Moe Yunn Gyi WWS : Preservation plans set for long-term sustainability

Moe Yunn Gyi wetland Wildlife Sanctuary, located between Bago and Waw townships of the Bago Region, covers an area of 25,600 acres and 40 square miles, was built since 1878 as a water filling station for floating wooden rafts in the Bago-Sittaung Canal.

After years, Moe Yunn Gyi was changed into a natural-like lake, and was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1988. And operations are being carried out for the long-term sustainability of watershed area.

Staff Officer, Moe Yunn Gyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary, Thin Thin Yu, said "There are 185 kinds of bio species and birds in Moe Yunn Gyi wetland wildlife sanctuary. As it is a wetland ecosystem, 12 kinds of mammals, 36 species of amphibians, 45 species of insects, 44 fish species and 111 species of aquatic plants have been recorded."

A monthly census of bird species is being carried out and as a result, new bird species and endangered bird species can be preserved through this census. In order to improve the ecosystem of the watershed area, maintenance is being carried out with the staffs of the wildlife sanctuary.

Moe Yunn Gyi Lake was declared as Myanmar’s first ramsar site on November 17, 2004.

Staff Officer, Moe Yunn Gyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary, Thin Thin Yu, said "For the sustainability of biodiversity and wetland ecosystems, 10-year plan for wildlife habitat restoration from 2019-20 to 2028-29 and 5-year plan for Moe Yunn Gyi wetland ramsar site management from 2019-20 to 2023-24 has been drawn together."

In order to reduce the illegal activities of catching and killing birds, the monthly educative talk were conducted for the surrounding villages and basic education schools. The residents from the 16 villages around Moe Yunn Gyi Lake make their own living with fishing and agriculture, so the nature of Moe Yunn Gyi Lake should be preserved for the benefits of the state and the people.