Burma Issues - Environment

Burma is an environmentally diverse country rich in natural resources, with ecosystems ranging from extensive rainforests to agricultural lowlands, highlands covered by pines, and tropical islands. Burma is also extremely biologically diverse, and has many different species of mammals, reptiles, birds and plants, many of which are endangered. However, this abundant natural wealth has been threatened by a lack of strong environmental laws enforced by the government, especially as an increasing number of natural resource projects, propelled by foreign investment, are being developed throughout the country.

Large dams, logging and mining operations, and oil and natural gas exploration and extraction projects, among others, are being planned, constructed, and implemented freely without having to follow any sort of environmental regulation under Burmese law. The government's agricultural policies are also damaging to the environment, as farmers forced to double or triple their crops have started to use strong fertilizers that pollute the soil and water table. And although Burma has signed some international treaties for environmental protection, they are rarely implemented and most people in the country are unaware about the environmental problems and challenges they face.