The Native Species Conservation and Identification in Myanmar (NSCI) has announced plans to conserve the pastureland in Kyonkapyin-Tatseik area, Ayeyawady Region, where the Yellow-breasted Buntings, a species on the brink of extinction, typically settle during winter. This initiative will be undertaken in collaboration with the local community.
Yellow-breasted Buntings, seeking refuge from the harsh conditions of the north pole, migrate to Myanmar for hibernation. In the period from January to June 2023, the NSCI, in conjunction with the local wild species conservation group, conducted research and preservation efforts in the Kyonkapyin-Tatseik area. The findings revealed that a total of 6,378 Yellow-breasted Buntings migrated and settled in the specified areas during the research period.
The primary threat to the Yellow-breasted Buntings is the reduction of reed areas crucial for their habitat. Consequently, the NSCI plans to implement awareness-raising and educational programmes for the local community to encourage the preservation of lands and fields. The report notes that U Thet Zaw Naing, one of the founders of the NSCI, is spearheading these programmes.
The NSCI is actively engaged in on-ground research on biodiversity in Myanmar and aims to disseminate knowledge about biodiversity to the public. Comprising domestic and international experts, the NSCI produces articles on Myanmar’s biodiversity, classifies biodiversity varieties, preserves them, and shares information and knowledge about plants and wildlife. — ASH/TMT
