Environmental issues in Myanmar
Nonetheless, the development of highways, constructions, and plantations has contributed significantly to the disturbance of the intact forest in those remote regions.
[2] For example, Chin, Kayin, and Shan states suffered a substantial loss in forest cover over the decades between 2001 and 2020.
In some areas like Ayeyarwady Delta, the degradation rate may have decreased due to restoration projects.
[4][5] The main reasons for deforestation in Myanmar include commercial timber production activities, commercial-scale plantations, mining, construction, and developments.
In 2019, 24,000 deaths are estimated to be caused by air pollution, surpassing recorded fatalities due to COVID-19 pandemic as of January 2021.
This number means the PM 2.5 pollution in the country is under the acceptable limit with moderate risk to human health, particularly for people who have sensitive lungs or respiratory problems.
[3] The data collected in 2017 and 2018 shows that the particulate matter in the air is more significant during rush hours, which is contributed to traffic and vehicle emissions.
In 2017, household air pollution in Myanmar led to 7.6 percent of total death tolls and loss of over 900,000 disability-adjusted life years (DALYS).
It increases noticeably when the winter passes and reaches a peak in the middle of summer, during the February–March period in Myanmar.
[8] So, the freshwater resources are mainly used by the agricultural sector while small quantities are being used for domestic, industrial, and other purposes.
As mineral resources in Myanmar are abundant, the mining activities are performed by companies legally and illegally.
[9] In 2020, there were only 70 mining rigs on the Ayeyarwady river in Myitkyina city, Kachin State and the number surged to more than 1000 in 2021, and further increased more 800 in 2022.
[10] The heavy machinery used in gold mining cause severe environmental and ecosystem destruction.
Moreover, harmful chemicals from gold mining such as mercury and sulfuric acid enter the river and cause water pollution and destroy aquatic ecosystems.
The central part of the country constitutes a dry zone, and a chance of occurring drought is high due to its minimal annual rainfall, ranging between 500–1000 mm per year.
In contrast, the southern and western regions form the coastal zone are facing the threats of cyclones, particularly during the monsoon season.
The hilly region, located in the northern and eastern parts of the country, experiences lower temperatures compared to other zones.
[13] Due to the consequences of climate change, Myanmar is grappling with extreme weather effects and natural disasters.
[14] Furthermore, the nation suffered from widespread flooding in 2015 especially in Chin, Rakhine, Sagaing and Magway regions.
[1] Due to the data from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in 2019, the rainy season brought extreme flooding and over 190,000 asked to seek emergency shelter.
The average annual temperatures in Myanmar have been rising for several decades and are expected to continue increasing in the foreseeable future.
According to the data from Climate Knowledge Portal, in 1901, the annual average mean surface air temperature was 23.53 °C and it rose to 24.11 °C in 2021.
