
Karen Environmental and Social Action Network.
Empowering communities, securing peace, protecting environment, land and livelihood
KESAN is a community-based, non-governmental, non-profit organization that works to improve livelihood security and to gain respect for indigenous people’s knowledge and rights in Karen State of Burma, where the violence and inequities of more than 60 years of civil war have created one of the most impoverished regions in the world.
Our programs
Latest news
Incorporating wildlife protection and ecotourism
27 March 2027 – From 17th to 18th March 2025, community members of the Kheshorter Community Forest in northern Salween Peace Park held an annual meeting in Paw Law Pu, Luthaw Township, Mutraw District, Kawthoolei. Around 70 people attended, including community members from 15 villages, leaders…
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KESAN’s Women Research Team in Action
26 March 2025 – Indigenous Karen women possess valuable knowledge about various species that differs from the perspectives of men, yet their insights are often overlooked. Women play a crucial role in mobilizing the community and sharing important information. They are primarily responsible for nurturing children…
Community mobilization to enhance wildlife and forest conservation in the Salween Basin
From January 20 to 27, 2025, the Karen Forestry Department (KFD), in collaboration with Mutraw border affair committee, Community Forest Rangers, and Karen National Police Force (KNPF), conducted a series of community meetings in 11 different locations along the Salween River, Thailand – the Salween Peace…
Environmental and Cultural Exchange Camp
A Shared Vision and Commitment toward Environmental Stewardship and Cultural Preservation January 14-16, 2025 With concerted effort and coordination between the Salween Peace Park’s Governing Committee, the Mutraw District Karen Education and Culture Department (KECD), local communities and the Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN),…
Another action to keep the fish thrive
17, January 2025 Two villages, 𝐊𝐨𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐡 𝐊𝐞𝐞 and 𝐍𝐲𝐚 𝐏𝐞𝐡 𝐇𝐭𝐚, in Dwelo township, Mutraw district, Salween Peace Park, established a fish conservation area in the river near their villages to sustain the fish population and protect the biodiversity and livelihoods of current and future…
The Thawthi Taw-Oo Indigenous Park: the Birth of the Second Indigenous Karen Conserved Territory
After seven years of collective effort and dedication, on 10th December 2024, the Indigenous Karen peoples of Taw-Oo district, Kawthoolei, south-east Burma have finally declared their Indigenous community conserved territory called ‘Thawthi Taw-Oo Indigenous Park’ or TTIP. The three days long event, which started on 10th…