Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park, Myanmar - Kicking Off Mission

Having a 2,000 foot cliff surrounding 60% of Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park (AKNP), near Mandalay, has helped it survive decades of heavy logging across most of the country.

Over 200,000 religious pilgrims come each year to worhip the sacred cave with remains of Lord Alaungdaw Kathapa under a stunning large golden buddah, recovered each year in gold from the local population, and pilgrims from afar.

Despite having almost no global tourism, and close proximity to Myanmar's second largest city, Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park is the jewel of central Myanmar - elephants, pristine forests, trekking trails into eight ecosystems, beautiful rivers, and a great ranger team.

Protecting over 350,000 hectacres of deep jungle and rainforest with only 12 rangers is challenging.  

Global Conservation is the first major Conservation Investor in Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park since the area has some EU support in the 1990s.  No work has been done on the UNESCO World Heritage nomination, showcasing both the Natural and Cultural authenticity and integrity of AKNP.

For the past 20 years, AKNP has been on its own with the same ranger team of 14 leading its protection. No truck, no motorcyle and thirty year old radios.

The Buffer Zone of Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park has lost over 40% of its intact forests, which is now highly fragmented. 

A 2,000 foot cliff makes a natural fortress of sorts, with only one road open seasonally into the national park. But increasing population and food pressures are impacting the parklike never before.

Illegal poaching of Rosewood, or "Bloodwood", and other hardwoods, inside the National Park and adjacent 'protected areas' is having a Double Negative Impact. 

Hundreds of Rosewood Poachers operate daily in remote areas of the park killing wildlife for food.  Right off the national highway logging camps cut and remove the Rosewood sold for Chinese furniture ('good luck').  In addition, the forests are used for bushmeat and hunting for profits by local and regional groups, decimating wildlife habitats - "Empty Forest Syndrome".

The Myanmar Department of Foresty has strong management structure and AKNP is  under full control of the Myanmar government.  By assisting with a multi-year Global Park Defense program, we can help ensure the highest protection, even with few rangers available. Over time, we expect greater investment by the Myanmar government into forest and wildlife protection, especially in UNESCO World Heritage.

Threats to Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park

Wildlife Poaching and Hunting

Illegal Logging

Illegal Land Clearing

Illegal Agriculture

Illegal Orchid Harvesting

Impacts from Annual Pilgrimage

Lack of Enforcement

Deploying Global Park Defense

In November, 2017, Global Conservation had our first mission to meet park and government officials at AKNP to discuss opportunities to work together to help achieve ‘No Cut, No Kill’ protection for Myanmar’s oldest and largest national park, and assist in UNESCO World Heritage nomination.

Important Note: During the mission, did not see one wild animal except a squirrel, and a few birds off in the distance over 5 days. 

AKNP is beautiful, intact forests and rivers protected by 2,000 cliffs, but not a sign of wildlife. 

Deeper into AKNP, which extends for hundreds of miles, there remains a strong core of wildlife populations - includng Elephants, Gibbons and other Primates, Pangolins, Hedgehogs, Treeshrews, and hundreds of other species.

Global Conservation's first investment in Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park was the purchase of eight (8) all-terrain motorcycles. AKNP has no truck or motorcycle for park rangers needing to protect over 350,000 hectacres. A fleet of park elephants provide transport for patrols, each led by a dedicated elephant whisperer.

The oldest and largest national park in Myanmar is under threat from illegal logging, wildlife poaching and lillegal and clearing in the Buffer Zone.

Global Park Defense - Beginning a 5 Year Program

To help ensure strong Park and Wildlife Protection in the coming years, AKNP will need at least 30-00 rangers with the vehicles, communications and Global Park Defense systems to patrol and protect the 350,000 acres national park in Sagaing Region, which is today the region experiencing the highest level of illegal logging in Myanmar.

New permanent ranger stations are needed in the North and North East of the Park in High Threat areas working closely with local communities. As well, we must target patrolling based on 24/7 monitoring and community involvement to identify illegals entering and working in the park.

Global Conservation is assisting deployment of Global Park Defense including park and wildlife protection systems, technology, equipment and training including:

Cellular Trailcam Surveillance Networks

SMART Ranger Patrols

Community Involvement

Command and Control Center

Park-wide Communications

A Center of Excellence

Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park (AKNP) has the potential to become the Center Excellence for park and wildlife protection in Myanmar. As a training base for other parks and protected area managers, we hope to showcase Global Park Defense to help fight illegal logging, wildlife poaching and illegal land clearing across the country.

Based on government MOU, we hope to work over the next 4 years to deploy equipment, systems and training for Global Park Defense against wildlife poaching, illegal logging and land clearing in endangered areas.

If we can meet key milestones to improve ranger manpower and operating budget, Global Park Defense will be a 'Force Multiplier' for ranger patrol effectiveness (ie. arrests, kilometers patrolled, snare removals, prosecutions, etc.).

UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

AKNP has not been prioritized for UNESCO World Heritage nomination nor the Tentative List.  There is a major opportunity for Global Recognition with world heritage designation to increase international tourism for AKNP based on its globally unique Universal Value to Mankind as a Sacred Buddhist Cultural and Natural Heritage site.

By assisting Myanmar to prepare a world-class nomination for UNESCO World Heritage,  AKNP has a high chance for nomination by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee due to its Universal Value to Mankind as both Cultural and Natural Heritage, which very few parks have, especially with intact tropical rainforests and wildlife habitat.

A Model for National Parks in Myanmar

AKNP is the ideal place to have a Center of Excellence for National Parks in Myanmar and serve as a Model National Park.  AKNP has not villages within the park, in not in an Autonomous Region or Independent State and is one of the only parks under the full authority of Myanmar government and National Park Service.

Improving Infrastructure

A Year-Around road is badly needed (24 miles) for rangers to protect and manage AKNP, as well as for international tourists and Myanmar citizens to enjoy the park.  Additional High Security will be needed for a new road to protect against illegal logging and wildlife poaching, including a 24/7 guarded Entry Gate, checkpoints and Permit checking for valid Visitor Permit Fees.  A Toll Road could be implemented by a private company or Ministry of Construction to repay the cost of the road. 

Over 1,250,000 visitors come to Mandalay every year.  International visitors could bring significant revenues to AKNP and pay $20-100 dollars for 1-5 day visitor permits.   We recommend Daily Maximum Visitor Limits (and Permitting) to reduce overcrowding and uncontrolled development within the National Park.

Multi-Day Trail Networks

Two initial 2-3 Day and 3-5 Day Trail Circuits where discussed with the Park Rangers – 1) North to South and 2) Intra-Park can be developed with Vista Points and Camps includind Intra-Park Circuit, Monk Robe Rocks, Ironwood Forest, Old Growth Forest, Tiger Waterfall and Pineforest Mountain.

Elephant Tours

We recommend a network of Park Camps for visitors to spend 2-3 or 4-5 days in AKNP on Elephant Tours with English-speaking guides to visit the park. There are 1,000 elephants in Chaing Mai, Thailand and millions of visitors enjoying Elephant Tours bringing major revenues to villages and tour companies there.  This could be a major attraction for AKNP to become very popular year-around for international tourists. 

Lodges and Camps

Private concessions could build excellent lodging and camp facilities within the National Park under supervision of the AKNP Authorities.  Removal of old buildings and structures no longer of use in the park will greatly enhance its natural beauty. AKNP could be an ideal Meditation / Yoga Center for international visitors as well as International Birding Center.

Guide Association

Hundreds of Myanmar people can be trained as professional guides for AKNP bringing a better visitor experience and employment for local peoples.

Buffer Zone Protection

Based on satellite and aerial observances, over 60 percent of the AKNP Buffer Zone has been illegally cleared for agricultural and must be protected as per the restricted forest use laws and reforested.  Poor protection of the Buffer Zone leads to further destruction of the National Park which is now directly bordered by intensive agriculture and village development.

Solid Waste and Brown Water Management

There is heavy abuse of AKNP by visitors today with garbage everywhere on roads and trails, and in the park camps.  Rivers are being affected by sewage directly entering the pristine waters, and plastic bottles, glass, cans and other solid waste strewn across the landscape. This is anti-ethical to the values of a National Park and should be addressed as soon as possible. Global Conservation can support solid waste clean-up campaigns this year to collect and remove solid waste and unused structures and old signage within the park.

Motorcycles donated on October 2017 mission by Global Conservation (see decals).

Park Operations

To become a Model National Park for Myanmar, the government should seek special budget for 5-10 years to upgrade park facilities, operations and personnel.  A new generation of well-educated Park Rangers and Park Managers are needed to create a Model National Park at AKNP and should be aggressively recruited to lead the next stage of AKNP development.

