Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park, Myanmar Progress Report, 2019-2020

AKNP's forests are rich in threatened species that are declining elsewhere in Asia.

Introduction and History 

Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park (AKNP) is the jewel of Myanmar and that country’s oldest and largest national park at 160,500 hectares.  

The park protects the largest remaining tracts of intact forest in the country, harboring mixed deciduous, evergreen, and pine forests. These woodlands contain at least 165 tree species and 39 known species of medicinal plants, as well as a nationally important population of leopards and Asian elephants. Other threatened species that are protected by this park include gaur, banteng, sun bears, Asian black bears, dholes (Asian wild dogs), Sambar deer, hog badgers, and Malayan giant squirrels.

AKNP also draws about 150,000 Buddhist pilgrims that visit each year during the religious festival from January to April. They come to worship the holy remains of Lord Alaungdaw Kathapa, Buddhist royalty, which are secured in a cave deep within the park. The forests here in this national park, the only park in Asia with a famous Buddhist religious site, vibrate with life and spirituality.

Buddhist pilgrims visit AKNP to worship the holy remains of Lord Alaungdow Kathapa.

Objectives of AKNP

1. To protect the watershed areas of the Chindwin and Myithathar Rivers.
2. To maintain a diverse ecosystem and prevent the extinction of wild flora and fauna.
3. To support ecotourism and share its benefits with local communities.
4. To preserve a critical cultural and religious site.

To help secure the future of this unique place, Global Conservation has stepped in as the first major conservation investor in more than 20 years; we signed an agreement with the Myanmar Ministry of the Environment in 2018. In 2019, the Myanmar Forest Department began to deploy Global Park Defense in AKNP, and Global Conservation is working to have AKNP listed as a Natural and Cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

AKNP ranger team on patrol.

Global Conservation's Key Goals in AKNP

1. Establishment of a new command center with advanced park-wide communication
2. Deployment of Global Park Defense at AKNP: Cellular Trailcam Deployment
3. Deployment of Global Park Defense at AKNP: Supporting SMART Patrol protection and enforcement
4. Training and equipping rangers and newly hired Community Guardians
5. National Park master plan and UNESCO World Heritage designation

2019-2020 Progress, AKNP Global Park Defense

In 2019-2020, our partners at the Myanmar Forest Department have made significant progress in establishing a Global Park Defense program at AKNP and meeting our key goals. From February 2019-April 2020, they achieved the following with Global Conservation's support:

Key Goal 1: Establishment of a new command center with advanced park-wide communication

Construction of a new command center began in May 2019, and was finished in September 2019. It was officially handed over to the Forest Department in October 2019. The operation of the command center is supervised by AKNP park authorities and GC. 

Construction and preparation of the new command center.

AKNP Rangers in front of the new command center.

Key Goal 2: Cellular Trailcam deployment

GC provided cellular trailcams to be installed at AKNP. In the first installation of cellular trailcams in any National Park in Myanmar, ten cellular trailcams were installed in AKNP in May 2019. Ten more were installed in January 2020. In total, after one camera was stolen by poachers, 19 cellular trailcams have been working properly at AKNP. 

Left: an AKNP ranger sets up a cellular trailcam; Right: a cellular tower to support AKNP's trailcams.

These trailcams have allowed AKNP park rangers to take the following actions against illegal activity in the park:

• Thirty-four illegal loggers, with 87 cows and four domestic buffalos used for transporting lumber, have been successfully arrested since May 2019. They were immediately sent to nearby police stations for prosecution.
• Nearly 14 tons of rosewood, 1.25 tons of teak wood, and four motorbikes were confiscated.  

Illegal loggers and cattle caught on cellular trailcams; in bottom right corner, an illegal logger that has been apprehended with his cattle.

Illegal rosewood loggers were arrested in June 2020 after these images were transmitted from a hidden cellular trailcam to AKNP law enforcement. Park rangers confiscated one ton of illegal rosewood and seven motorcycles.

Key Goal 3: Supporting SMART patrol protection and enforcement

Equipment and Supplies: GC’s mission began with the provision of 7 all-terrain motorcycles (KENBO R-125) at AKNP in April 2018 to support action against wildlife poaching and illegal logging. Approximately 201,775 km have been already covered by motorcycles during SMART patrols and law enforcement activities. Motorcycles allow teams to respond quickly to cellular trailcam alerts and take action against illegal activities, resulting in effective law enforcement. 

An AKNP ranger team on patrol.

