the government to formulate a new energy vision with reduced dependency on hydroelectric energy and improved utilisation of green renewable alternatives. We
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, never has the importance of access to clean and adequate freshwater been so apparent. Conserving sources of freshwater such as rivers and wetlands are vital in tackling today’s crisis, and mitigating the chance of a similar scenario in the future.
October 2019
October 2019
December 2019
GOVERNMENTAL WORKSHOP
SYMPOSIUM & WORKSHOP
OFFICERS TRAINED
establishes understanding and support from different ministries for implementing E-flows framework
on customising E-flows for Myanmar held with the government, academia and NGOs
from Environmental Conservation Department for 8 weeks to improve effectiveness of Environmental Impact Assessments to safeguard rivers
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OUR NEXT STEPS 2021 Launch Voices for Rivers campaign 2021 Formulate a more inclusive Corporate Water Stewardship Working Group
2021 Undertake feasibility study for committed industrial zones to utilise centralised wastewater treatment system
“KEEPING MYANMAR’S RIVERS FREE-FLOWING IS ESSENTIAL FOR PEOPLE AND NATURE, TO RETAIN FISH MIGRATION AND HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE FISH POPULATIONS.”
2022 Strengthen capacity of IPLCs, NGOs and CSO platforms to advocate
for free-flowing rivers, inclusive river basin management and nature based solutions
April 2020
March 2020
OPTION PAPER ON FRAMEWORK
TWO OF MYANMAR’S MOST IMPACTFUL INDUSTRIAL ZONES
for establishing E-flows in Ayeyarwady Basin provided after 10 months of consultations and discussions with stakeholders from government, universities and civil societies
(Yangon and Mandalay) are studied to undertand pollution status and analyse opportunities to apply collective approach, particularly centralised wastewater treatment
Frank Van Der Valk Programme & Policy Manager
What are Environmental Flows? Environmental flows (E-flows) are about managing water for people and nature, part of a global shift in water governance that recognises the full range of social, economic and environmental values and benefits associated with water. E-flows are essential for better meeting the full range of often competing values for water. Moving environmental flows from concept to application is the challenge and opportunity ahead.
LIFE PUMPS THROUGH THE ARTERIES OF MYANMAR’S UNIQUE RIVERS. THEY SUSTAIN THE LIVES OF MILLIONS, HOLD SPECIAL CULTURAL VALUE, AND PROVIDE A HOME TO ENDANGERED WILDLIFE. THE RIVERS GIVE US LIFE, NOW WE MUST GIVE THEM A VOICE. OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT.
VOICES FOR RIVERS COMING SOON.
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FORESTS Myanmar’s spectacular forests form part of the ‘Indo-Burma Hotspot’, one of the world’s most important areas for biodiversity.
KEY MOMENTS
This vibrant ecosystem is home to more than 200 globally threatened species as well as many indigenous communities. But with just 44% of forest cover remaining and an annual deforestation rate of around 2%, these forests are under threat from continuous agricultural expansion, unsustainable extraction and infrastructure development.
WWF focuses its efforts in two key forest landscapes. In the South, the Tanintharyi region is a long, narrow, contiguous stretch of forested mountains along the border with Thailand. It forms part of Dawna Tenasserim, a vast forested wilderness which covers more than 180,000km2 across Myanmar and Thailand. Remarkably, around 80% of this landscape is still under forest cover. Further North in the foothills of the Himalayas, the Ayeyarwady River Landscape is of special conservation importance as it provides a refuge for many rare plant and animal species. Both landscapes are home to some of the few
remaining tigers in Southeast Asia, and support communities both in the forest and further afield with clean water, air and other forest resources. WWF is working to save these intact forests by working with partners on the ground to implement conservation and sustainable forest management approaches. We work closely with ethnic communities and local CSOs, as well as relevant authorities at the national and regional level to support sustainable solutions that benefit both people and nature.
June-2019 to present
June 2019 to March 2020
November 2019
November 2019
CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN
7 INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES CONSERVED AREAS
5 PRODUCER GROUPS
11 INDIVIDUALS
are trained in business pre-incubation in partnership with Impact Hub-Yangon
from Ka Ser Doh Conservation Area join a learning visit to Kanchengjunga - the first and only community-managed conservation area in Nepal
preparation facilitated by WWF for Ka Ser Doh Conservation Area (KCA): an estimated 600,000 hectares covering high conservation value areas
18 | ANNUAL REPORT 2020
(ICCAS) covering 54,000 hectares are mapped and documented with support from WWF
OUR NEXT STEPS 2020 Provide technical assistance to Myanmar Forest Certification
“WHAT WE DO TO NATURE HAS AN IMPACT ON US ALL. SADLY THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC OF 2020 IS A REFLECTION OF OUR UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR ENVIRONMENT. THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE.”
Committee (MFCC) in revising the current version of the Timber Legality Standards
2021 Forest Department finalises and approves the Community Forestry Governance Scorecard
2021 Expose Dawna Tenasserim producer groups to trade fairs to showcase their products
2021 Formally Launch Ka Ser Doh Conservation Area management plan
Grace Tena Programme Manager
December 2019
February 2020
March 2020
May 2020
AGRI-BUSINESS STAKEHOLDER FORUM
BAMBOO BASED ENTERPRISES INITIATED
9 WOMEN FROM 3 PRODUCER GROUPS
SIGNIFICANT STEP TAKEN TOWARD
is held with the aim of building good relations between stakeholders and establishing networks for enterprise development and marketing processes
with four communities, strengthening existing weaving skills and increasing their income by adding value to meet the buyer’s needs
in the Dawna Tenasserim gain knowledge and inspiration for livelihood and enterprise development from other producers in Shan State during exchange visits
establishing the Ka Ser Doh Conservation Area as the participatory planning process is completed
2020 ANNUAL REPORT |19
© Aye Myat Thandar/WWF-Myanmar
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© Aye Myat Thandar/WWF-Myanmar
COMMUNITY-BASED CONSERVATION From Nepal to Myanmar Local and indigenous communities play a critical role in conserving large territories of wild spaces. Since 2018, we’ve supported them in documenting and planning community-based forest conservation areas in the Dawna Tenasserim Landscape (DTL), which straddles the border between Myanmar and Thailand. The rural communities living in the DTL depend upon the area’s natural resources for their food, water and livelihoods. But these resources are under threat. WWF works with partner organisations and affected stakeholders to ensure that the important role played by local communities in governing and managing forests is understood and recognised. Last November, WWF-Myanmar took 11 representatives from communities living in the DTL to Nepal to visit one of the country’s most successful community-based conservation areas. Aye Myat Thandar - also known as Aye Myat - is a Senior Forest Officer in WWF-Myanmar’s Dawei office. She shares her experiences of the trip with us.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY!
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SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE As Myanmar transitions from a sustenance agricultural society to an industrialised society, vast amounts of raw materials from the agriculture sector are in high demand.
KEY MOMENTS
From rubber to animal feed, production of these materials puts immense pressure on the landscapes that provide Myanmar with clean air and fresh water, and that provide a habitat to rare wildlife. Our goal is to ensure that this transition happens sustainably and that high conservation value areas remain intact.
We work closely with farmers and support them in transitioning towards a more sustainable and climate resilient agroforestry system. Effective and sustainable management of High Conservation Value Areas (HCVA) is at the center of our work. By facilitating cooperative development and improving access to markets for sustainably produced agricultural products, we are helping farmers to have improved and sustainable livelihoods.
May 2020
May 2020
70 FARMERS
MYANMAR’S FIRST TRACEABILITY SYSTEM FOR SUSTAINABLE NATURAL RUBBER SUCCESSFULLY DEPLOYED
sell sustainable, natural rubber to our partner factory
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Over the years, we have learned that community centered conservation must address the needs of the communities, particularly livelihoods. The government and private sector should ensure that incentives and measures are put in place to support smallholders to transition towards a sustainable and resilient agroforestry system.
May 2020
MYANMAR GOVERNMENT BEGINS WORK ON SUSTAINABLE NATURAL RUBBER POLICY
OUR NEXT STEPS 2021 Form one national and two regional multi-stakeholder platforms for sustainable natural rubber
2021 2nd Myanmar rubber forum 2021 Myanmar rubber law enacted with Sustainable Natural Rubber guidelines developed for Myanmar
2021 Develop maize strategy 2021 At least 500 smallholders are demonstrably compliant with
“THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR IS VERY COMPLEX.THERE ARE MANY STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED THAT ARE TRYING TO MAKE AS MUCH PROFIT AS THEY CAN. TO ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY OF AGRICULTURE, SYSTEMS LEVEL THINKING IS THE KEY.”
Sustainable Natural Rubber principles and criteria
July 2020
SCOPING STUDY OF MAIZE PRODUCTION IN DAWNA TENASSERIM COMPLETED
Nanda Aung Programme Manager
September 2020
OVER $3.5 MILLION USD IS LEVERAGED in investment to develop sustainable natural rubber supply chain in Dawna Tenasserim
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© Naw Eh Hser Wah /WWF-Myanmar
24 | ANNUAL REPORT 2020
© Naw Eh Hser Wah /WWF-Myanmar
HOPE FOR MYANMAR’S BETELNUT FARMERS Changing weather patterns and extreme heat are harming traditional crops – but farmers are adapting. On a hot afternoon in a remote part of southern Myanmar’s Tanintharyi region, we meet Naw Lwee Zar, a 47-year-old Karen woman. She unties a bag of betel nuts, puts one in her mouth and starts chewing. “This year has been so dry that it killed most of my betel,” she grumbles. In Tanintharyi, most villagers grow betel nut, rubber and other cash crops. These plants are highly dependent on the weather. With weather patterns changing and temperatures rising, harvests have been hit hard. In Myanmar, temperatures have been rising for the last six decades, according to the Myanmar Climate Change Alliance. Experts expect conditions to continue getting worse. Globally, 2019 was the second hottest year on record. Myanmar saw recordbreaking pre-monsoon heat, with temperatures climbing to 46.4oC in parts of the country. This is having a big impact on agriculture.
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WILDLIFE Across the globe, population sizes of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles have fallen by an average of 68 per cent in fewer than 50 years.
KEY MOMENTS
This means that more than two thirds of the planet’s animals have been lost. Myanmar is unique in that it is still home to an abundance of wildlife, including many rare and endemic species. We are working to protect these species and their habitat, so they can thrive into the future.
In the wake of a collaborative effort to stop a wave of elephant poaching across the country, this year we celebrate two years of no poaching in two of the three regions we work in; Bago and Yangon. Meanwhile, significant success in the Ayeyarwady Region is marked by nearly six months of zero poaching. Previously an elephant was poached here almost every month. To support communities sharing their homes with elephants we have established human-elephant-conflict mitigation
measures including setting up solar-powered electric fences, as well as forming community wildlife monitoring teams to act as the eyes and ears on the ground. With one eye on the future, we continue the process toward establishing Myanmar’s first ever Wildlife Institute, now working with the Forest Department to develop a curriculum that will enable the next generation of wildlife protectors to secure a future for Myanmar’s iconic wildlife.
January 2020
March 2020
May 2020
June 2020
WILDLIFE MONITORING UNITS
8 MORE ELEPHANTS COLLARED
NATIONAL TIGER ACTION PLAN APPROVED
25 MAMMALS INCLUDING 4 CAT SPECIES IDENTIFIED
(WMUs) consisting of local community members in Dawna Tenasserim are formed and trained as dedicated teams to focus on wildlife monitoring for the first time
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in Bago Yoma and Ayeyarwady Delta
by government for 2020-2025
in camera trap survey of North Zamari Wildlife Sanctuary
OUR NEXT STEPS 2020 Set up two more solar-powered electric fences in Ayeyarwady
“2020 HAS PUSHED US TO BE CREATIVE TO THE EXTREME WITH OUR WILDLIFE RESEARCH. I’M HOPEFUL THE RESULTS WILL EASE THE PAIN FOR BOTH PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE.”
and Bago and plant fodder species to create grassland sites to mitigate human-elephant-conflict
2020-1
Develop wildlife institute’s curriculum and first ranger training at the institute
2020-1 Form community wildlife monitoring teams in Central Elephant
Landscape and Forest Department wildlife monitoring team in Ayeyarwady
2021 Conduct elephant population survey in Ayeyarwady Delta
June 2020
June 2020
SOLAR-POWERED ELECTRIC FENCING SET UP IN 2 VILLAGES
WILDLIFE INSTITUTE BUILDING DESIGNS APPROVED
in Ayeyarwady region to prevent human-elephant conflict
by the Forest Department
Paing Soe Lead Conservation Biologist
June 2020
September 2020 (present)
5 MONTHS ZERO POACHING
2 YEARS ZERO POACHING
2 YEARS ZERO POACHING
in Ayeyarwady Region (since February 2020)
in Bago in Yangon (since February 2018) (since April 2018)
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THE WILDLIFE INSTITUTE OF MYANMAR
WORLD CLASS TRAINING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATIONISTS, SET IN THE HEART OF A PROTECTED AREA For the first time in Myanmar’s history a dedicated Wildlife Institute is set to train the country’s next generation of wildlife protectors. From rangers to protected area managers and biodiversity researchers, in this permanent facility students will learn the specific skills they need to protect Myanmar’s incredible wildlife and wild places. Set in the heart of the North Zamari Wildlife Sanctuary, students will learn the theories and latest innovative conservation approaches whilst being immersed in the lush forests that surround the campus, as their hands-on studies contribute to securing North Zamari as a world class protected area. Living and learning in this real-life training ground, they will have a unique opportunity to connect intimately with the wildlife that surrounds them: inspired by the leopards, elephants, gaur and other wildlife that call this forest home. When ultimately they travel from the heart of Myanmar to its far corners to work in other protected areas, graduates of the Wildlife Institute will take with them an intricate knowledge of world-class protected area management and biodiversity research, helping to secure the future for Myanmar’s wildlife and wild places for years to come. 28 | ANNUAL REPORT 2020
© Julia Thiemann / WWF-Germany
© Hkun Lat / WWF-Myanmar
The Next Steps
NORTH ZAMARI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Despite the challenges of COVID-19 we are driving forward plans for Myanmar’s first ever wildlife institute. Here, the next generation of wildlife protectors will be formally trained and equipped to protect Myanmar’s astonishing biodiversity. Here’s what will happen next:
BAGO REGION
2. ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS FOR THE COLLEGE ARE FINALISED
3. GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY!
REGION BOUNDARY ROAD
YANGON REGION
1. CAMERA TRAPPING TO ESTABLISH GENERAL STATUS OF BIODIVERSITY IN THE INSTITUTE AREA
NORTH ZAMARI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY WILDLIFE INSTITUTE
4. CONSTRUCTION BEGINS
A Critical Location 5. FIELD STAFF ARE ASSESSED
The Wildlife Institute will be located in the midst of the Bago mountain range and the North Zamari Wildlife Sanctuary. This protected area around 1.5 times the size of Singapore - is home to some of the last natural teak forests in the world. At just 3.5 hours drive from Yangon, and around the equivalent distance from Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw, this will provide easy access to the Wildlife Institute and North Zamari Wildlife Sanctuary and it will be able to serve as a demonstration site for government representatives and educational facilities, showing what it takes to establish a world-class protected area.
6. CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT WITH THE FOREST DEPARTMENT AND PARTNERS FROM SOUTHERN AFRICAN WILDLIFE COLLEGE, WILDLIFE INSTITUTE OF INDIA AND COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
7. TRAINING FOR FUTURE TEACHERS BEGINS AT WILDLIFE INSTITUTE
© Naw Eh Hser Wah /WWF-Myanmar
8. COURSES BEGIN!
2020 ANNUAL REPORT |29
© Naw Eh Hser Wah/WWF-Myanmar
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Š Naw Eh Hser Wah/WWF-Myanmar
MEET THE HEROES BEHIND ZERO These every day heroes are the true protectors of Myanmar’s wild elephants Seventy years ago, Myanmar was home to as many as 9,000 wild elephants. Today there are less than 2,000. They are an endangered species threatened by poaching, loss of habitat and human-elephant conflict. In 2017, the rate of wild elephant poaching increased dramatically with at least one elephant poached per week. Traditionally elephants were poached for their tusks, however this suddenly changed as they began to be poached for their skin to be sold in the illegal wildlife trade. In response to the urgent poaching crisis, government agencies, conservation organisations and local communities came together to increase patrolling and raise public awareness. The good news is that this year marks two consecutive years with no wild elephant poaching in Yangon and Bago regions and decreased poaching in other regions such as Ayeyarwady. It is a significant achievement for wildlife conservation and a result of strong collaboration with our partners.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY!
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ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE Myanmar is still rich in natural resources, but they are in danger. Surrounded by key transit and destination countries, Myanmar is a source country for poachers for many species including familiar and charismatic wildlife like tigers and Asian elephants.
KEY MOMENTS
The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has brought the risk between zoonotic diseases - those transmitted from animals to humans - and wildlife markets into sharp focus. This
rampant unchecked trade in wildlife is a risk not only to health and the economy but also to the region’s entire stability. We are working with the government, international NGOs and local CSOs to strengthen law enforcement controls, increase awareness, and reduce open sales in the region. We provide information from wildlife market analysis to prevent illegal wildlife trade, hold public awareness campaigns, and facilitate capacity building workshops for departmental officers
and neighboring countries’ meetings to strengthen cross-border cooperation. With the pandemic restricting our fieldwork, we have taken the opportunity on social media platforms to raise more awareness of the importance of protecting our health and stopping buying and consuming wildlife products - with the ultimate goal of putting an end to wildlife crime to safeguard our well-being.
August 2019 - February 2019
October 2019 - January 2019
November 2019
TRANSBOUNDARY WORKSHOPS AND INFORMATION SHARING
#TRAVELIVORYFREE
2ND NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO FIGHT ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE
between Myanmar, Laos and Thailand in the Golden Triangle, a critical hub for illegal wildlife trade
32 | ANNUAL REPORT 2020
public service announcements are rolled out in Yangon Airport and hotels across Mandalay during Golden Week, the Lighting Festival and Chinese New Year #TravelIvoryFree targeted messages reach 1.3m people online
launched in Mandalay
OUR NEXT STEPS 2020 Start phase two of the Fighting Wildlife Trafficking in the Golden Triangle project funded by the U.S department of State (INL)
2020 Roll out an online campaign on the “One Health” concept 2021 Conduct nation-wide campaign in partnership with WildAid,
focusing on the need to protect wildlife from being poached, consumed or kept as pets
2021 Release Kantar report on national consumers and the Globescan
“ENDING WILDLIFE CRIME IS MORE THAN SAVING WILDLIFE, IT ALSO MEANS SAVING OUR OWN WELLBEING. COVID-19 IS A WAKE-UP CALL. WE NEED TO STOP WILDLIFE CRIME TO STOP ANOTHER PANDEMIC.” Grace Hwa Programme Manager
report on Chinese traveller consumers in Myanmar
December 2019
February 2020
May 2020
INFORMAL CROSS-BORDER AGREEMENT SIGNED
SCULPTURES OF ENDANGERED WILDLIFE
FINAL DRAFT OF NATIONAL ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE ACTION PLAN
between Laos, Thailand and Myanmar to seal commitment for improved collaboration in tackling illegal wildlife trade
parade through Mandalay as part of the campaign
completed together with National Illegal Wildlife Trade Law Enforcement Task Force to provide authorities with a framework for targeted and coordinated work 2020 ANNUAL REPORT |33
SOUNDING THE ALARM ON ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE VOICES FOR WILDLIFE TAKES TO THE STREETS OF MANDALAY
#TRAVELIVORYFREE CAMPAIGN
On February 1st 2020, a golden tiger, pangolin and elephant took to the streets of Mandalay. They were there as part of the second national campaign to fight illegal wildlife trade in the region, following the success of the campaign to make Yangon illegal ivory and wildlife free. The Mandalay Campaign successfully increased public and government support to protect wildlife through increase in law enforcement action against illegal wildlife trade.
Myanmar receives hundreds of thousands of Chinese tourists every year travelling to Southeast Asia over the National Golden Week and the Chinese new year. Unfortunately, many of these tourists take the opportunity to shop for illegal wildlife products. This year Myanmar joined regional WWF targeted work in the #TravelIvoryFree campaign, rolling out education and awareness raising activities to the public during Golden Week.
“As a key wholesale trading and transit hub for illegal wildlife products, it’s critical to stop the trade in Mandalay. If we can close the markets there by partnering with key government ministries and cultural influencers, it will do a lot to impact the overall volume of illegal wildlife being trafficked through Myanmar.” Grace Hwa, Wildlife Trade Program Manager of WWF-Myanmar.
WWF Myanmar posted targeted messages in Burmese (aimed at the sellers) and English language on Facebook and Instagram aimed at key locations. A total of 1.3 million people were reached overall. WWF also shared #TravelIvoryFree materials with key partners who put up the public service announcements in Yangon airport and in various hotels around Mandalay.
34| ANNUAL REPORT 2020
2020ANNUAL REPORT |35
KEEP THEM WILD TO KEEP US SAFE COMING SOON.
© Shutterstock / WWF-Myanmar
IN 2021 WWF-MYANMAR WILL COME TOGETHER WITH WILDAID IN A NATIONWIDE CAMPAIGN TO END THE DEMAND FOR OWNING AND CONSUMING WILDLIFE IN MYANMAR.
IN THE WAKE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, NEVER HAS THERE BEEN A MORE CRITICAL NEED TO KEEP THEM WILD TO KEEP US SAFE.
programmes
CLIMATE & ENERGY To establish the climate-safe and sustainable energy system it urgently needs, Myanmar’s hydro-dominant energy sector has to diversify. With the opportunity to harness abundant renewable resources from solar to wind and biomass, alongside fast-declining generation costs, Myanmar is well positioned to fulfil its growing energy demands.
KEY MOMENTS
August 2019
HIGH LEVEL GOVERNMENT DELEGATES LEARN ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY from other state governments at the Shenzen Low Carbon City Forum
38 | ANNUAL REPORT 2020
As one of the world’s most vulnerable countries at risk of a climate crisis, this sustainable route forward is critical and will safeguard the ecosystems that mitigate climate change and provide natural protection from extreme weather events. Amid an unpredictable global landscape, WWF is working to ensure that Myanmar’s energy sector is growing sustainably so that it is resilient for the future.
September 2019
To do this we are advising and building capacity to relevant ministries, supporting CSOs, the public and private sector. This year WWF was invited by the Myanmar government to be one of the lead advisors to Myanmar’s first Nationally Determined Contributions as part of the Paris Agreement. These contributions will embody Myanmar’s efforts to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
October 2019
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL SITES FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY
CIVIL SOCIETY IN MYANMAR HOSTS TWO RENEWABLE ENERGY WORKSHOPS
projects is extended in Kayin for a further year in agreemen with State Government
in Kayin and Tanintharyi to create energy dialogues within state level governments
December 2019
MYANMAR GOVERNMENT DELEGATES PRESENT PROGRESS of the country’s climate targets at United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP25
OUR NEXT STEPS 2020 Train more women for economic empowerment and solar firm
“AFTER FIVE YEARS OF POLICY ADVOCACY AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, THE GOVERNMENT ROLLED OUT ITS FIRST SOLAR BID FOR 1060 MEGAWATTS. THIS CAN BRING BENEFITS TO UP TO 8.6 MILLION PEOPLE, AND IS A TRUE SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR OUR TEAM.”
operation & maintenance for sustainable, inclusive energy
2020 Publish updated Myanmar Electricity Vision report and trigger inclusive renewable energy development led by public voices
2021 Initiate energy access, economy and environmental social safeguard framework survey in 4 villages
2021 Create momentum for the Nature-based Solutions in Myanmar
Shoon So Oo Programme Manager
January 2020
February 2020
May 2020
June 2020
WWF IS ONE OF THE LEAD ADVISORS TO GOVERNMENT
TWINNING PROJECT
PLAN & STEERING COMMITTEE IS ESTABLISHED
HIGH-LEVEL DIALOGUE BEGINS
in developing the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) report for UNFCCC
between the Ministry of Electricity and Energy and the Embassy of Denmark sees 32 government officials trained in renewable energy operation
following the success of the 2016 Renewable Energy Vision. Key stakeholders are the CSO coalition of Myanmar
between WWF and Ministry of Electricity, Ministry of Planning and Ministry of Environment to discuss renewable energy visions 2020 ANNUAL REPORT |39
© Hkun Lat/ WWF-Myanmar
40 | ANNUAL REPORT 2020
Š Hkun Lat / WWF-Myanmar
ACCESS TO ENERGY: FROM DREAM TO REALITY Off-grid hydro and solar are lighting up rural communities
At a waterfall in the middle of a dense forest in Kayin State, a group of people are at work. They are wielding ropes, bamboo poles and other equipment. A young man wades into the water. He reaches the deepest point and measures its depth with a bamboo pole. Then he grabs a rope and measures the width of the waterfall. Others are throwing a sealed plastic water bottle into the current over and over again, measuring the flow of the water. The group is investigating the waterfall’s suitability for small-scale electricity production.
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INVESTING IN A RESILIENT FUTURE WITH NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS When rivers flood and destroy villages and roads, we build weirs to regulate water flow. When waves rage and saltwater seeps into farmland, destroying crops, we build vast sea walls to stem the tide. Scientists have even designed and built carbon capture storage units that absorb the carbon that industries pump into the atmosphere. Clever though these solutions are, they can be shortsighted. They treat the symptoms of climate change, whilst doing little to slow it down, or prepare us for what challenges may lie ahead. 42| ANNUAL REPORT 2020
So what if, rather than spending money on engineered structures, we invested in restoring the nature that protected us in the first place? Investment in nature based solutions will protect the world’s most vulnerable communities from the effects of climate change, create jobs, grow economies, replenish biodiversity, and even slow climate change on a global scale Nature-based Solutions are the long term answer to some of the greatest challenges of the century. A shift in focus toward Nature-based Solutions is streamlining the goals of corporations, conservationists, communities and governments enabling us to work together toward our common goals of a more resilient, prosperous and healthy future, for everyone.
© Hkun Lat/WWF-Myanmar
THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ARE IMPACTING EVERYONE WHO LIVES ON OUR PLANET. WE ARE NEEDING TO RESPOND AND ADAPT, FAST.
WWF-Myanmar will be honing our efforts to invest in existing natural solutions in the coming months and years - restoring the ecosystems that will support Myanmar’s economic growth, whilst ensuring its climate resilience, its people’s wellbeing, and biodiversity.
