KESAN

Empowering Communities, Securing Peace, Protecting Environment, Land and Livelihood

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.

Irrigation canal and farmland restoration
Upland farming tools and technical support
Community rice banks
Animal husbandry
Organic gardens
Agroforestry
Mo Po Mu women’s group
Fish conservation
Mini hydropower
Water Access Sanitation and Health

News

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 and passing down knowledge to future generations. Recognizing the…

Continue Reading KESAN’s Women Research Team in Action

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 Park border, Mutraw district, Kawthoolei, Burma. During these events,…

Continue Reading Community mobilization to enhance wildlife and forest conservation in the Salween Basin

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), a three-day environmental and cultural exchange camp was organized…

Continue Reading Environmental and Cultural Exchange Camp

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 generations. generations. Established on 12 January 2025, the area…

Continue Reading Another action to keep the fish thrive

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 and continued until 12th December 2024, was held by…

Continue Reading The Thawthi Taw-Oo Indigenous Park: the Birth of the Second Indigenous Karen Conserved Territory

Featured publications

CBLI handbook
Community Based Livelihoods Initiative Programme Manual
Traditional Seed Saving Handbook 
Sustainable Upland Rotational Farming
Sustainable Rotational Farming handbook

Featured Film

Indigenous Karen Food Sovereignty & Climate Change Resilience
Support us
Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial