The Forest Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Republic of Korea’s Incheon-based East Asian-Australian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) jointly designated the Paleik Lake (EAAF154) in Singaing Township and Pyu Lake (EAAF155) in TadaU Township of Mandalay Region as the seventh and eighth Flyway Network Sites (FNS) in the country on 16 November 2023.
Paleik Lake has an area of 1,186 acres, and the Pyu Lake covers 878. The two lakes meet the criteria, such as they regularly provide food and shelter to about one per cent of endangered bird species, endangered waterbirds and migratory birds. So, the Forest Department cooperated with international partner organizations aiming to conserve the migratory waterbirds along the Asian-Australian Flyway and biodiversities and livelihood benefits to local communities. The EAAFP is a Ramsar Regional Initiative (RRI) to support the implementation of the Convention on Wetlands, Ramsar Convention.
It will also bring benefits such as effective conservation of migratory waterbirds and their inhabitants, participation in international standard conservation procedures, a sustainable ecosystem through solid cooperation and supportive sites for migratory birds and migratory bird conservations.
Myanmar has eight Flyway Network Sites to date. They are Gulf of Mottama in Mon State (2014, EAAF 117), Indawgyi Wildlife Sanctuary in Kachin State (2014, EAAF 118), Moeyungyi Wildlife Sanctuary in Bago Region (2014, EAAF 119), Nantha Island and Mayyu Estuaries in Rakhine State (2018, EAAF 139), Mainmahla Kyun Wildlife Sanctuary in Ayeyawady Region (2018, EAAF 140), Inlay Lake Wildlife Sanctuary in San State (2020, EAAF 147), Paleik Lake in Mandalay Region (2023, EAAF 154) and Pyu Lake in Mandalay Region (2023, EAAF 155), according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation. — MNA/KTZH
