Natural connections: How natural capital supports Myanmar’s people and economy

The report assesses Myanmar's natural capital, focusing on four key ecosystem services: sediment retention for water quality, dry-season water availability, flood risk reduction, and coastal protection. Using InVEST models and climate projections, it identifies critical areas where natural ecosystems support human populations and infrastructure. The findings indicate that while the volume of services (such as sediment retention) will likely change due to increased rainfall under climate change, the geographic 'hotspots' of these services are expected to remain stable. The report emphasizes the overlap between these service-providing areas and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), arguing that protecting these synergies is vital for both human resilience and wildlife conservation. It specifically highlights the Tanintharyi region as an example of where infrastructure projects, like the Dawei road, could threaten critical natural capital.

• Natural vegetation, particularly on steep slopes, is critical for sediment retention, which improves drinking water quality for households relying on surface water by preventing erosion and the transport of pathogens.
• Climate change is projected to increase the intensity and amount of rainfall in Myanmar, which will likely increase annual erosion and sediment levels in rivers, thereby increasing the relative value of sediment retention services.
• Forests and natural ecosystems regulate dry-season water availability by increasing infiltration and recharging groundwater, which supports baseflows in streams for drinking and irrigation.
• Natural ecosystems reduce downstream flood risk by increasing water storage and evaporation; the loss of these areas to mining, agriculture, or paving increases the frequency and magnitude of flooding.
• Coastal habitats, specifically mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs, protect coastal populations and infrastructure from storms by reducing shoreline exposure to erosion and inundation.
• Sediment retention services are essential for the functioning of 15 major dams and reservoirs in Myanmar, as sediment accumulation reduces water-holding capacity and turbine effectiveness.
• There is a significant overlap between areas providing high ecosystem services and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), particularly in marine environments and terrestrial corridors, suggesting that conservation in these areas benefits both people and wildlife.
• In the Tanintharyi region, forests in mountainous areas are vital for sediment retention and dry-season baseflows, but these are threatened by planned infrastructure such as the Dawei road and Special Economic Zone.
• Despite changes in the magnitude of services due to climate change, the geographic locations of the most important ecosystem service 'hotspots' are not expected to shift over the next several decades.

APA

Mandle, L., Wolny, S., Hamel, P., Helsingen, H., Bhagabati, N., & Dixon, A. (2016). Natural connections: How natural capital supports Myanmar’s people and economy. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/629/1uigwbvqce_natural_connections_web.pdf

Chicago

Mandle, Lisa, Stacie Wolny, Perrine Hamel, Hanna Helsingen, Nirmal Bhagabati, and Adam Dixon. Natural connections: How natural capital supports Myanmar’s people and economy. WWF International, 2016. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/629/1uigwbvqce_natural_connections_web.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mandle |first1=Lisa |last2=Wolny |first2=Stacie |last3=Hamel |first3=Perrine |last4=Helsingen |first4=Hanna |last5=Bhagabati |first5=Nirmal |last6=Dixon |first6=Adam |title=Natural connections: How natural capital supports Myanmar’s people and economy |publisher=WWF International |date=May 2016 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/629/1uigwbvqce_natural_connections_web.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mandle2016natural, author = {Mandle, Lisa and Wolny, Stacie and Hamel, Perrine and Helsingen, Hanna and Bhagabati, Nirmal and Dixon, Adam}, title = {{Natural connections: How natural capital supports Myanmar’s people and economy}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2016}, month = may, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/629/1uigwbvqce_natural_connections_web.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }