Sustainable Development in a Conflict Zone:

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Sustainable Development in a Conflict Zone The
KESAN Experience Karen Environmental and Social
Action Network
By Marty Bergoffen Karen Environmental Social
Action Network
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About KESAN
Vision Karen indigenous people in Burma live a
peaceful life in a healthy environment and
actively demonstrate our role in maintaining
ecological balance and livelihood security.
KESAN was founded in 2001 by young activists
(originally called the Karen Nature Conservation
Group), after a class on environmental issues was
presented in Mae La refugee camp.
Mission We are a local organization working
alongside local communities in Karen State,
Burma to build up capacities in natural resource
management, raise public environmental awareness,
support community-based development initiatives
and collaborate with organizations at all levels
to advocate for environment policies and
development priorities that ensure sustainable
ecological, social, cultural and economic
benefits and gender equity.
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Karen State, Burma(Kayin)
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The Karen National Union has been fighting the
Burmese Military Government (SPDC) for 60 years.
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In many places, this has led to forest
destruction and other environmental problems.
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Villagers fleeing to the Salween River
It has also produced 500,000 displaced people in
Burma, 100,000 Karen refugees living in camps in
Thailand, and millions of Burmese economic
migrants in Thailand and other neighboring
countries.
A Karen Refugee Camp in Thailand
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Over exploitation of natural resources in our
ethnic peoples domain
Loss of Self-determination Rights
Our Concerns
Cultural biological diversity, and
subsistence livelihoods are seriously under
threat
Collapse of local social institutions
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Food security
Biodiversity
KESAN Programs
Community-based initiatives
Traditional herbal medicine
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Indigenous Knowledge
Direct Involvement
Sustainable Management
Themes
Rights-based
Community Development
People-oriented conservation
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Community- Based Initiatives
Capacity Building
Activities
Networking, Campaign Advocacy
Environmental Education Media
Environmental Policies Rural Development
Priorities
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1. Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the lynchpin of KESAN programs
because all of Karen peoples livelihood,
including food, shelter, and medicine, depends on
healthy ecosystems especially Forests and
Rivers.

Rattan, locally called kerhaw, used for building
shelter and weaving baskets.
Wild Honeybee Hive, Apis cerana
Medicinal fungus used to treat worm infections.
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Many keystone species are endangered
by development and militarization.
Others are endemic
found only in Burma.
Rhynchostylis retusa -Endangered
Gagata gasawyuh - Endemic
Yellow Tortoise - Endangered
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Biodiversity Projects

• Diversity Degraded Initial KESAN Report on
  loss of biodiversity and Indigenous Knowledge due
  to continuous conflict and displacement.
• Khoe Kay Biodiversity in Peril Survey of
  Biodiversity on Salween River and surrounding
  forests, including impact analysis of dams
  proposed by SPDC, Thailand's EGAT and Chinese
  companies.
• Forest and Land Policy Development At request
  of KNU Forest Department, KESAN is simultaneously
  developing an indigenous forest and land policy
  and training Forest Department officials in
  sustainable forest management.

KNU Forest Dept. Officials Map their Community
Forests
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Traditional Medicine
KESAN Report Traditional Herbal Healing Karen
Alternatives to Western Medicine
Karen women preparing herbal medicine.
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Food Security
Assist local villagers and internally displaced
people in meeting their nutritional needs. Focus
on organic methods, using indigenous sustainable
agriculture and traditional crops. Provide
training and resources, like tools and seeds.
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Community Based Initiatives
Villagers dig an irrigation canal with help from
KESAN, Tee Mo Kee Village, Pa An district, Karen
State.
Egg Incubator, Mae Ramu Refugee Camp, Mae Hong
Son province, Thailand.
Many times, local communities have their own
ideas about improving their livelihoods. KESAN
helps these communities reach their goals.
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Stronger Community-based Organizations (CBOs)
Good environmental governance/ practices
Outcomes
Established Environmental Processes and
Development Policy
Increased awareness about Environment Protection
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Limited opportunities to work directly with
local people due to border security
Increased Burmese military offensives
Challenges
Thailand has no established refugee policy it
changes with each new government, making
planning impossible
Limited physical security for womens
participation in project
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Result
There is no real chance for Karen people or
KESAN to affect development policy in either
Burma or Thailand.
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Conclusions
Sustainable Development requires a proactive
participatory process that allows all
stakeholders to obtain information and freely
express their opinions without fear of
repression.
An independent media, free from government
interference, plays an essential role in
ensuring that the development process is fair
and open by providing independent oversight of
government officials and NGO's.
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Thank You!