An interview with environmental expert U Win Myo Thu on natural resource disasters and environmental issues that need special attention alongside the fight against military dictatorship
Shan State had never experienced large-scale natural disasters until the unprecedented severe flooding and landslides occurred this year.
Shan News interviewed U Win Myo Thu, an environmental expert, to learn more about how these floods and landslides are connected to environmental degradation in Shan State, such as deforestation and resource extraction, the environmental situation in areas controlled by various ethnic armed groups in Shan State, and how urgent it is to address natural resource and environmental issues alongside the current fight to uproot the military dictatorship.
Q: If we look at current environment of Shan State, we see unprecedented flooding in areas like the Inle area. How are these connected to deforestation and resource extraction?
A: Natural resources like forests, biodiversity, land, and water resources are all interconnected. When one is destroyed, it impacts others. When forests are destroyed, the water and soil they protect are lost. In Myanmar, things keep getting worse – even the recent mild Typhoon Ragi caused significant damage. This shows how our resilience has become extremely low and concerning. Shan State is part of this, with its vast territory and diverse landscape. Multiple groups are present there.
Due to weak rule of law and governance, environmental degradation is happening everywhere. Shan State is particularly affected. Studies conducted with Shan community development organizations until December 2021 found about 70 percent of forest loss across 69 townships along the Salween River. Specifically, Shan State has teak forests in Langkho area and pine forests in Loilen area. Besides timber extraction, there’s charcoal production for export to Thailand.
And, Shan State is rich in minerals. Due to coal, antimony, and gold mining, the region was severely affected when Typhoon Ragi hit. Studies show large magnesium deposits in these areas, along with other minerals being mined. Local people, businesses, ethnic armed groups, and military-affiliated persons are also involved. To be frank, environmental degradation in Shan State is extreme. Working with Oxford University, we measured pollution levels in the Salween and Sittaung Rivers. The findings were shocking – we found excessive levels of arsenic. In the Salween River, we detected lead, zinc, and antimony since 2017-2018. Another issue is the increasing number of displaced people.
The displaced people need to clear land for shelter and require bamboo and wood for housing. Deforestation is also happening due to firewood collection by the displaced people. Generally, areas with valuable timber face more destruction. This is based on research until 2021. Opium cultivation is another factor causing deforestation. There are cases where forests were cut down to grow opium.
In northern Shan State, farmers use pesticides in corn growing areas to increase yields, but only their debts increased. Loan interests piled up, which made things difficult and led to land being sold off. Many of the debtors and landlords are Chinese.
When local people can’t manage, their only option becomes logging and charcoal production in forests. This was happening before the coup, but it’s worse now. After the Three Brotherhood Alliance’s takeover, more Chinese have arrived. Mining has dried up water sources. Studying forest destruction from 2002 to 2014, we found more destruction in areas controlled by groups allied with the military council compared to ethnic armed groups’ territories.
At the Pinlon talks, military representatives often accused ethnic armed groups of pursuing peace talks just to gain control of natural resources. But, we found more destruction in areas where the military junta had more control. In Karenni State too, areas controlled by military council-aligned groups, like Bawlakhe, show severe deforestation.
Q: Since flooding occurred in areas of Shan State where it had never happened before, what challenges might arise in coming years?
A: Regarding flooding, while at Oxford, I came across a Chinese researcher’s doctoral thesis about Myanmar’s environment. At first, I was skeptical about his paper’s predictions about flooding in Shan State – I couldn’t believe how it could flood there. There are two types of flooding: river flooding and flooding from heavy rainfall and mountain runoff. Myanmar’s problem is that it only has about 30 weather stations nationwide. He made predictions about rainfall and flooding based on 30 years of data. Developed countries have more accurate hundred-year forecasts.
Based on his paper, I thought the predicted scenarios for Myanmar were impossible. However, after Typhoon Ragi, flooding occurred exactly in the predicted areas. According to the paper, based on the 2014 census, 28 million people could be severely affected by flooding in Myanmar. This is categorized in the paper. Landslides are also very common. There are drought-prone areas too. Typhoons can come from the East and South China Sea. Shan State faces many natural disaster risks. Areas like Langkho and Maukmai, at elevations below 3,000 feet, have experienced both landslides and flooding. Another issue is forced urban expansion. Plastic waste blocks water drainage. Mining also contributes to these problems.
