Gold mining is threatening wildlife living in and around Indawgyi lake, Myanmar’s largest natural lake and a UNESCO-designated wildlife sanctuary and world cultural heritage site. This is because, since February 2021 military coup that ousted Myanmar’s democratically elected government, there is absolutely no regulation for the mining industry near the lake in Kachin state.
According to residents, miners dig for gold right next to populated villages, and they have no power to stop them. Not only does the mining contaminate the water that the residents need for drinking, it also causes floods in villages. Polluted streams then flow into the lake, damaging the habitat of rare species living there, including two endangered kinds of fish.
Mining also prevents tourists from coming to see the majestic lake, which sits 166 meters above sea level and is surrounded by mountains. Now the lake faces the prospect of draining due to excessive mining.
In 2016, UNESCO designated the lake as the third largest inland wetland in Southeast Asia, and in 2017 it gave the lake world cultural heritage status.
Aruna Gaitonde, Editor in Chief of the Asian Bureau, Rough&Polished
According to residents, miners dig for gold right next to populated villages, and they have no power to stop them. Not only does the mining contaminate the water that the residents need for drinking, it also causes floods in villages. Polluted streams then flow into the lake, damaging the habitat of rare species living there, including two endangered kinds of fish.
Mining also prevents tourists from coming to see the majestic lake, which sits 166 meters above sea level and is surrounded by mountains. Now the lake faces the prospect of draining due to excessive mining.
In 2016, UNESCO designated the lake as the third largest inland wetland in Southeast Asia, and in 2017 it gave the lake world cultural heritage status.
Aruna Gaitonde, Editor in Chief of the Asian Bureau, Rough&Polished
