Inle Lake in Nyaung Shwe Township, Southern Shan State, Myanmar, tentatively listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1996, is home to various ethnic people including its majority ethnic group called Intha.

People of Inle Lake make their living mainly by agriculture, weaving and tourism. While its beauty and unique culture are the source of its popularity for local and international tourists, now the Lake’s ecosystem and biodiversity are being threatened by unprecedented water pollution, deforestation and climate change.

These are mostly caused by man-made activities related to income generating and business activities, while natural causes such as less rainfall are also accountable for the threat.

Increased water pollution is caused by four major factors – extension of agricultural land, weaving, increased human population and the narrowing of the lake area.

The first factor is the extension of agricultural land in the form of floating gardens and soil erosion. The area covered by the floating gardens has increased compared to the past. This increased agricultural land not only decreases the water area of the lake but also impacts the quality of the water. The tomato plantations on the floating gardens use a lot of herbicides, fungicides, pesticides and chemical fertilizers.   Such agro-chemical use increases water pollution. 

In simple terms, the agro-chemical products make the nitrification process more rapid, which means the growth and spread of water-hyacinth and algae increases at an alarming rate. In general, Inle water has unusually high nitrate and phosphate levels, therefore the water quality is lower because dissolved oxygen (OD) is reduced.  In such water conditions, it is very difficult the aquatic living species to live and survive which in turn threatens the biodiversity of the lake.

The second factor is weaving.   According to the UN Environment Programme, the fashion industry overall is responsible for up to one fifth of all industrial water.  Wastewater is dumped directly into the Lake - a potent cocktail of carcinogenic chemicals, dyes, salts and heavy metals that not only poison the land but also the water sources of all those (people and animals) who rely on them. In the past, weaving houses on the Lake primarily used natural dyes and weaved by hand. However, along with modernity and quality control, more colors and mass production have become a trend. Due to market demand, bleaching and chemical dyes are more widespread which puts harmful chemical wastes into the water body.

The third factor is increased human population. Like anywhere else in the world, the population of Inle Lake has been increasing. The ‘Inle lake Watershed area’ now includes eight townships - Nyaung Shwe, Taunggyi, Kalaw, Pin Daya, Pin Laung, Hopong, Hsiheng and Pekhon. The entire Inle Lake area and watershed area  includes the Intha, Pa-O, Da Nu, Taung Yoe, Shan and Burmese living around. Their main livelihoods are farming and tourism.  Along the Lake shores there is a need for increased residential housing - but this also leads to growing volumes human waste such as kitchen waste, sewage and other domestic waste which is deposited directly into the lake. The increased population, together with living styles and poor waste management systems, have caused the water quality to worsen.

Deforestation of the lake areas is due to expanding agriculture, and to the increased need for firewood. Both the local residents and people from the neighboring areas rely on the forest around Inle Lake. The dependency on the forest includes the need for firewood both for domestic use, and for generating income. In terms of agriculture, the mounting transformation of the forest areas to agricultural land and shifting cultivation cause the intense deforestation and soil erosion settlement process. The current political situation has a negative impact on the environment in a way. Weak governance means limited action to prevent cutting trees as well as tree planting for replacement to care for the environment.  It can be said that environmental conservation is non-existent. All of these deteriorate the water catchment system of the areas decreasing the water sources.

Inle Lake is not exempted from the global climate impact felt worldwide. Moreover, the local deforestation and reduced water areas have also caused a mini climate change. As a result of this, normal rain patterns are changed – Inle has lower rainfall than previously. Therefore, the lake’s water level has dropped.  And the streams, creeks and small lakes around the area are also drying up gradually. 

As mentioned above, in the last decade, the socio-economy of Lake Inle has been mainly based on agriculture and tourism. But in the current environment, tourism has been negatively affected. Local people who used to rely on tourism (e.g., boat & other transport, guides, local restaurant and support services, retail and craft sales) now have lower income.  This potentially creates a worse situation for deforestation from illegal logging.  Illegal fishing is also on the rise, using electrofishing.  In terms of human resources, many young people are going abroad to find work, drug use is increasing and illegal gambling is sometimes seen as an easy way to solve short-term financial difficulties.  Some cotton textile industries are increasing production but customers are limited and so cash flow is slow.

Internally displaced people (IPDs) come to take refuge in the Inle area and so local residents are selling their homes and agricultural lands.  Hotels and restaurants are being sold due to the reduction in tourism businesses, commerce is downsized and employees are being laid off.

The economic activities in and around Inle Lake and the country’s political situation are harming the environment and biodiversity significantly. To reduce this effect, local people have to change their livelihood and income generating activities so that they do not harm the ecosystem and biodiversity. More innovative, eco-friendly and sustainable income generating activities need to be encouraged and upgraded skills to deliver sustainable income generating activities would give hope for the biodiversity on Inle Lake.