Public-Private Partnership

Investment in the park should be encouraged by Myanmar private companies and families, as well and international support. Involving private investment in infrastructure, lodging and facilities management could greatly improve chances of success, and stronger budget for AKNP.  Potential partners include Global Conservation – TNC - YOMA – Paradise (China) - Win Unity Group – Shrine Committee – Japan-Korea-China (Buddhist support) – World Bank, UNDP, Norway, Finland, others.

Global Conservation and our partners stand ready to assist AKNP in close partnership with the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division, Forest Department and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

About Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park (AKNP)

Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park (AKNP) is a proposed UNESCO World Heritage Natural and Cultural Site of Universal Value to Mankind as the only national park with a famous religious cultural heritage site for Buddhism integral within the natural park.

Alaungdaw Kathapa is named after Buddhist Royalty located in Monywa Township, Sagaing Region, and includes the upper catchment basins of the Petpa, Patolon and Taungdwin rivers. It is the oldest and largest national park in Myanmar – over 160,500 hectares of intact tropical forests and wildlife habitats.

About 200,000 religious pilgrims from Asia visit the national park each year during a religious festival from January to April to worship the holy remains of Lord Alaungdaw Kathapa, which are kept in a sacred cave located inside the park.  The complex of structures within the archaeological conservation area includes the main temple and a sacred cave along a river dating from the 3rd century BC to the present century .

Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park is of Universal Value to Mankind is based on a number of Criteria:

As the resting place of birthplace of Lord Alaungdaw Kathapa, one of Buddhas most famous disciples, testified by the inscription on the pillar, the sacred area in Alaungdaw Kathapa is one of the most holy and significant places for one of the world’s great religions.

The archaeological remains of the Lord Alaungdaw Kathapa and related monument remains from the 3rd century BC to the 15th century AD, provide important evidence about the nature of Buddhist pilgrimage centers from a very early period.

The Integrity of Alaungdaw Kathapa has been achieved by means of preserving the natural forests and ecosystems of the park, as well as the archaeological remains within the property boundary that give the property its Outstanding Universal Value. The most significant attributes and elements of the property have been preserved. The buffer zone gives the property a further layer of protection.

The entire property including the buffer zone is owned by the Government of Myanmar and is being managed by the Shrine Committee of Alaungdaw Kathapa and National Park Authorities and therefore there is little threat of development or neglect. However, the effects of heavy seasonal pilgrimage in the park and shrine have been identified as a threat to the integrity of the property.

Authenticity

The authenticity of the archaeological remains within the boundaries has been confirmed through a series of excavations since the discovery of the site in the 15th century. The long-term challenges for the protection and management of the property are to control the impact of visitors, and natural impacts including humidity.

A Management Plan is in the process of being developed to ensure the long-term safeguarding of the archaeological vestiges of the property and the national parks natural biodiversity while allowing for the property to continue being visited by pilgrims and tourists from around the world.

The Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park is one of the most famous parks with the Burmese populace. It is more of a religious site than a national park, drawing at least 200,000 pilgrims a year paying homage to the shrine of Alaungdaw Kathapa. The area itself is extremely isolated, elephants being the only means of transport to enter the park and forest.

A small group of monks care for the shrine of Alaungdaw Kathapa, and along with authorities from the Forestry Department and Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division coordinate to educate visitors about conservation and wildlife.  In the 11th century, King Anawrata, who was on the throne of Upper Burma, was converted to Buddhism, but he did not insist that his people should give up their animistic beliefs.

The park protects the largest tracts of remaining Teak Forest in the country as well as a nationally important population of Leopards, Banteng and Asian Elephants.

Potential for Community Involvement

There are 64 communities around the park and many of which enter the park to extract natural resources. The AKNP has been under pressures due to high demand from surrounding communities and extensive illegal activities such as illegal loggings and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) collections.

Underlying factors for variety of pressures on the AKNP are high population growth, limited alternative livelihood options, weak law enforcement and protection, low community participation in park management, low conservation awareness and lucrative illegal logging business around the park. Consequently, there were reportedly illegal cutting of high value timber, extraction of poles, posts and fuel wood for household use, illegal hunting, and encroachment for farming.

Understaffing for park protection and management and low capacity of staff has hampered systematic and effective conservation of the park. A pragmatic management plan associated with financial commitments is urgently needed to reduce the current threats by protecting biodiversity and habitats effectively and diversifying livelihood of community around the park. AKNP growth in tourism and protection forces offers the opportunity for hundreds of full-time jobs for local communities.