Development of Elephant Conservation Based Tourism after Implementation of Logging Ban Policy in Myanmar

According to afforestation 10 years program (from 2017-18 to 2026-2027), the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC) has agreed on a new logging ban policy for Myanmar’s forest; 10-year logging ban for the Bago Yoma Region and 1-year national logging ban for the remaining areas since (2016-2017) fiscal year. Myanma Timber Enterprise (MTE), one of the state-owned enterprises, is mainly responsible for the logging operation and dragging logs from the forest with Elephants is the most well recognized as environmentally friendly logging operation in Myanmar. After implemented Myanmar’s logging ban policy is great for forests, but a big challenge for MTE for the maintenance of MTE staffs and its working captive elephants in the timber industry for elephant conservation and welfare of the elephant staffs (mahouts). MTE owns more than 3000 Captive Elephants to perform logging operation, among which more than one-third is suitable for the workforce of skidding. The rest are not suiting for work as they are babies and mothers, pregnant, training, unhealthy and/or aged elephants. Nevertheless, all of the elephants are under the care and management of MTE. As a solution of logging ban policy effects on MTE, it came up with the idea of establishing Elephant Conservation Based Tourism (ECBT) in Myanmar by taking into consideration of the conservation of elephants and the welfare of the mahouts as well as an alternative way of earning income from ecotourism. Now, MTE is already implemented elephant conservation camps in a nationwide by state-owned sector. Wildlife tourism is often promoted as an activity which supports conservation by enhancing environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behavior through interpretative messaging and personal experiences with wildlife. ECBT will increase absolutely in the conservation of elephant.