Threats to biodiversity and local livelihoods in the Chindwin River Basin in Myanmar: Insights and policy recommendations

The document identifies open-pit mining, climate change, deforestation, and agricultural expansion as the primary drivers of habitat loss and resource depletion in the Chindwin River Basin. It highlights five highly affected biodiversity areas, with Pauk Inn wetlands identified as the most vulnerable. Key institutional challenges include limited financial resources, data gaps, and a lack of public participation. The report recommends that the Chindwin River Basin Committee lead integrated water resources management and that the Sagaing regional government centralize conservation activities to improve coordination.

• The primary threats to biodiversity and livelihoods in the Chindwin River Basin are open-pit mining, climate change, deforestation, agricultural expansion, and other land use changes, all of which lead to habitat loss and the depletion of natural resources.
• Five biodiversity areas in the basin are particularly affected: the Upper Chindwin River, the Uyu River, Thaungdut, Mahamyaing, and Pauk Inn wetlands. Pauk Inn is the most vulnerable due to over-fishing, city expansion, and agriculture; the Uyu River is primarily threatened by deforestation and mining; and Mahamyaing's forest reserves are threatened by illegal logging and road construction.
• Efforts to address biodiversity impacts are hindered by several challenges, including scarce human resources, limited data, a lack of public participation in environmental planning, and insufficient financial and infrastructure resources.
• The Environmental Conservation Department, the Forest Department, and the Chindwin River Basin Committee are identified as the most influential entities with high interest in addressing the threats to biodiversity in the region.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (n.d.). Threats to biodiversity and local livelihoods in the Chindwin River Basin in Myanmar: Insights and policy recommendations. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/chindwin-biodiversity-8nov2018.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Threats to biodiversity and local livelihoods in the Chindwin River Basin in Myanmar: Insights and policy recommendations. n.d. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/chindwin-biodiversity-8nov2018.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Threats to biodiversity and local livelihoods in the Chindwin River Basin in Myanmar: Insights and policy recommendations |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/chindwin-biodiversity-8nov2018.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitutendthreats, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Threats to biodiversity and local livelihoods in the Chindwin River Basin in Myanmar: Insights and policy recommendations}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/chindwin-biodiversity-8nov2018.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }