There are totally 50 threatened plant species, of which 18 Critically endangered, 16 Endangered and 16 Vulnerable based on the classification from IUCN RedList. The following table indicates that Dipterocarpaceae is the most threatened plant family with 16 Critically endangered species, 7 Endangered species and 2 Vulnerable species out of 19 threatened plant families. The main threats for plant species were identified as overexploitation by legal and illegal logging, and habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation by commercial plantations and inappropriate land uses.

Myanma Timber Enterprise (MTE) has extracted Dipterocarpus spp, Shorea spp and Hopea spp. The total amount of hard wood extraction by MTE has increased 5-6% annually between 1996 and 2006 (Central Statistical Organization 2008). Domestic consumption of Dipterocarp species has also significantly increased, particularly, in places where large infrastructure has been developed.

Large-scale use of Shorea assamica can be observed in Kachin State and northern Sagaing Region. The species is being overexploited for large boat making for transportation along the northern part of the Chindwin River. As the wood grain of this species is interlocked, it provides more strength than Teak Tectona grandis to resist underwater obstacles and rocks. Since the boats made of this species only last a maximum of two years, the replacement rate is massive and this has lead to the species becoming increasingly rare in all accessible areas of Kachin State. Other noticeable overexploited species are Aquilaria malaccensis an aromatic non-timber forest product and Taiwania cryptomerioides a species known locally as coffin wood, which is sold in China.

In Taninthayi Region and Kachin State where extensive commercial plantation concessions for palm oil and tapioca have been established, plant species from the following families – Caesalpiniaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Magnoliaceae, Myristicaceae, Myrtaceae, Taxodiaceae, Theaceae, Thymelaeaceae have been highly threatened by habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation. Remaining forested landscapes in Kachin State, Taninthayi Region, Chin State, Rakhine State and northern Sagaing Region should be prioritized for conservation of threatened plant species.

While new plant species have been discovered, their conservation status are still in question (e.g. Kress & Thet Htun 2003; Peters et al. 2007). In particular, the conservation status of Myanmar orchids is virtually unknown (Saw Lwin pers comm). In the marine realm the sea grass species Halophila beccarii is considered the most vulnerable among 11 sea grass species, known to occur along the Myanmar coast (Soe-Htun et al. 2008; Novak et al. 2009).

Threatened plant species in Myanmar

Scientific Name	Common name	Status
Anisoptera curtisii	Kaungmu
Anisoptera scaphula	Taung-sagaing
Bombax insigne	Didu/ Taung-letpan
Dipterocarpus baudii	Kanyin
Dipterocarpus dyeri	Ka-nyin
Dipterocarpus grandiflorus	Kanyin/ Kanyin-byan
Dipterocarpus kerrii	Kanyin-byan
Dipterocarpus retusus	Kanyin-ni
Dipterocarpus tuberculatus	–
Dipterocarpus turbinatus	Kanyin-ni
Hopea apiculata	No common name
Hopea helferi	Thingan-net
Hopea sangal	Thingan-magalay
Parashorea stellata	Thingadu
Shorea assamica	Kyilan
Shorea farinosa	Thingan-phyu
Sonneratia griffithii	Laba
Vatica lanceaefolia	Pan-thitya
Afzelia xylocarpa	Pyin-padauk
Anisoptera costata	Kaban-bok
Cleidiocarpon laurinum	No common name
Cynometra ramiflora	Myinga
Dalbergia oliveri	Tamalan
Diospyros crumentata	Taung-bok
Dipterocarpus alatus	Kanyin-phyu
Dipterocarpus costatus	Kanyin-ywet-thay
Heritiera fomes	Kanazo
Heritiera littoralis	Pinle-Kanazo
Picea farreri	No common name
Shorea gratissima	U-ban-kaya
Shorea henryana	Kaban-than-gyin
Shorea roxburghii	Kaban-ywet-thay
Syzygium zeylanicum	Tha-bye-bauk
Vatica cinerea	No common name
Acacia ferruginea	Sha-byu
Aquilaria malaccensis	Thit-hmwe
Cephalotaxus mannii	No common name
Cycas pectinata	Mondaing madai
Cycas siamensis	Mondaing
Dalbergia fusca	Yinsat
Halophila beccarii	No common name
Hopea griffithii	No common name
Hopea odorata	Thangan
Intsia bijuga	Saga-lun
Magnolia nitida	No common name
Magnolia rostrata	No common name
Myristica malabarica	Taw-zadeik-po
Pterocarpus indicus	Pan-padauk
Schima wallichii	Laukya
Taiwania cryptomerioides	Tayok-khaung-pin
Aegialitis rotundifolia	Pinle-sa
Brownlowia tersa	No common name
Ceriops decandra	Ma-da-ma
Ceriops tagal	Ma-da-ma
Excoecaria agallocha	Kayaw/ Thayaw
Gnetum oblongum	No common name
Blyxa quadricostata	No common name
Butea monosperma	Pauk
Excoecaria indica	No common name
Hopea oblongifolia	Tanyin-byan
Hydnocarpus kurzii	Kalaw
Leucomeris decora	Phet-pya
Magnolia griffithii	No common name
Quercus rex	Dowaing
Taxus wallichiana	Kyauk-htinyu