Achievements 2005-2007 - “Empower and education of Karen society to sustainably manage Karen State’s forest resources for the security of Karen livelihood”

Forest conservation

Traditional herbal medicine and community forest project approaches, have contributed to gaining a high level of people’s participation in forest conservation.  A number of village committees have formed to manage and sustain community based development initiatives both in Karen and Kachin project areas.
Clearer and more decisive forestry measures have been made by local authorities in areas where highly skilled local community project partners (CPPs) are working. Because of active engagement with local influential stakeholders, there has been a logging ban issued by a district KNU governor in areas under his control.
There has also been groundbreaking participatory mechanism set up by a KNU district governor who appointed 29 village tract leaders (grouping of villages, usually 10-12 villages per village tract) to be in charge of environmental affairs.
Community forestry (traditional) management practices were strengthened and further developed. Key priorities were articulated for people-centred forest policy and a drafting committee was formed. Forty-one forest department officials (3 women, 38 men) have been trained and engaged in forest resource management and policy dialogue and 5 community forests have been recognized under the Karen Forestry Department. A community forest training manual has also been drafted in English which will be translated into Karen in 2009. 

Policy and practice change

The first draft of environment policy and safeguards came out from a consultation workshop with community-based organisations organized by Kawthoolei Environment Committee (KEC) in 2006, and the collective advocacy to include environmental provisions with the dimensions of indigenous peoples' rights in federal constitution drafting has been strengthened through KESAN's participation in the Another Development for Burma (ADFB) seminars with local civil society organisations.

Environmental education

Culturally appropriate environmental curriculum and training manuals (standards 3-10) have been developed for Karen schools in refugee camps and Kachin schools (standards 4-5). The curriculum has been successful in refugee camps, so far benefiting 11500 male students and 13500 female students over the 3 year project period, ensuring that a significant number of students, particularly girls are acquiring good quality, culturally appropriate environmental education.

Community based development initiatives

Capacities of 12 local communities were developed to deal with environmental issues and play a leading role in community based initiatives. Forty-five local resource people (18 women, 27 men) have initiated 48 community based development projects. 
There is a high level of participation of women in community based initiatives, particularly traditional medicine activities.  Over the last three years, 650 men and 450 women have been directly and indirectly benefiting from healing and herbal medicine project.  Traditional medicine books were produced, and three herbal forests were set up in three districts of Karen state.
Food security awareness raising workshops were conducted and a sustainable agriculture manual and recipe book based on local knowledge and practices was developed.  Twenty-seven local resource people (22 men, 5 women) have implemented 9 local community food security projects in five districts of Karen state. 

Capacity building

In the three year project period, the skills of KESAN staff have improved in project cycle management, environment subjects, community development concepts and approaches, and training facilitation areas. Due to our continuous training support, some trainees who are really committed to work with their communities have demonstrated a significant development in their skills, thinking, and work performance. The skills of the Kachin Environment Team have, in particular improved in project cycle management.

Advocacy activities

Local, regional and international campaigns, advocacy and networking on forests, indigenous knowledge, biodiversity and rivers (particularly a heightening of the campaign against the Salween Dam) were successful in building partnerships and raising awareness.
In 2006, KESAN published it’s “Diversity Degraded” report .  This report examines the effects of the longstanding civil war on Karen communities’ cultural and natural environment with specific focus on the diversity of cultivated and collected plant species. The case study provides a general overview of communities with a detailed look at local knowledge-based farming systems. The report also outlines the importance of non-timber forest products (NTFP) in food security and in women’s traditional work..