WCS has more than two decades of experience working in both Myanmar and Indonesia. The WCS Myanmar program began in 1993, when WCS was the first international organization to initiate a long-term conservation program in the country. Activities are implemented in close cooperation with government agencies, through MOUs with the Forest Department and the Department of Fisheries. A new marine program was established a few years ago and includes work on marine spatial planning and Marine Protected Areas (MPA), sustainable fisheries, species conservation, and environmental safeguards. The WCS Indonesia marine program started in 2002 and has been working with government and community partners to develop networks of well-managed marine protected areas and sustainable fisheries.
Our collaboration: The project aims at accelerating sustainable coastal livelihoods in Indonesia and Myanmar. These countries represent the world’s third and ninth largest fishing countries, with approximately 3 million fishers and 150 million coastal people depending on marine resources. The projects overall aim is to make coastal livelihoods in Myanmar and Indonesia more sustainable and resilient by applying new knowledge, tools, and skills. Three main outcomes that will contribute to this overall objective are foreseen: (1) improving sustainable coastal livelihoods, (2) enhancing regional collaboration, and (3) sharing and replicating results.
