The Myanmar hydropower sector, in theearly stages of development, has the opportunity to developsustainably by balancing electricity generation withenvironmental and social outcomes. The country is currentlyfollowing a conventional hydropower development process,with individual projects identified and approved without dueconsideration of the overall cumulative impacts thatmultiple projects and other pressures have on the riverbasin. In many countries this process has resulted in mostmajor rivers and tributaries suitable for hydropower beingdeveloped, regulating these watercourses for 50-100 yearsand beyond. Significant cumulative impacts on basin healthand related ecosystem services have resulted, with minimalopportunity available to lessen these impacts. ThisStrategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Myanmarhydropower sector considers environmental and social valuesat the river basin level, recommending an approach toachieve sustainable hydropower development. The SEArecommends moving the initial planning focus away fromindividual projects to basin health to plan a sustainablesector development.
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