However, motorcycles can’t be used in some areas of the park during the rainy season due to poor road conditions. In addition, existing motorbike routes in the park will need to be upgraded and some new motorbike routes will need to be established.

Motorcycles and i-coms provided by Global Conservation to support Global Park Defense in AKNP.

GC also provided 10 i-coms (RZL A5 Plus) to AKNP in January 2020 for effective park-wide communication. These units are used for communication between park authorities and rangers for law enforcement activities, especially when a mobile network is not available. 

Furthermore, GC provided tents to AKNP that can be used in patrol activities during the rainy season. 

AKNP rangers with rainy season tents provided by Global Conservation.

Patrol Outcomes: Monthly SMART patrols are conducted by a combination of two mobile teams and seven patrol stations at AKNP. Patrol stations are responsible for covering local areas, whereas mobile teams cover larger distances. In total, 39,065 km have been patrolled, 30,498 km by patrol stations and 8,567 km by mobile teams. On average, patrol teams cover 2,604.3 km in total per month. 

There are four main illegal threats in AKNP: hunting, gathering, logging and fishing. Logging is the predominant threat: in total, patrol teams recorded 346 incidences of logging, 214 by foot patrol and 132 by motorbike patrol.

The second most common threat after logging is hunting, which was generally detected during foot patrol. Gathering (i.e. of plants and firewood) was third, detected 21 times during patrol. Fishing was detected eight times. In total, 57 pieces of equipment (mostly chainsaws) have been confiscated, and four poachers’ camps have been destroyed.

Chainsaws that were confiscated during patrol, and an illegal camp that was destroyed.

Wildlife Monitoring: During patrols, animals are recorded from sightings, track, dung, carcasses and confiscated bushmeat. The majority of species were recorded by their tracks. In total, 310 individual animals were identified from their tracks. Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) were the most common, recorded 16 times. From sightings, 248 individual animals were recorded. Capped Langurs (Trachypithecus pileatus) were the most common, recorded 14 times. Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) were mostly recorded from dung. In total, 18 elephants were recorded from dung. Only four animals were recorded as carcasses or bushmeat.

Key Goal 4: Training and equipping rangers and newly hired Community Guardians

After recruiting Community Guardians, they were provided SMART patrol training in June 2019. The two-day training was conducted at the AKNP office, administered by the park authorities of AKNP, and financed by GC. The objective of the training was to equip 20 recruited Community Guardians with SMART tools (e.g. how to use GPS) and to introduce the concept of biodiversity conservation. After participating in the training, Community Guardians are able to apply the knowledge and skills they have learnt during their practical field work. 

Ranger team conducting patrol. On Right: 2 team leaders wearing uniform with gun. In front, right (with gun): Team leader. In front, left: Community Guardian. In back, with elephant: two team members.

There is an insufficient number of rangers at AKNP for protection of its more than 150,000 ha. GC provided financial support for the recruitment of Community Guardians, including monthly field allowance, food and other items for personal use (uniform, sleeping bags and jungle shoes). The goal of recruiting Community Guardians is both to increase patrol effort and increase community participation in conservation activities. The first 5 Community Guardians were recruited in February 2019, and 15 more were recruited in June 2019. These 20 Community Guardians are from surrounding areas of AKNP, all of them youths ranging in age from 18 to 24. Recruited Community Guardians became aware of conservation after working closely with rangers for some months, thus, in turn, could change their attitudes on poaching that is happening immensely in their communities.

Community Guardians undergoing training on GPS use and biodiversity conservation in AKNP.

Community Guardians work under the direct supervision of AKNP park authorities. They are assigned to participate in monthly SMART patrols and other law enforcement activities, including operation of cellular trailcams. 

A patrol team at work. On the left, two Community Guardians stand in front of the elephant.

Future Goals

1. Community Guardians will be brought to other parks within Myanmar (e.g. Htamanti Wildlife Sanctuary) for learning exchange activities. Foreign exchange visits will also be implemented later. 
2. Twenty more Community Guardians will be recruited to support rangers for more effective implementation of SMART patrols and law enforcement activities. 
3. More cellular trailcams will be installed so that more information can be obtained, which will result in more effective law enforcement. 
4. GC will register to become an official organization in Myanmar. 

Contribution of GC’s mission for deployment of Global Park Defense at AKNP not only accelerates conservation effort but also benefits for long-term management practice of AKNP.

A new ranger station called Mintonewa, established in 2019.