28 JULY 2025

THE Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar has officially designated a mangrove forest area in Sinku Island as a protected mangrove forest under Notification 73/2025, effective from 22 July 2025 (13th Waning of Waso, 1387 ME). The newly designated “Sinku Island Mangrove Protected Forest” covers a total area of 9,604 acres in Kyunsu Township, Myeik District, Taninthayi Region. The designation was made under Subsection (e) of Section 6 of the Forest Law 2018, which authorizes the ministry to manage and conserve designated areas.

The reserve aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of the mangrove ecosystem, preserve biodiversity, reduce the impacts of coastal erosion and storms, and support local communities with sustainable harvesting of marine resources such as fish, crabs, and shrimp. It also intends to strengthen the overall management of mangrove areas in the region.

By protecting the Sinku Island mangroves, key native tree species, including Bruguiera cylindrica, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Rhizophora mucronata, Ceriops decandra, and Nypa fruticans, will be conserved, along with important bird species such as herons, egrets, kingfishers, storks, and shorebirds. The forest will also help maintain essential breeding grounds for fish and other marine species. This initiative reinforces the role of mangrove ecosystems as critical coastal barriers that protect against natural disasters and contribute significantly to the stability of marine biodiversity. — Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation.