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Roundup: Myanmar makes achievement in natural heritage preservation efforts

Xinhua, June 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

Myanmar's famous Inlay Lake has been recently inscribed as a natural world heritage site in UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)'s Man and Biosphere program, signifying the country's achievements in its natural heritage preservation efforts.

The inscription of Inlay Lake as one of the world natural heritage sites by the UNESCO came after that of Myanmar's three Pyu ancient cities in June last year.

Inlay Lake, located in Nyaungshwe Township, Taunggyi District in Myanmar's eastern Shan State, was listed as the first Biosphere Reserve of Myanmar at the 27th Session of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) International Coordinating Council (ICC) meetings held at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on Tuesday.

UNESCO has been providing technical support to Myanmar, working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry (MoECAF) Myanmar and UNDP with support from the government of Norway to designate Inlay Lake region which covers a total area of 489,721 hectares.

The wetland ecosystem of this freshwater lake is home to 267 species of birds, out of which 82 are wetland birds, 43 species of freshwater fishes, otters and turtles. Diverse flora and fauna species are recorded.

The Inlay Lake is reported to be the nesting place for globally endangered Sarus crane.

In addition to its ecological importance, Inlay Lake is also unique for the way the local inhabitants have adapted their life style to their environment.

The designation of Inlay Lake region as the first Biosphere Reserve of Myanmar will further encourage and enhance environmental conservation initiatives to safeguard biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihood development in the region.

Meanwhile, Myanmar is planning to nominate Twin Taung Lake, where very rare Spirulina is found, for inclusion in the world heritage list.

Spirulina is reported to be on the verge of extinction and the nomination of the lake is to save the rare Spirulina.

Reports said lakes in Mexico and Kenya, where Spirulina is also found, have been damaged.

Myanmar had also made achievements in cultural heritage preservation efforts with its three Pyu ancient cities, namely Hanlin, Beikthano and Sri Kestra being inscribed by the UNESCO into its World Heritage List for the first time in June.

Moreover, the cultural relics and religious buildings, located in Natma Taung National Park, proposed by Myanmar for inclusion in UNESCO's World Heritage List, has also been put on tentative list and is to be examined in coming years by the UNESCO's World Heritage Committee.

The other five sites on the tentative list are the Northern Mountain Forest Complex containing snow-capped Mt. Hkakaborazi, Myeik Archipelago of 800 islands in the Andaman Sea, Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Tanintharyi Forest Corridor and Ayeyawaddy River Corridor.

Furthermore, Myanmar was also trying to nominate other ancient city of Inwa to become UNESCO's world heritage list and work on preserving the Inwa Cultural Heritage Zone near northern Mandalay is being carried out.

Myanmar, being a signatory to the World Heritage Convention since 1994, has been cooperating with the international in striving for preservation of its cultural heritage. Endi