BY INVESTING IN NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS, WE CAN WORK TOWARD A WORLD WHERE BALANCING NATURE STOPS BEING A CHALLENGE, AND BECOMES THE SOLUTION.
© Shutterstock/WWF-Myanmar
2020 ANNUAL REPORT |43
programmes
SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE Myanmar is at a critical point in its development, with foreign investments in infrastructure potentially jeopardising the country’s pristine ecosystems and the communities and threatened species they sustain.
KEY MOMENTS
WWF-Myanmar’s sustainable infrastructure programme has been able to provide thought leadership, institutionalise thinking around sustainable infrastructure and build capacity for real change by collaborating on a common vision for sustainable infrastructure in Myanmar with the country’s leadership.
We have built strategic relationships in various non-environment ministries like the Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Ministry of Finance and Planning. The enthusiasm and demand for infrastructure planning support from the Ministry of Construction has been demonstrated through their ownership and involvement in the development of the Diploma Course on Transport Ecology. These measures will eventually drive systemic change and that can protect Myanmar’s globally-significant forest landscapes.
Economic recovery post COVID-19 offers a unique opportunity to focus on the root causes of the current crisis, as well as a strong role for WWF to advocate for measures that speed up the transition to mainstreaming nature-based solutions in infrastructure planning. There is scope to change the rules of the game and promote an increased focus on investing in nature for resilience.
October 2019
November 2019
December 2019
KEY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TRAINED
MOU SIGNED
FIVE YEARS OF EVIDENCEBASED ADVOCACY RESULT IN
in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), including individuals from the Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Transport and Communications, and later the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation
44 | ANNUAL REPORT 2020
with the Ministry of Construction outlining collaboration on developing expertise on transport ecology within the ministry, and transforming road projects into inspiring examples of sustainable infrastructure
WWF’s detailed recommendations to reduce the Dawei Road’s impact on biodiversity and wildlife being endorsed by the Ministry of Construction in Myanmar and the project developer, NEDA
OUR NEXT STEPS 2020-1 Launch Myanmar’s first ever transport ecology Diploma course
for engineers, planners and technocrats
2020-1
Conduct first ever training and workshop on Rail Ecology for the Myanma Railways and identify pilots projects
2021 Mainstream nature-based solutions in sustainable infrastructure planning as part of COVID-19 recovery planning
2021 Revolutionise the practice of corridor mapping by making it
“OUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IS THE RECOGNITION THAT WHERE WE LOCATE INFRASTRUCTURE DETERMINES THE BENEFITS AND IMPACTS TO PEOPLE AND NATURE. OUR MISSION IS NOW TO INSTITUTIONALISE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY IN INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING.”
accessible to non-technical users such as government decision makers by launching a web based app that helps plan linear infrastructure across key wildlife habitats
February 2020
February 2020
NEW PARTNERSHIP FORMED
FIRST-EVER DIPLOMA COURSE
with the Ministry of Transport and Communications with specific focus on incorporating environmental and ecological safeguards in transport planning policy frameworks
on Transport Ecology goes into development, led by the Ministry of Construction and Yangon Technical University with support and initiative from WWF. The course will train officials, engineers, planners and other professionals from the government and academic institutions
Urvana Menon Programme Manager
Q&A
Sustainable Infrastructure Programme Officer, Sai, tells us more about the MoU signed with with Myanmar’s Minisry of Construction in 2019. My name is Sai Than Lwin and I work with WWF-Myanmar as a Sustainable Programme Officer. My role is to support the programme by working with partners and the government to collect and analyse crucial data on infrastructure and its impacts on wildlife and the environment. We also raise awareness and understanding of the broad range of ecological issues related to transport infrastructure. Our goal is to ensure that sustainability is at the forefront of conversations on infrastructure development. We’re here to talk about the MoU signed between Myanmar’s Ministry of Construction and WWF-Myanmar - and its significance. First off, can you first tell us what an MoU is? So a Memorandum of Understanding is a signed agreement between two or more parties, expressing a convergence of will or intended common line of action. In this case the MoU is between the Ministry of Construction, who is developing roads and bridges to enhance social economy for the country’s development, and WWF Myanmar, to collaborate actively to implement sustainable transport infrastructure development in Myanmar. 46| ANNUAL REPORT 2020
What’s the significance of the signing of this MoU, for people and nature? This collaboration is really exciting, and I believe that it will lay the ground for Myanmar to become a global leader in sustainable infrastructure development. It’s a critical step toward enabling the Ministry of Construction to play an important role in conserving the country’s rich biodiversity whilst ensuring sustainable development one of our government’s top priorities. And what does that mean for Myanmar’s people and nature? With such vast areas of undeveloped land, there are going to be lots of infrastructure projects in Myanmar’s future, and these roads are critical to the country’s economic development. The thing is, we already know from lessons learned in other countries across the world that if we don’t incorporate biodiversity and environmental conservation in upstream planning, the long term maintenance costs and impacts to ecosystem services end up hurting the economy negatively in the future. The good news is that the signing of this MoU demonstrates the government’s commitment to sustainable development and a willingness to collaborate with conservation organisations like WWF. Why is this MoU such a big deal? As a conservation organisation, WWF normally signs MoUs with conservation departments, but this MoU with the infrastructure implementation and development department illustrates that both parties are eager to work together for conservation and socioeconomic development. Is this something you’ve been working toward for a long time? We’ve been working with the Ministry of Construction toward the signing of the MoU for a long time - and they were actively helping us to make this happen. It was a long process, but it has been worth it. Tell us about the day the MoU was signed? The trickiest part was finding a date for the signing ceremony! The
Director General of the Department of Highways and WWF’s country director are very busy. Anyway we finally landed on 14th November, 2019. When the day came, the Director General was waiting for us along with the Chief Engineers. He spoke frankly about how he felt, and what he had learned on a trip to the US for the International Conference on Ecology and Transportation - especially of the site visits they made to see wildlife mitigation measures such as wildlife crossings.
© Hkun Lat/WWF-Myanmar
He spoke of how the MoU would help the ministry to raise awareness of the need to nature for people and wildlife within the department, and he wrapped up his speech highlighting the importance that these messages reach the public, saying that the department would be willing to help ensure that happened. The department seems very excited, and keen to learn new technologies that could enhance their knowledge to become one of the sustainable development leaders in the region. WWF feels the same, so that day was a huge moment for us all. On a personal level, how did you feel that day? It was so exciting to see the very first steps of my government, especially the engineering/planning people, showing that they would like to develop the infrastructure in sustainable ways without destroying nature. It was an honor to talk at length with the Director General as we discussed the importance of ecosystem services and infrastructure and shared our past experiences. He even said that he would like to share the knowledge with other related departments such as the Department of Rural Roads. So what’s next? Sustainable infrastructure has become one of Asia’s hot topics. Myanmar’s geological advantage - sitting between two Asia giants, China and India, and with neighbours Thailand, Laos and Bangladesh - means that infrastructure development is a must, and essential for socio-economic development. This MoU will play an important role going forward, reminding the government to be cautious when planning, and it will help us all to work toward our shared goals to develop sustainable infrastructure, along with Myanmar’s sustainable development plan. 2020 ANNUAL REPORT |47
THE THA BAR WA PROJECT Helping Industries create a more sustainable future for Myanmar
80%
60%
5%
of companies in Myanmar are food and beverages producers.
of those companies are small and medium sized.
have functioning waste water treatment.
These companies produce vast amounts of waste water containing chemicals and bacteria that are often pumped into the country’s freshwater systems - posing a serious risk to human health and ecosystems. It is crucial to ensure that Myanmar’s rapidly growing food and beverages sector can develop without damaging the ecosystems its people and wildlife depend upon. Since 2018 Tha Bar Wa has been promoting cleaner production practices in the food and beverage (F&B) sector in Myanmar and contributing to sustainable economic growth using sustainable energy and water management through investments supporting policies and business structures, increased capacity and improved access to 48| ANNUAL REPORT 2020
finance. Focusing on small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), Tha Bar Wa aims to demonstrate at least 30 concrete business cases for sustainable production which could be used for upscaling and replication. It has also trained partner banks in Green Finance, SMEs and cashflow based lending to ensure that selected banks are able to provide loans to SMEs for cleaner investments. With financial support from the European Union’s SWITCH-Asia programme Tha Bar Wa is being implemented by WWF together with Myanmar Food Processors and Exporters Association (MFPEA) and Sparkassenstiftung für internationale Kooperation (SBFIC).
KEY MOMENTS July 2019 - November 2019
10 NATIONAL CONSULTANTS TRAINED to be energy auditors and to provide their consultancy services to the companies
OUR NEXT STEPS 2020 Complete and implement 7 energy efficiency audits and implement 2 more waste water treatment plants in Myanmar
2021 Design and implement 6 more waste water treatment plants and
implement 10 energy efficiency measures in the small and medium factories
2021 Provide additional credit to SMEs on green finance through 4 partner banks for green solutions
“THA BAR WA IS PROVING THAT THE FOOD & BEVERAGES INDUSTRY CAN THRIVE WHILST PROTECTING THE ECOSYSTEMS CRITICAL FOR OUR HEALTH.”
2021 Establish a waste water testing laboratory and sustainable production online toolkit within MFPEA to offer testing and link companies to cleaner solutions
Ujjwal Pokhrel Programme Manager
July 2019 - June 2020
September 2019 - February 2020
November 2019 - January 2020
4 WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS INSTALLED
130 SMALL & MEDIUM SIZED ENTERPRISES TRAINED
9 FACTORY ENERGY AUDITS 149 BANK OFFICIALS AND COMPLETED STAFF TRAINED
installed with a total capacity 47.4 m3/day, reducing the waste water flowing to the rivers
trained on energy efficiency, cleaner production and green finance
and energy efficiency solutions are being implemented in phases
November 2019 - January 2020
on green finance, Small & Medium-sized enterprises lending and cash flow based lending
2020 ANNUAL REPORT |49
© Bro’s Productions/WWF-Myanmar
50 | ANNUAL REPORT 2020
© Bro’s Productions / WWF-Myanmar
MAKING WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS POSSIBLE The Tha Bar Wa project helps small and medium sized enterprises to implement cleaner production practices. One key component of the project is supporting businesses in installing wastewater treatment plants. “With the newly built wastewater treatment plant, we can efficiently treat wastewater in a way that’s not harmful to the environment. This effort does have a positive effect on my business - it improves hygiene and reduces our environmental impact. Thanks to this, we are proud of working in our factory. It motivates my staff to do better every day. Although we already have a certain level of recognition in the market, we are now confident that we will improve our brand image by building a wastewater treatment plant and become more responsible,” says U Tin Win, Managing Director at Silver Pearl Dairy Products.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY!
programmes
SUSTAINABLE FINANCE Myanmar needs to meet the aspirations of its people through its rapidly growing economy, but it also needs to preserve the bountiful natural heritage that it is blessed with for the future well-being of all of those who live here, as well as the world at large.
