资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

Bangkok, April 3, 2018: Last week, the Myanmar Parliament (Pyidaungsu Hluttaw) approved a $144 million loan from the Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA) under Thailand’s Ministry of Finance.  The loan will support construction of a multi-lane road through the dense Tanintharyi forests, connecting the Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and the planned deep-sea port to Bangkok and beyond. 

WWF has significant concerns about the potential social and environmental impacts on the affected area, that harbours a rich array of endangered wildlife, including tigers and elephants, and is also home to local communities who depend on the landscape for their livelihoods and resources.

“If the road is not planned and constructed thoughtfully, this area stands to lose much of its globally important biodiversity and ecological integrity with serious consequences for the well-being of local people. There are critical steps which must be taken in the planning of any infrastructure project and we have concerns that, now the loan has been approved, there will be pressure to speed up the development with these steps being overlooked or ignored,” said Hanna Helsingen, WWF-Green Economy Programme Manager.

These critical steps are :