Ecological Regions Of Myanmar (Burma)

Myanmar, officially known as the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, is a country situated in the southeastern part of Asia with a central government. It borders five different countries; these are Bangladesh, India, China, Laos, and Thailand. It covers an estimated area of 261,227 square miles with a population of 51 million. The country is rich in mineral resources like gems, oil, and natural gas while most parts are covered by forests mainly characterized by the tropical climate.

Ecological Regions Of Myanmar

Mizoram-Manipur-Kachin Rainforests

Mizoram-Manipur-Kachin rain forests is an ecoregion of the subtropical moist broadleaf forest occupying the lower hillsides of the mountainous regions. It covers an area of 52,400 square miles with semi-evergreen rain forest with a height of 3,300 feet. The climate is tropical and humid with rain falling during the monsoon winds. Plants found in this ecoregion are the semi-evergreen rainforests, the wet evergreen forest, the tropical deciduous forest, montane wet temperate forest, and subtropical montane forest. 149 known mammal species were found and two nearly endemic species Pipistrellus joffrei (a bat), and Hadromys humei (rodent). Some part of the forest has been cleared for grazing fields and other agricultural activities.

Tenasserim-South Thailand Semi-evergreen Rainforests

Tenasserim-South Thailand semi-evergreen rainforests are found on the Tenasserim range approximately 1,050 miles long in southeastern Asia. The ranges are densely forested on the western slopes than the eastern slopes by the tropical evergreen forest which together form the Tenasserim-South Thailand semi-evergreen rainforests. This Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forest ecoregion form an habitat for some endangered endemic species like the Gurney’s pitta and the Asian elephant. Other animals, fish, and bird species have been spotted in the area making it a biodiverse ecoregion.

Eastern Himalayan Alpine Shrub And Meadows

Eastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows is a montane grassland and shrubland ecoregion covering an area of 46,800 square miles across five countries Myanmar, India, China, Bhutan, and Nepal. It is located in the eastern part of the Himalayan range lying between the snowline and the tree line. The alpine shrub and the meadow are found from an elevation of 13,100 feet to approximately 18,000 feet. Within the above ranges, the alpine shrublands have several rhododendrons species which vary as one moves along the range and above them are the alpine meadows supporting herbaceous plants. Estimated seven large mammals have been identified in the region like the snow leopard and three smaller ones like the Himalayan marmots.

Myanmar Coast Mangroves

Myanmar Coast mangroves also known as the Burmese Coast mangroves was a large ecoregion covering three countries Myanmar, Malaysia, and Thailand but in recent time have been cleared by humans majorly for agricultural activities. The mangrove plants found in this ecoregion are divided into seven types; it includes the Rhizosphere and Xylocarpus mangrove trees. Animal species, on the other hand, have immensely reduced in number majorly due to loss of habitat from the clearing of the mangroves but birds have not been affected yet. The clearing of the mangrove trees has rendered the ecosystem vulnerable hence, an urgent protection of the existing ecoregion.