Myanmar’s incredible plant diversity faces critical threat from data gaps and political turmoil

Myanmar harbors some of the world’s most spectacular botanical treasures, from over 1,200 orchid species to recently discovered color-changing begonias and rare cloud forest gingers. The Southeast Asian nation’s diverse landscapes—spanning tropical forests, mangroves, alpine slopes, and limestone karst formations—support an estimated 14,020 vascular plant species, many found nowhere else on Earth.

However, this botanical goldmine faces a perfect storm of threats that could lead to irreversible losses. According to a new study, massive gaps in scientific knowledge about Myanmar’s flora leave conservationists flying blind. “Myanmar hosts exceptionally high plant diversity and endemism,” explains biologist Ke-Ping Ma from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, “but there has been a long-standing lack of plant distribution data, due in part to limited field surveys and incomplete digitization of herbarium records.”

The 2021 military coup has dramatically worsened the situation, making field research nearly impossible in many regions. Tragically, some of Myanmar’s most politically unstable areas also contain its richest biodiversity. These once-remote sanctuaries now face rampant natural resource extraction as competing political factions exploit them to fund their operations. “Biodiversity is often one of the neglected victims of war because you can’t go and collect data, and you also can’t protect areas,” notes University of Melbourne biologist Alice Hughes. The study suggests that international collaborations and remote sensing technologies may offer the best hope for documenting and protecting Myanmar’s extraordinary plant heritage before it’s too late.