Scientists have discovered two new species of geckos in the proposed Lenya National Park — currently the Lenya and Nga Wun Reserve Forests — located in the country’s southern Tanintharyi Region. The findings were published last week in PLOS ONE by a group of researchers from the Smithsonian Institution.
According to Smithsonian Insider, the research is part of the Smithsonian’s Myanmar Biodiversity Initiative, which “uses science to help increase conservation capacity of Myanmar partner organizations and ensure the long-term survival of species, landscapes and ecosystems in the country.”
The two new species have been identified as the Lenya banded bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus lenya), and the Tenasserim Mountain bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus payarhtanensis). The study also states that Myanmar is currently home to 18 named species of bent-toed geckos, four of which are found in forests located in the Tanintharyi Region and neighboring Mon State.
But while finding new species is exciting, chances are there won’t be many left to find in the near future if deforestation within the country, and especially in the Tanintharyi Region, continues at its current pace.
The research states that within the proposed forest reserve boundaries where the study took place, the total forest area declined from 98% to 95.2% between 2002 and 2016. Within the same timeframe but outside the reserve, total forest area went from 76.7% to 48.9%, and areas within 2.5 km of the reserve saw a decline from 90.4% to 68.7%. Some of the main reasons behind deforestation within the reserve include “expansion of adjacent oil palm plantation, extension of rubber and other agroforestry areas from Thailand, and forest clearing associated with village areas which existed prior to 2002.”
Several researchers and environmental groups have pointed out the devastating effects that Myanmar’s deforestation trend has had on the local wildlife populations. According to the 2015 FAO Global Forest Resource Assessment, Myanmar had the world’s third highest annual net loss of forest area between 2010 and 2015, behind only Brazil and Indonesia. If this keeps up, we’ll barely be able to preserve currently known species, let alone dedicate time and resources towards discovering new ones.
The Smithsonian study explains: “Because of the isolated nature of the karst formations [with which the geckos are associated] in the proposed Lenya National Park, these geckos likely have geographical ranges restricted to the proposed protected area and are threatened by approaching deforestation.”
“Myanmar’s Tanintharyi Region remains the last stronghold of lowland evergreen rainforest in continental Southeast Asia, yet decisive action is needed to secure the future of these forests and their globally unique biodiversity.”
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