Imawbum

Imawbum National Park (also spelled Emawbum) covers about 603 km² in Hsawlaw and Chipwi townships of eastern Kachin State, next to the China-Myanmar border. It was designated in 2020 by the Forest Department with technical input from Fauna and Flora International and Rainforest Trust^[1].

The park exists to protect the critically endangered Myanmar snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus strykeri), with 260-330 individuals in the area. Red pandas have been seen in dwarf bamboo-pine forest, and surveys also found Asiatic black bear, takin, Blyth's tragopan, black musk deer, sun bear and clouded leopard; 126 bird species have been recorded^[1].

The park protects high-elevation forest, including dwarf bamboo-pine forest. Its eastern part lies in the Nujiang Langcang Gorge alpine conifer and mixed forests ecoregion and its western part in the Northern Triangle subtropical forests ecoregion^[1].

Fewer than 400 people lived within the park's boundaries, farming and hunting in remote mountain communities, and the land they use was excluded from the park. The indigenous Lhaovo, Lisu, Achang and Lachik peoples were consulted^[1].

Biologists found the snub-nosed monkey in the Imawbum mountains in 2010, which started the conservation process. The 2020 park was the first in Myanmar established through a comprehensive consultation with indigenous communities^[1].

Logging has encroached on high-elevation habitat and the illegal wild animal trade is also noted in the area. Community-based livelihood programs began in 2012^[1].