Chin State is home to the largest number of national parks in Myanmar, with its six national parks including Natma Hill(Khawnusom) National Park for nature-based tourism.
Myanmar designates various types of nature reserves in the country such as Science Circle, National Park, Marine National Park, Nature Reserve, Wildlife Sanctuary, Geographically Unique Area, and Local Community Nature Reserve.
Until 28 March 2022, 57 nature reserves, 6.43 per cent of the total country area, have been established, which include 11 national parks, two marine national parks, four nature reserves, 37 wildlife sanctuaries and three geographically unique areas. Out of them, Mount Khakaborazi, Natma Hill, Htamathi, Alaungtaw Kathapha, Indawgyi Lake, Inlay Lake, Mainmahla Island, and Lampi Island have been regarded as the ASEAN Heritage Sites in Myanmar. It is an honour among the ASEAN countries and is also beneficial to Myanmar’s tourism industry.
National parks are considered according to the ecosystems based on the enjoyment of birds and mammals. In the Natma Hill National Park, work is underway for the conservation of the rare and endangered species of mammals such as gibbon, pangolin, clouded leopard, sambur deer, wild dog, hog-badger, beer, goral, and bird species such as hornbill, Zarmani and Burmese Tit.
“If there are pheasant, Zarmani and hornbills in the forest, it has good natural basics, and, therefore, the level of conservation can be said a success. The enjoyment of rare mammals on Natma Hill shows that the forest is rich in natural resources, as it reflects the existence of ecosystems and species in the national park,” said Warden of the Natma Hill National Park U Sein Tun.
Due to the decline in the COVID-19 infection rate in Myanmar, the resumption of international flights from 17 April will remedy the tourism. Indawgyi Lake and Inlay Lake which have been listed as the ASEAN Heritage Sites, Ramsar Sites, and the Biosphere Reserves; Mainmahla Island, Mount Khakaborazi and Natma Hill National Park which have been regarded as the Ramsar Sites and the ASEAN Heritage Sites will be some of the places of special interests to local and foreign tourists. — Nyein Thu (MNA)/GNLM
