Environmental conservation areas now cover 6.42 per cent of the country's total area, and the Forest Department is dedicated to expanding these protection zones annually. The department's current objective is to increase the environmental protected areas to 10 per cent of the country's territory.
An official of the department stated, "Nationwide, we oversee more than 10 million acres distributed across 55 environmental protection areas. Remarkably, Kachin State leads with eight zones, followed by Sagaing Region and Shan State, each with seven."
Additionally, the country hosts five wetland sites designated by the Ramsar Convention — Moeyungyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary, Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Mainmahla Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Mottama Gulf (part of Mon State), and Inlay Lake. The department has implemented regulations to safeguard the conservation areas. — ASH/NT
