Today, on World Wildlife day, we share with you a short KESAN-produced documentary celebrating this community-driven effort towards the conservation of one of the world’s global biodiversity hot-spots, exploring the process behind its creation and the paths it opens for further local community wildlife conservation initiatives. On December the 19th the Karen Forest Department launched Kaydoh Mae Nyaw Wildlife Sanctuary, a joint effort by Karen communities, civil society, and local government to protect nature and biodiversity. The wildlife sanctuary was designed in cooperation with local communities, who actively participated in demarcating the sanctuary and writing its internal rules and regulations. Through this, stakeholders have designed a wildlife conservation area that is seated in the principle of co-existence, conserving both nature and the livelihoods of local communities. Kaydoh Mae Nyaw will not only support conservation, but will play a key role in the realization of the Salween Peace Park; a grassroots initiative to build a place where Karen people can live in peace, protect their indigenous traditions and way of life, and conserve the important biodiversity that they live among.
Kaydoh Mae Nyaw Wildlife Sanctuary (Burmese Subtitle)
Video