Myanmar is home to the second largest karst landscape in Southeast Asia, covering more than 80,000 square kilometres. These limestone formations host unique species found nowhere else and play an essential role in regulating freshwater systems. Despite their ecological importance, karst ecosystems are increasingly threatened by mining, logging, deforestation, and unplanned religious construction inside caves.
To address these challenges, the Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association (BANCA) began raising awareness among local communities. Their efforts focused on creating educational materials, providing training on environmental stewardship, and working with residents to co-develop a conservation action plan. With support from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund and IUCN, around 1,000 educational materials have been distributed in the Phayartan Karst area over the last two years.
These materials, developed with input from women, youth, and local leaders, help communities understand the ecological value of karsts and the threats they face. The outreach encouraged the formation of a working committee that includes monks and religious leaders. This group is now ensuring that the construction of a new stupa in the Phayartan Karst area is carried out in a way that avoids harming the ecosystem.
A dedicated Phayartan Limestone Cave Conservation Committee was created to guide the newly adopted conservation action plan and maintain long-term momentum. With 23 members, the committee meets regularly to share knowledge and coordinate next steps. In October 2025, six members joined an exchange visit to learn from another CEPF-funded project by Fauna & Flora International. The visit helped them observe effective community-based management approaches in Kayin and Mon states.
During the visit to Yathe Pyan Cave in Kayin state, known for its religious significance, committee members learned about zoning systems, appropriate lighting, and management practices that protect the cave’s ecosystem. They also saw how local communities worked with monks to develop co-management plans. These experiences inspired the Phayartan group, reinforcing the idea that religious and conservation values can coexist.
Participants expressed that proper management does not prevent visitors from accessing sacred sites but instead encourages respect for the environment. They returned to Phayartan with new insights and a renewed commitment to strengthen their conservation efforts. Their goal is to adopt similar collaborative approaches to protect the Phayartan cave while respecting its cultural and religious importance.
