Impacts on the biodiversity by living inside a protected area, Natma Taung National Park, Myanmar; A human perspective

Abstract

Protected areas (PAs) are aimed to maintain or restore the balance in nature. PAs are also an important indicator in measuring the biodiversity loss caused by humans. Global biodiversity is under the long term threats all over the world and we need to understand the behavior of human, ourselves which is challenging the conservation of biodiversity. PAs are usually located in the most remote regions of the countries where people living close to the PAs have poor social status. Local people in Myanmar are being prohibited from using resources inside PAs, which cause conflict in the management of such PAs. Biodiversity of Natma Taung National Park (NTNP) is threatened by people living inside and outside of the park. The study aims to learn more about human impacts on biodiversity in a PA in relation to their location and how perceptions of people living inside and outside of the PA vary in relation to their own impacts on the sustainable use of biodiversity inside the PA. A total of 203 participants from 11 villages (5 from inside and 6 from outside of NTNP) were conducted with personal face to face interview. The questionnaire was constructed with three main parts (1) demographic information, (2) benefits obtained from NTNP and (3) perceptions about NTNP. Logging, hunting, fuelwood collection and other impacts (disturbance and resource scarcity) are the impacts described by the participants. Both inside and outside people know that they have impacts on the biodiversity of NTNP. One third of the participants from outside of NTNP did not know that human have any impacts on the biodiversity. Fulfilling basic needs and cooperation with local people are suggested by participants for the effective conservation of NTNP. Park and people relationships need to be improved for the long term sustainability of NTNP.