Important Place for Conservation, The Ayeyarwaddy Delta

The Ayeyarwaddy delta, a coastal region between the Bay of Bengal to the west, and the Andaman Sea to the east, in Myanmar is an extensive floodplain agricultural ecosystem that supports millions of rice farmers’ livelihoods. It is regionally unique because traditional agricultural practices, along with a cultural acceptance of nature, have helped maintain healthy populations of globally threatened species such as Sarus Crane (Grus antigone: globally vulnerable), as well as populations of the migratory Yellow-breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola: critically endangered) and Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus: endangered). It is a significant area of semi-natural wetland and grassland which are not well represented in protected area networks nationally or regionally. MBF will focus community-based conservation intending to have community conserved areas while taking into consideration for livelihood development of local farmers and gender inclusion through the capacity building of the local women in the delta.