Inle Lake Integrated Watershed Management jointly
implemented by the Forest Department of Myanmar andJapan International Cooperation Agency
Si Thu Aung
Staff Officer
Watershed Management Division
Forest Department
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation
26-1-2021

Agenda1. Introduction

2. Challenges and Issues
3. Efforts against Challenges
4. Arrangements against Covid – 19
5. Forest Department’s Expectations

6. Way Forwards

Introduction

3

Location of Inle Lake▪ Location-Southern Shan State, Taunggyi
district, Nyaungshwe,
Pinlaung & Pekon Township▪ Watershed area - 53,535.1 ha▪ Altitude- 899.2 m asl▪ Water surface area
▪ 2010-2015 - (259.2 - 195.3) sq km

45 villages
Around 100,000 people❑The second largest inland fresh water lake in Myanmar.

❑Not only habitat for native wild animals but also a resting place for
migratory birds.
❑Endangered Species among birds and aquatic animals.

❑Very famous tourist site due to geo-climate, cultural heritage andunique livelihood.
❑Crucial water source to provide hydro-electricity.

a) Inle watershed area is (5611.986) Square
Kilometer and composed of reserved forest,
protected public forest and wildlife sanctuary.

b) established in January 1985 and The FirstMan and Biosphere (MAB)c) 29 streams flow into Inle Lakeand 4 of them (Namlet,Yaple, Kalaw and upper Balu)flow year round. Onle one
outflow.

Birds in Inle Lake wildlife Sancturay

353 Species of birds (260 Forest birds ; 93 Water birds )Challenges and Issues

111. Reduced Surface area of open water
2. Declining water quality
3. Sedimentation of lakeside zones
4. Soil erosion in hillside areas
5. Declining agricultural productivity in lakesidezones
6. Threats to human health
7. Predicted large and rapid increases in visitornumbers
8. Lack of tools for sustainable management
9. Climate ChangeEvidence of Natural Disaster in Inle Lake Area
❖ Due to severest temperature rise of Myanmar in 2010 and lessprecipitation than normal in 2009, there was a severe drought.
❖ Water scarcity in some village, difficulty in boat transportation.

❖ Impact on the socio-economy in short term.

Water pollution

Tourism Increase and pocketed habitat

Illegal Electric Fishing Gear

Worst Cases

Threats to human health

Sediments in Lakeside Zones
Year 2015

Year 2010

Year 2015

Year 201017

Efforts against Challenges18

By the International Cooperation

With the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
By the Government

With the Government’s Support19

By the International Cooperation

With the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

20

Background Information
Project Title- The Project for Capacity
Building for Sustainable
Natural Resource
Management (FDSNR)- 29.12.2017

Agreement
Signing Date
Project Period - 5 years (June, 2018 toJune, 2023)
Project Area - Inle Lake Watershed Area

21

History of the formulation of the FDSNR project❖ Based on the kind request by the StateCounsellor of Myanmar to theGovernment of Japan, a Record ofDiscussion to implement “the Projectfor Capacity Building for Sustainable
Natural Resources Management –FDSNR” was signed between theMinistry of Natural Resources andEnvironmental Conservation, Myanmarand Japan International Cooperation
Agency on 29th December 2017.
22

Background Information

Component 3
Specimen Center
Construction

Component 1
Capacity Development ofForest Management

Component 2
Inle Lake Integrated
Watershed Management

23Component – 1

Capacity Building➢ Strengthening and Promoting modernized forest management24Component – 1
Forest Monitoring Tools (FMT) Training
Hardware• Drones, VR Cameras, Rangefinders, 3D Laser Scanner
Drone

VR Camera
3D Laser Scanner

Range FinderSoftware• KML Generator for Drone Mapping, Trees app, Basal Area app

25

Component – 1
Forest Monitoring Tools (FMT) Training

26

Component - 1
Long Root Seedling Training(JIFPRO)

