10:45 AM - 11:00 AM
[HGG01-06] Research Project on Analysis of Environmental Degradation Factors and Development of Community-Based Approaches for Sustainable Environmental Improvement in Inle Lake, Myanmar
★Invited Papers
Keywords:Inle Lake, Myanmar, Water environment improvement, Community-based approach
Introduction
Inle Lake is located in Shan State, Myanmar, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Myanmar, known for its houses built on the lake and traditional fishing methods. However, in recent years, the water quality of the lake has been worsening due to the watershed degradation, excessive cultivation of floating fields, and domestic wastewater from the vicinity of the lake. In addition, as the number of tourists is expected to increase in the future, the load of wastewater caused by tourism development might also be a factor in the environmental deterioration. Since Inle Lake is important for livelihoods and as a tourism resource, it is necessary to preserve its environment.
In order to solve water environment problems, it is necessary to set various improvement targets, including water quality, implement multiple measures to achieve them. However, there is almost no available data related to the water environment, such as water quality, domestic wastewater and sewage, and water-borne diseases. In addition, there is no information about the residents' awareness of the lake environment. Therefore, it was impossible to consider and propose effective improvement measures that reflect the reality of the local natural environment and social conditions.
Under these circumstances, the Center for Sustainable Development Studies at Toyo University started a research project in March 2017 to conserve and improve the water environment of Inle Lake through a community-based approach. From April 2017, in collaboration with the Terra People Association, an active non-profit organization in the area for many years, practical research activities were carried out with the three-year research fund from the Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund.
Objective
This research project aims to find an optimal community-based solution for water environment conservation and improvement for Inle Lake through interdisciplinary research with the following stages:
1. To investigate and understand the status of water pollution (water quality distribution, seasonal changes, etc.)
2. To understand the local people's awareness of the water environment of Inle Lake
3. To establish the vision and targets for the environmental improvement of Inle Lake.
4. To prepare alternative measures for the environmental improvement of Inle Lake that includes and identify the optimal solution to achieve the goal through community consultation.
The following activities have been conducted since 2017.
- Water quality surveys (multiple times during the wet and dry seasons)
- Meteorological and hydrological observations (temperature, rainfall, water level, inflow river flow, etc.)
- Surveys on socio-economic conditions and environmental awareness of residents
- Awareness-raising workshop (water quality of Inle Lake, the interaction between upstream and downstream residents, etc.)
- Outreach seminar for stakeholders
The water quality and the mechanism of water quality formation in Inle Lake have been clarified through the research activities. In addition, basic information on the residents' awareness of the water environment was collected.
At present, based on the results of the water quality analysis and the awareness survey for the residents, alternatives for community-based environmental improvement plans are under consideration.
Conclusion
Since there was limited information on the environment of Inle Lake, this research project is highly beneficial in providing reliable environmental data. In addition, the research has also contributed to the understanding of the water quality processes of Inle Lake. Furthermore, as a result of interdisciplinary research activities, when a practical community-based approach for water environment improvement is developed, this approach will serve as a model for regions facing similar problems.
Inle Lake is located in Shan State, Myanmar, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Myanmar, known for its houses built on the lake and traditional fishing methods. However, in recent years, the water quality of the lake has been worsening due to the watershed degradation, excessive cultivation of floating fields, and domestic wastewater from the vicinity of the lake. In addition, as the number of tourists is expected to increase in the future, the load of wastewater caused by tourism development might also be a factor in the environmental deterioration. Since Inle Lake is important for livelihoods and as a tourism resource, it is necessary to preserve its environment.
In order to solve water environment problems, it is necessary to set various improvement targets, including water quality, implement multiple measures to achieve them. However, there is almost no available data related to the water environment, such as water quality, domestic wastewater and sewage, and water-borne diseases. In addition, there is no information about the residents' awareness of the lake environment. Therefore, it was impossible to consider and propose effective improvement measures that reflect the reality of the local natural environment and social conditions.
Under these circumstances, the Center for Sustainable Development Studies at Toyo University started a research project in March 2017 to conserve and improve the water environment of Inle Lake through a community-based approach. From April 2017, in collaboration with the Terra People Association, an active non-profit organization in the area for many years, practical research activities were carried out with the three-year research fund from the Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund.
Objective
This research project aims to find an optimal community-based solution for water environment conservation and improvement for Inle Lake through interdisciplinary research with the following stages:
1. To investigate and understand the status of water pollution (water quality distribution, seasonal changes, etc.)
2. To understand the local people's awareness of the water environment of Inle Lake
3. To establish the vision and targets for the environmental improvement of Inle Lake.
4. To prepare alternative measures for the environmental improvement of Inle Lake that includes and identify the optimal solution to achieve the goal through community consultation.
The following activities have been conducted since 2017.
- Water quality surveys (multiple times during the wet and dry seasons)
- Meteorological and hydrological observations (temperature, rainfall, water level, inflow river flow, etc.)
- Surveys on socio-economic conditions and environmental awareness of residents
- Awareness-raising workshop (water quality of Inle Lake, the interaction between upstream and downstream residents, etc.)
- Outreach seminar for stakeholders
The water quality and the mechanism of water quality formation in Inle Lake have been clarified through the research activities. In addition, basic information on the residents' awareness of the water environment was collected.
At present, based on the results of the water quality analysis and the awareness survey for the residents, alternatives for community-based environmental improvement plans are under consideration.
Conclusion
Since there was limited information on the environment of Inle Lake, this research project is highly beneficial in providing reliable environmental data. In addition, the research has also contributed to the understanding of the water quality processes of Inle Lake. Furthermore, as a result of interdisciplinary research activities, when a practical community-based approach for water environment improvement is developed, this approach will serve as a model for regions facing similar problems.