It’s become very difficult to stop people doing these things. We previously had community-based initiatives. But, in Shan State’s situation, there are many armed groups in single areas. When they themselves are conducting environmentally destructive activities, it’s impossible to stop them. How much can local people speak out against them? This has become a serious question. Also, because many young people are migrating to Thailand due to the country’s situation, only elderly people remain in these areas, and they can’t speak out against armed groups.
Q: During the previous military dictatorship, there was excessive mineral extraction, and the current military dictatorship is also starting to mine again. To what extent could local communities face these negative impacts?
A: Myanmar is suffering from a natural resource curse. Even after the forests are gone, minerals still remain. It’s truly alarming. According to statistics, mineral revenue in 2021 was about 3.2 billion dollars, while gas sales to China were only 1.4 billion. That’s already twice as much. In 2022, it increased to 6 billion. There’s jade, other precious stones, rare earth elements, and then there’s antimony, tungsten – in the Wa region, tungsten used to be abundant but now it’s depleted. It jumped twofold in just one year. When we studied Myanmar’s geology, there are granite mineral veins. Where these minerals exist, precious metals are found. Most of these are located in Shan State. So I think the natural resource curse will continue.
Even in current conflict areas, we can see attempts to control these resource-rich areas. For example, taking control up to Mogok, and essentially capturing the entire Shweli Valley plain. This is because China has already built dams there. The generated electricity is meant to be sent back to China. There are plans to build more dams. Strategically, I think they’re seizing these areas not just for ethnic reasons but primarily to secure resources. We’ve seen the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) also targeting jade mining areas in their operations. At the moment, there’s a major resource grab happening. We’re in a period of transition. This period has been prolonged for some time. According to data, some military activities related to “Operation 1027” stopped in 2023-2024.
But, this halt isn’t for environmental protection but rather appears to be a change of hands for further extraction. Sadly, I think the people will continue to suffer. It’s like my former driver – even though I paid him a good salary and asked him not to steal fuel, he replied, “Sir, even with the good salary you’re paying, we just can’t help ourselves from stealing fuel.” With private interests involved, experts call it a “ceasefire economy.” Armed groups fight, and those who gain control of the area continue extraction. Then the other group fights back and takes control. Ultimately, it’s the people who suffer. So people just take what they can, thinking nothing will change. This has driven the country to its worst state. The areas in Shan State are the most affected.”
Q: Throughout different eras, while every government that came to power has been interested in politics, we see little interest in environmental conservation. Although there have been recommendations, they haven’t followed through. How can we urge them to address this?
A: People talk about federalism. They divide territories. But it’s mainly about resources. Even during Aung San Suu Kyi’s time, 60 percent of the government’s annual revenue came from resource extraction. All of these came from ethnic regions. Of the remaining, 30 percent came from taxes, and only 10 percent from foreign investment. In reality, they’re fighting over these areas that produce 60 percent of resources. After this resource grabbing, when the money is redistributed, ethnic regions only receive 1 percent. This is because the central government uses 86 percent, and the remaining 14 percent is divided among states and regions according to the 2008 Constitution. This is environmental injustice. For example, with hydropower from Inle Lake – all electricity generated in Loikaw, Karenni (Kayah), is used in mainland Myanmar.
Even now, Balu Chaung doesn’t get electricity. They have to draw power from highland areas. In power generation areas, they seize land claiming to prevent planting landmines. They set up military camps. They arrest traditional business owners. Electricity generated in Loikaw is used by mainly Myanmar. Five major corporations monopolize 60 percent of resources. They keep departmental bank accounts without transferring to the government. Throughout military rule, money from ethnic regions has only gone to these five corporations. Only the military and their relatives benefit. I think even if other armed groups take control, it won’t be much different. Ethnic people love their land and water. The main issues that need to be solved are resource matters and how to manage them. Until these are resolved, I don’t see the country improving for the next 10-15 years.
Q: Since armed groups are involved in mining, are there major challenges in approaching and talking to them?
A: Yes, the challenges are enormous. Take Loilen for example, where they tried to extract coal. This caused a split between two local groups. The monks wanted to extract. In Shan State, monks have significant influence. Some locals opposed it. Some people dislike those who come to extract resources rather than truly loving nature. Of course, there are also those who genuinely care. Working in between these groups is extremely difficult. From Pinlong to Monghsu, the pine forests were precious. Now they’re gone. Shan State’s problem is that development is concentrated only in Taunggyi and Lashio. This concentrated development has led to groundwater depletion. The highlands will face water shortages. Well-digging is no longer possible. What Shan State really needs is distributed development. Other towns should also be developed.
But, armed groups are fighting over these areas. Another thing is that in Wa State, we unexpectedly found tungsten. After discovering tungsten, which we didn’t expect to exist there geologically, its global price dropped. Tungsten is used in making electric car batteries. Before I left Myanmar, I met some merchants and businesspeople. I saw Koreans trying to get permission to work in the magnesium forests near Tachileik. I saw this even in military-controlled areas. In Shan State, how can indigenous people’s rights be protected in resource distribution? Even identifying who the original owners are – whether “Shan” or “Wa” – is difficult to say. This is how complicated the situation in Shan State is. So, Shan State alone can’t handle this. It needs a lot of external support and international assistance.
Q: Finally, during this revolution period when fighting is the priority, how would you like to encourage preventing mineral extraction and paying attention to deforestation?
A: Setting aside mining for a moment, the most concerning issue now is hydropower. On the Salween River, U Aung Thaung’s son’s company has claims. Since these areas are now controlled by the Three Brotherhood Alliance, it creates an opportunity for China to build dams from the top for hydropower as they please. Ethnic armed groups also need money to sustain themselves. China won’t accept opium trade or Kyar Phyant like before. For their income, China will build the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), then focus on trade, dams, and mining. That’s likely what will happen. In Namhsan and Ta’ang areas, minerals still remain. But, old mines are filled with water, so new mines might be dug haphazardly, causing more destruction.
Although ethnic armed groups who control these areas talk about environmental protection, they lack knowledge and experience. With current economic interests, if hydropower projects start, mining becomes easier. Hydropower will make environmental destruction more likely. Additionally, coal is still abundant in Shan State. Even when we talked a lot about environmental conservation, even the “people’s government” got tired of hearing it. The same will likely happen with armed groups. What we can do ultimately is work with young people, nurture them, and pass on our unfinished responsibilities. They need to work with community-based organizations.
There can still be people in this region who care about the environment. Young people will emerge who can lead them. We must build these forces. We need to demonstrate, not just build with words. Especially, things often fail due to bad community leaders. With good community leaders, collective action can control some areas. Working with good community leaders, some areas managed disasters better than others. We need to show these examples. This way, those who made mistakes can correct themselves. So, we must nurture and pass on knowledge to young people. We need to continue conservation efforts where possible at the grassroots level. Media should continue to encourage and speak up. I want to invite young people who are interested.
Current environmental destruction isn’t normal. In the Irrawaddy River, most fish are mercury-poisoned. In 2023, out of 140 fish species, only one was found with mercury poisoning. In 2024, 40 were found poisoned. Carp, rohu, wallago attu, catfish, and chitala are worst affected. Mercury-poisoned fish were also found in the Sittaung River flood areas near Bago, showing toxins from upstream are affecting lower Myanmar. Fish poisoning represents the peak of environmental protection failure.
With the ongoing forest destruction, soil degradation, and water pollution, Myanmar people’s physical and mental health is now affected. In this AI era, we need physical and mental development to keep up. If our physical and mental capabilities decline, we won’t be able to keep up at all. So it’s dangerous now. In Mogok and Thabeikkyin, mercury is found not just in fish but also in rice fields. So, if people and youth can work together and take collective action where possible, I think there might still be some hope. Just sitting around disappointed won’t achieve anything.
Sent by Shan News.