Myanmar campaigns to add Inle Lake to World Heritage List

Myanmar will endeavour to have its national treasure of Inle Lake added to the World Heritage List upon completion of a five-year rehabilitation project, according to official government sources.

The lake rehabilitation project began during the 2010-11 fiscal year and will be completed on March 1.

Currently, plans are under way to hold workshops with local and international experts to form an authorized body for the maintenance and conservation of Inle Lake. Since the project, UNDP has provided assistance to Myanmar under its development programme.

“We signed an initial agreement with Norway in the area of environmental cooperation. But no exact time frame is mentioned in the agreement,” said Sein Tun Lin, a director from the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry.

Norway is the first of the EU countries to assist Myanmar’s environment sector. The aid is reported to include technology, finance and knowledge. Meanwhile, young Myanmar students will be sent to Norway for environmental studies.

Norway reportedly plans to render a three-year assistance plan for environmental conservation in Myanmar.

Inle, a freshwater lake located in Nyaungshwe Township of Taunggyi District, Shan State, has become one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations.

source: Eleven Myanmar

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