THE Union Government of Myanmar, through the Ministry of Natural Resourc­es and Environmental Conservation (MNREC), has officially designated a 9,284-acre area in Thaton Township, Tha­ton District, Mon State, as the Ganan­kyun Mangrove Conservation Forest. This declaration, issued under Notifi­cation 1/2025, takes effect on 2 January 2025 (4^th waxing day of Pyatho, 1386 ME), under Section 6 Subsection (G) of the Forest Law of 2018.

The Ministry’s initiative aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of mangrove ecosystems, improve management practices, protect biodiversity and mitigate the im­pacts of natural disasters like tidal waves and cyclones. The designation also seeks to pro­vide sustainable resources such as fish, crabs, and prawns for local communities.

By establishing the Ganan­kyun Mangrove Conservation Forest, key mangrove species such as Sonner Atia, Kandelia, and Avicennia will be protect­ed. This initiative will conserve mangrove plantations composed of species like Bruguiera gym­norhiza, Bruguiera cylindrica, Ceriops tagal, Excoecaria agal­locha, Sonneratia caseolaris, and Kandelia obovata.

This conservation effort is expected to enhance the ecosys­tem for aquatic species, support the socioeconomic development of local communities, stabilize the coastal environment and mitigate climate change im­pacts. It will also help prevent natural disasters such as soil erosion and shoreline degrada­tion, reaffirming the vital role of mangroves in maintaining ecological balance.

Ministry of Natural Resourc­es and Environmental

Conservation