This is the concluding part of the series on Indawgyi lake. On our way back from “ Chaung-Wa” village, we learned the importance of the existing “Aquatic plants”, and “Reed beds” along the stream. “Aquatic plants” composed of “Reed bed Ecosystem”, are the main food resource for many species of migratory birds. For instance, you can see that the surrounding environment is ideal with good feeding, resting and nesting sites, and rich diversity of microhabitants like:- mud-dwelling small invertebrates are also available for migratory birds.
Most of the fish-eating migratory birds do moulting, and even rare species do breeding on Reed bed vegetation. At “Chaung-Wa” area, “Reed bed Ecosystem” is transitionally changed into “Rangeland Ecotype”, and they are still in ecologically sound condition.

Reed bed and Rangeland Ecosystem constitute an important habitat as wintering place for fish and birds’ lives. They prevent shore erosion and also enhance water purification function. According to the International Convention on “Migratory Birds Conservation”, “Migration is an expensive way of life which requires very energetic feeding”. Thus, Reed bed Ecosystem is required for protecting this excellent landscape and habitat for fish and birds.
It is the community of emerged and submerged hygrophytic and hydrophytic flora. Reeds are dominant species and can be found along the shoreline of the lower part of Indawgyi lake. It was late in the afternoon when we arrived back at the big lake. According to the “Bio Unit Zoning” of protected area system of Myanmar, “Indawgyi Wetland Bird Sanctuary”, is located in Myanmar dry zone, and serves as a comparison and contrast between the ‘3’ distant phytogeographical region wise namely:- “Indo- Malaysian flora and fauna; Sino Himalayan flora and fauna; and Assam flora and fauna.
Precipitation is also high in this area, and distributed through out the year. Rainfall average is between ( 100-130 ) inches per year, and enjoys sub-tropical monsoon and sub-tropical mountain climate. Hence, the warm humid summer and cold winter encourages the very luxuriant species composition. Moreover, the lake serves as the largest water resource in “Mokaung” and “Mohnyin” townships. After spending the night in “Lonton”, we visited another village named “Hepu” on the east side of the lake.

Majority of the villages located in Indawgyi are main source of wild rice species. This rudimentary type of wild rice and their ancestors such as:- “Oriza officinales; Oriza rufipogan; and Oriza granulator” thrives well. The trace of these progenitor varieties indicated that Indawgyi and its surrounding areas which include:- “Namp Yin Kha” valley; Mokaung plane; and Myitkyina plane, are thought to be the origin of wild rice domestication.
Needless to say, this lake plays a major role in “Socio Economical development; Ecological balance, and Environmental stability of Kachin State”. To refresh your memory, Indawgyi lake is located in Mohnyin township, south west part of Kachin State. It is not only the largest lake in South East Asia, but also the one and only Tectonic lake of Myanmar.
Furthermore, it is being recognized as one of the oldest lake in the world comparable with “Lake Baikal” of Russia, and “Lake Biwa” of Japan. The long history of isolation from other water bodies, is suggested by the lake which is rather rich for are Inland lake, containing about ( 200 ) species of fish diversity, including some paleo endemic species of marine and mountain habitats.
As such, fishing with explosives (or) new introduction of exotic fish, which begets the long term impacts on local fish production are prohibited with the view to maintain a sustainable resource management in this “Gene-Rich Geographical Antiquary”.
It is “A Unique Bio-Cultural Region”, which is a “Mosaic”, in terms of flora and fauna ecosystem and cultural diversity, and also where oceanic fauna can still be found in this “Paradise for Ithyologists”.