Two dozen-plus new species found

Two dozen-plus new species found

By Tim McLaughlin   |   Thursday, 05 June 2014

Scientists have identified more than two dozen new species of plants and animals in Myanmar highlighting what they say is the need for greater conservation efforts to help protect the country's unique habitat.

The WWF has catalogued 26 new species in Myanmar in the organisation's latest report, released on June 5. A total of 367 new species were identified across the larger Mekong region, which comprises Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and China's southwestern Yunnan province, in 2012-13, the organisation said.

"These species discoveries affirm that the Greater Mekong is truly one of the world's richest and most biologically diverse regions," WWF-Myanmar conservation program manager Michelle Owen said in a statement.

In Myanmar, the WWF said, 14 plants, seven fish, four amphibians and one reptile were identified. These include a toad found in Tanintharyi Region described as having "bumpy, chocolate-coloured skin and long, slender limbs" and a new species of intricately patterned dragonfish in the Tanintharyi River basin.

Others include a species of ginger plant discovered in Rakhine State and the brightly-coloured bronzeback, a yellow-banded snake found in southern Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand.

The discoveries, the WWF said, show the need for increased efforts to protect Myanmar's natural habitats.

"These amazing discoveries underscore the urgent need for further exploration and conservation across the Greater Mekong, but especially here in Myanmar," said Daw Khin Ni Ni Thein, the country director at WWF-Myanmar.

"There are potentially thousands of new species yet to be discovered in Myanmar's rich forests, rivers and oceans. We need to ensure they are identified and their habitat protected before it is too late."

Myanmar's forested habitats have been particularly devastated by unchecked development. According to figures from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, Myanmar lost almost 20 percent of its forest cover between 1990 and 2010.

Logging operations have stripped once lush swaths of the country of their trees as demand for timber in neighbouring countries has grown. Much of the felling and exporting is thought to take place illegally.

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) reported last year that China recorded importing 10 million cubic meters of round logs from Myanmar between 2000 and 2013, nearly double Myanmar's officially registered global export trade of 6.4 million cubic meters over the same time period. The same report found that that nearly 75 percent of Myanmar's timber trade is illegal.

President U Thein Sein's government has, however, started taking stronger steps to protect the environment. A ban on the export of raw timber came in to effect on April 1 in an attempt to curb the illegal trade and keep more money inside the country.

In March, meanwhile, two national parks were nominated as "priority candidates" for UNESCO World Heritage Status. Natmataung National Park in southern Chin State and the Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary in Kachin State were selected from a list of seven possible sites. If approved they would become Myanmar's first natural sites to be given World Heritage status.  

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2014/06/06/two-dozen-plus-new-species-found/