Dr Rabinowitz presents the award to U Saw Han, a pioneer of conservation work in Myanmar.

A SENIOR government official and a retired forestry officer have become the first Myanmar to receive conservation awards from a foundation in the United States.

The Abraham Conservation Award was presented to the director of the Forest Department’s Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division, U Khin Maung Zaw, and to U Saw Han, who played a key role in establishing the division and was its first director.

The awards were created eight years ago by the New York-based Alexander Abraham Foundation to honour those who work to protect endangered wildlife in difficult circumstances in important conservation areas.

They were presented at a ceremony in Yangon on July 28 by a director of the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society, Dr Alan Rabinowitz, who had recommended the pair for the awards.

Dr Rabinowitz, who has been working in Myanmar since the early 1990s, said his recommendation was in recognition of the country’s “world class” conservation achievements in recent years, including the establishment of protected areas.

He said U Saw Han, who had retired more than a decade ago, was chosen for helping to change attitudes towards wild animals.

“In his time everybody thought wild animals were for killing; he’s the one who brought modern concepts of conservation to Myanmar,” said Dr Rabinowitz.
U Saw Han, 77, served in the Forest Department for 39 years and as the first director of the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division was responsible for the establishment of several wildlife parks and sanctuaries.

U Khin Maung Zaw was chosen for his role in creating 11,600 square miles of contiguous protected parks and sanctuaries in Kachin State. They include the world’s largest tiger reserve, established in the Hukaung Valley in 2003.

“The achievements were not mine alone; they occurred because of the great efforts of all forestry staff,” U Khin Maung Zaw told Myanmar Times.