Community Based Livelihoods Initiatives
Strengthening livelihood through natural conservation
KESAN’s Community Based Livelihoods Initiative (CBLI) Program assists conflict-affected communities in Karen State to rehabilitate and restore their livelihoods and strengthen local food sovereignty based on sustainable agricultural practices and development of local livelihood opportunities.
The main aim of the CBLI program is to support small-scale local interventions that will result in improved management of community natural resources, conservation of local biodiversity, preservation and promotion of Indigenous knowledge, empowerment of women, strengthened local livelihood security, and enhanced resilience for natural and human-caused disasters.
In this program, we work closely with ‘Cluster’ leaders. A cluster is composed of 20 to 30 villages, including villagers and local leaders. The CBLI program’s approach is to – first and foremost – respond to community needs, and then ensure that community members take the lead during project planning, implementation and monitoring in to empower and promote community ownership of projects thereby making CBLI interventions as socially and ecologically sustainable as possible.
News
A Stronghold for Southeast Asia’s Vanishing Wildlife
Deep within Kawthoolei lies a rich and vibrant landscape where wildlife continues to survive despite growing threats across the region. In Mergui Tavoy District, one of the seven districts under the Karen National Union (KNU), the KNU and local Karen communities are continuing their efforts to establish the 1,300,000-acre Kser Doh Conservation Area (KCA). This…
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For Present and Future Generations: Community Forests in PIST
For generations, the Karen people have managed and protected their forests through community-based traditions rooted in collective responsibility and long-term care. In most villages, certain forest areas are set aside as community forests, protected not for profit, but for the survival and well-being of present and future generations. These community forests are governed by the…
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Declaration of the Pawklo Indigenous Stewardship Territory Marks a Milestone for Indigenous Self‑Determination
From April 22 to 24, 2026, Indigenous Karen communities of the Pawklo River Basin gathered to officially declare the Pawklo Indigenous Stewardship Territory (PIST), an Indigenous conserved territory initiated through community-led efforts that began in 2018. The three‑day ceremony, held in K’Ser Doh Township, Mergui‑Tavoy District of Kawthoolei, brought together approximately 950 participants from 24…
Statement on the Declaration of the Pawklo Indigenous Stewardship Territory (PIST)
April 27, 2026 On April 22, 2026, during a historic gathering held from April 22 to 24, we the Indigenous Karen communities of the Pawklo River Basin, located in K’Ser Doh Township, Mergui‑Tavoy District of Kawthoolei, formally and collectively declared the Pawklo Indigenous Stewardship Territory (PIST). The official declaration statement follows below. English version: [embeddoc…
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Strengthening Indigenous Biodiversity Research in the Salween Peace Park
From February 23rd to 28th, 2026, a biodiversity research training was conducted at the Kheshorter Community Forest Center in Paw Law Pu, Luthaw Township, located in the north‑western part of the Salween Peace Park. A total of 30 people joined the training, including members of the Women Research Team, officers from several departments of the…
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Honoring a Defender of Indigenous Rights:In Loving Memory of Saw Keh Doh (1967–2026)
The Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN) and the people of Ler Doh Soe Township, Mergui-Tavoy District, are mourning the loss of a dedicated community leader, caretaker, and Indigenous rights defender, Saw Keh Doh, who passed away from illness. Saw Keh Doh was born on May 31, 1967, to Naw Paw Lay Zar and…
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