On July 5, 2025, a special ceremony was held in the Salween Peace Park to honor both the Kawthoolei Armed Forces and the Trees—two protectors of the land and people. The Karen National Union (KNU) and local communities came together to plant trees not just for shade or fruit, but for climate resilience, cultural identity, and peace.
The event was organized by the School of Governance and Public Administration and joined by the Salween Peace Park Governing Committee, Mutraw district KNU leaders, leaders from Kawthoolei Armed Forces, local communities, students and Karen community based organizations.
Every July, Indigenous Karen communities across Kawthoolei, the ancestral homeland of the Karen people, observe Kawthoolei Tree Planting Month—a powerful movement to heal the land, honor their ancestors, and fight for a greener, freer future.
This tree planting effort is part of the KNU-led Kawthoolei Climate Action Plan (K-CAP), which aims to reforest 200,000 hectares of degraded land and reduce deforestation by 50%, safeguarding over 220,000 hectares of remaining forests. It also supports expanding community-based conservation and Indigenous agroforestry across all seven KNU districts.
“If one tree is cut down, ten trees must be replanted. It’s simple — when we take one, we give back more. We plant trees today not just for ourselves, but for the next generation. The trees we plant now will benefit them in the future.” Said Lt. General Saw Baw Kyaw Heh (Vice Chief of Staff of the KNLA)
