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, participants discussed wildfire management and conservation, forest protection, waste management, and other issues such as drug elimination, taxation on different local products, and restrictions on several activities along the Salween River.
At the meeting regarding wildlife fire management, attendees brainstormed the creation of preparation and emergency response mechanisms to tackle the annual wild forest fire, aiming to minimize the impacts of wildfires on the forest and biodiversity. This included discussions on creating firebreaks and forming various groups to monitor and combat wildfires. This is important as the hot season is approaching.
Simultaneously, the KFD and Community Forest Rangers communicated the regulations set forth by the KFD, traditional wildlife rules and taboos established by Indigenous Karen ancestors, a specific directive on the protection of 13 endangered wildlife species also traditionally safeguarded by Karen ancestors, the closed season for hunting, wildlife species prohibited from being hunted if male, and the necessary procedures that must be followed should the communities require timber for housing or public use building.
Furthermore, the participants also deliberated on the danger of plastic waste and mechanisms to address waste issue. They touched upon the separation of organic and inorganic waste, the establishment of a garbage system in the community, and the deposition of waste and its standards, such as minimum distance between the landfills and the rivers or the village.
At the meeting, in addition to environmental issues, other topics discussed included the efforts of the Karen National Union (KNU) in Mutraw District to control drugs smuggling along the border, the participation of villagers, taxation on various products and activities, and geographical restrictions on small-scale economic activity.
Overall, the groups conducted community mobilization meetings in 11 villages, with people from nearby villages joining. The meetings started on 20 January and ended on 28 January 2025.