The list was compiled at a meeting last week in Nay Pi Taw organised by the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry and Unesco, with cooperation from the IUCN and Norwegian Environmental Agency.
The meeting marked the launch of the UN agency project "Safeguarding Natural Heritage in Myanmar within the World Heritage Framework", which has the support of the government of Norway through the Nordic World Heritage Foundation. The aim is to protect nature in conformity with the highest international standards.
Representatives of the central government, concerned states and experts from local and foreign environmental agencies attended last week's meeting.
Marte Briseid of the Norwegian Embassy emphasised the importance of international cooperation in helping Myanmar protect its natural beauty. Although it signed the World Heritage Convention in 1994, Myanmar does not yet have any protected sites. Eight historical sites of "high priority" are on the national tentative list, an inventory of locales with potential for World Heritage listing, including the Pyu Ancient Cities, Bagan, Mrauk-U and Inle Lake.
Until last week there were no natural sites on the list, but it was agreed that there is tremendous potential in the country's rich marine and terrestrial biodiversity, featuring important ecosystems.
Some of the mooted sites bear great aesthetic qualities and key natural phenomena and geological processes, and yet they are increasingly under threat.
The seven sites listed at the meeting are the Hukaung Valley Tiger Reserve, Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Ayeyawaddy River Corridor, Khakaborazi National Park with Hponkanraziand as a proposed extension, the Myeik Archipelago, Natma Taung National Park and the Tanintharyi Forest Corridor.
A high-level national consultation is next proposed for early next year to seek further input and endorsement from other concerned ministries, state and local authorities and additional stakeholders.
source: Eleven Myanmar
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