17/06/2015
Inle Lake became the first Biosphere Reserve of Myanmar inscribed by the UNESCO on June 9th 2015.
The famous Lake which is situated in Taunggyi District, Southern Shan State in Myanmar and covers a total area of 489,721 hectares is now a member the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) under the UNESCO MAB Programme. It was established in 1971 to safeguard natural and managed ecosystems, and promote innovative approaches to economic development that are socially and culturally appropriate, and environmentally sustainable.
UNESCO has been providing technical support to the Government of Myanmar, working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry and UNDP to designate Inle lake region as the first biosphere reserve of Myanmar.
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 and the lake is reported to be the nesting place for the globally endangered Sarus crane (Grus antigone).
The WNBR, counting over 631 biosphere reserves in 119 countries all over the world, is one of the main international tools to develop and implement sustainable development.