KEY MOMENTS
These need not be mutually exclusive choices. Economic growth in Myanmar can and should benefit both people and nature.
Through this programme we are supporting Myanmar in its journey toward a sustainable future through policy work to effect systemic changes in the financial sector - and to influence financial flows to be nature-positive. We are providing technical support and building capacity for Myanmar based banks to integrate Environmental, Social and Governance factors in their financing and other activities. We are developing Green
Financial Solutions suited to Myanmar with replicable models. Finally, through advocacy with like-minded partners we are promoting sustainable finance as a driver and integral part of Myanmar’s green growth story.
March 2019
February 2020
February 2020
BRIEFING FOR THE CENTRAL BANK OF MYANMAR
MOU SIGNED
WWF ENGAGES LEADERSHIP
with United Amara Bank Limited (UAB) Bank to help UAB develop an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policy and support ESG integration into the bank’s governance and business model
of Ministry of Planning, Finance & Industry and Central Bank Myanmar to explain how WWF’s sustainable finance programme can contribute to national plans relating to sustainable development
establishes the importance of integrating Sustainable Finance in Myanmar’s financial sector
52 | ANNUAL REPORT 2020
OUR NEXT STEPS 2020 Highlight potential role of the banking sector in Myanmar’s sustainable future, on International Day of Banks
2021 Launch Guidelines on Responsible Banking, with a key Myanmar organisation
2021 Launch e-learning on Sustainable Finance for Myanmar financial sector
2021 Provide input and on-the-ground support for Myanmar focussed
“CAN MYANMAR TAKE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED AND DEMONSTRATE TO THE WORLD THAT FINANCE CAN AND SHOULD BE A FORCE FOR GOOD, SERVING PEOPLE AND PLANET? YES, AND THAT’S OUR MISSION.”
Sustainable Finance and related Roadmaps
Charles Selestine Programme Manager
March 2020
April 2020
June 2020
ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL SURVEY
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
SUSTAINABLE FINANCE FORUM
of Myanmar Citizens Bank and A Bank determines status, aspiration and plans of senior management toward integrating Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG)
(ESG) training for partner banks
is planned with partners
2020 ANNUAL REPORT |53
MEET THE TEAM
OUR WORK IN CONTEXT WWF GLOBAL GOALS
50% 0 50% 56| ANNUAL REPORT 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us the interconnected nature of all life on earth. It has highlighted how essential it is that we see this, and work together for a healthy, sustainable future for everyone on this planet. WWF-Myanmar’s work supports WWF’s global goals, supports Myanmar’s Sustainable Development Plan, and feeds into a number of the Sustainable Development Goals established by the UN in 2015.
MYANMAR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PLAN Land and sea conserved, restored and sustainably managed
Pillar 1
PEACE & STABILITY Pillar 2
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS 1
2
6
No poverty
Zero hunger
Clean water & sanitation
7
9
12
Industry, innovation & infrastructure
Responsible consumption & production
Extinction, and stable or increasing populations of species
PROSPERITY & PARTNERSHIP
Reduction of GHC emission and footprint consumption & production
Pillar 3
13
15
16
Goal 5: Natural resources and environment
Climate action
Life on land
Peace, justice and strong institution
PEOPLE & PLANET
FINANCIALS
WWF-Network Corporate Partnerships Trusts & Foundations Public Sector
INCOME TOTAL
EXPENSES
4,248,452
6,384,661
4,848,135
4,000,000
TOTAL
3,958,914
5,203,368
5,585,091
4,000,000 3,337,492
3,000,000
3,000,000 2,744,272
2,000,000
401,096
FY18
2,375,108
2,000,000
1,611,116
1,103,084
1,000,000
2,775,769
2,870,271 2,086,778
543,220 417,171
FY19
1,810,469
1,000,000 498,073 363,838
FY20
847,623 241,020
FY18
407,486 209,643
FY19
2,773,989 1,892,048
657,769 301,285
FY20
2020 ANNUAL REPORT |57
NETWORK CHAMPIONS
MARCO LAMBERTINI WWF-INTERNATIONAL
STUART CHAPMAN TIGERS ALIVE
KIRSTEN SCHUIJT WWF-NETHERLANDS
ERBERHARD BRANDES WWF-GERMANY
CARTER ROBERTS WWF-US
BO ØKSNEBJERG WWF-DENMARK
ANDREA JOHANIDES WWF-AUSTRIA
TANYA STEELE WWF-UK
58 | ANNUAL REPORT 2020
DERMOT O’GORMAN WWF-AUSTRALIA
HAKAN WIRTEN WWF-SWEDEN
RON TSUTSUI WWF-JAPAN
STUART ORR GLOBAL FRESHWATER PRACTICE LEADER
PRASANNA DE SILVA GLOBAL DIRECTOR, COUNTRY PROGRAMMES
MIROSŁAW PROPPÉ WWF-POLAND
ANTOINE LEBRUN WWF-BELGIUM
CHRISTY WILLIAMS REGIONAL DIRECTOR, ASIA PACIFIC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT |59
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Center for Climate Systems Research Earth Institute | Columbia University
Smithsonian
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