[2] In 2010, biologists found the Myanmar snub-nosed monkey, a critically endangered species in the Imawbum mountains, kicking off a process to preserve the area for its conservation.

[3] Imawbum was the first Myanmar national park to be established through a comprehensive consultation process of the indigenous Lhaovo, Lisu, Achang and Lachik people living in the area.

[4] The lands used by the people there are excluded from the National Park and community-based livelihood programs were launched in 2012 as part of the formal process.

[5] The species that drove the creation of Imawbum National Park, the Myanmar snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus strykeri), is critically endangered with only 260-330 individuals in the area.

The park was designated in 2020 by the Myanmar Forest department with technical input from Fauna and Flora International (FFI) and the Rainforest Trust.