Nursery Training (FTBC)

27

Component - 1

3D Laser Scanner “OWL”(Optical Woods Ledger)

How to survey
1. Set the reflection markers
2. Data collection by OWL (1 min/scan)
3. Data generation by PC (approx. 10 min)
4. Summary data output
Preferable plot size

Scanning points

1. 100 ~ 2500 m2 area
2. 3 ~ 50 scans (10 meters each)

How to use the data
1. 3D image of forest
2. Sample plot data (e.c. NFI)
3. Geometry data (e.c. Soil conservation
works or road construction works)
28Component - 2

Inle Watershed Management➢ Strengthening forest management (Community Forestry)➢ Gully erosion control➢ River monitoring and sedimentation analysis

29Component - 2• Scientific analysis of soil
inflow and sedimentationin the Inle Lake
• Soil conservation work

Automatic water sampler
Waterflow monitoring scale

Gully Erosion Control

Trail Camera

Component - 2
Strengthening Forest Management

Joint Forest Management (JFM)

31

Component - 2
Gully Erosion Control

32

Component - 233

Component - 2
River Monitoring and Sedimentation Analysis
Core sampling
area
Water
discharge site

TSSmonitoringsite

34

Component - 2
Project Sub-Management Unit

Working Group of community forestry and Working Group of water monitoring andsustainable land management
erosion control

35

Component - 3• Biodiversity Research Center construction(FRI)• Biodiversity Database System

36

Arrangements against Covid - 1937

▪ Improving the Work Plan through Virtual meetings between the Forest Department and FDSNR ProjectTeam▪ Developing the training materials ( eg; video clips) in terms of forest management, river monitoring, soil
erosion control and so on.

38Monitoring and Evaluation
Joint Coordination Committee (JCC)39

For more information ………..
https://web.facebook.com/FDSNRproject/40

By the Government

With the Government’s Support

41

Background Information
Project Title- Inle Watershed Restoration
Programme (IWRP)

Project Period
Project Area

- 30 years (From 2020 to 2050)- Inle Lake Watershed Area

2020 – 21 to 2029 – 30 (the first 10 year phase)2030 – 31 to 2039 – 40 (the second 10 year phase)
2040 – 41 to 2049 – 50 (the third 10 year phase)Long Term Vision✓ Restore the ecosystem services of the lake for the sustainablesocioeconomic development of the local people and for thesustainability of the lake.

42

History of the formulation of the IWRP
According to the guidance provided by H.E
President of the Republic of the Union ofMyanmar and the State Counsellor of theCountry during their respective trips toShan State by 2020, February 7th and2020, February 13th, Inle WatershedRestoration Programme – IWRP was justrecently developed to implement for 30years.

43

Background Information
Component – 1

Sustaining Watershed
Ecosystem Services

Component – 2

Tree Planting

Component – 5

Component – 6

Wildlife Conservation

ResearchComponent – 3

Soil and Water
Conservation

Component – 4

Extension

44

Monitoring Plan

▪ A Programme Steering Committee - PSC has recently beenorganized in order for the IWRP to be able to be smoothlyimplemented.
▪ Led by the Union Minister of MONREC as a Chair, thecommittee is composed of Inle Lake Authority who are theNREC Minister of Shan Government, Inthar Ethnic Affair
Minister and Administrator of Shan GAD, and other related
members, comprising altogether in total of 14 persons.
45Forest Department’s Expectations46

▪ In addition to the watershed-related policy reviews, develop theWatershed Policy, Laws and Guidelines▪ Piloting JFM▪ Payment for Ecosystem Services - PES scheme▪ As discussed in the FDSNR Project Seminar held in Myanmar on February
2020, follow up a wonderful case of sister lakes process for the Suwa lakein Japan and Inle lake in Myanmar.
SuwaInle

47

Way Forwards

48

Integrating the two projects “FDSNR and IWRP” as aNational Priority49

Thank You for Your Attention