1. “COMMUNITY-DRIVEN NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT” Seminar on Prospects for Peace and Security in South East Burma/Myanmar Wattana Resort, Mae Sot, Wednesday 4 November 2015 Presented by Frankie Abreu Tenasserim River and Indigenous People Networks

2. “We Used to Fear Bullets Now We Fear Bulldozers” Dirty coal mining by military cronies & Thai companies Ban Chaung, Dawei District, Myanmar

3. Kamoethway River valley is the upstream area of the Tenasserim River Established human settlements have existed in the valley for over 200 years More than 12,000 people in 12 villages are currently living along the Kamoethway river valley The area is under the dual administration of the Karen National Union and the Myanmar/Burma government People survive on upland rice farming and integrated betel nut plantations Communities in the area have been suffering from armed conflict since 1945 In 1997, several villages along the Tenasserim river abandoned their homes and farmland due to a major military offensive Community Profile

4. The initial investment cost for this infrastructure project was estimated at over 10 billion USD According to the initial plan, Phase 1 of the project (a road link to Thailand, water reservoir, water treatment plant, & 400 MW coal-fired power plant) would start in 2010 and will be completed in 2014 The road link was constructed through the Kamoethway area in late 2010 without the local people’s consent Local people from Tenasserim Region have suffered not only the DDP&SEZ project but also land-grabbing for mono-crop plantations and several kinds of mining, including coal Challenges: Dawei Deep Seaport and Special Economic Zone

5. Sustainable forest conservation can be achieved only when native people have the right to participate in the forest management process. This includes the right to control and manage natural resources in their territories based on their culture and traditional practices.

6. Local Knowledge-Based Research Documented local resources before they are damaged by the entry of extractive industries to the area. Collected comprehensive baseline data in order to strengthen the community’s bargaining position. Local knowledge-based research is an important way to show community members that they have the knowledge and skills necessary to sustainably manage their own local resources.

7. Community Initiated Fish Conservation Zone In order to maintain and recover the remaining aquatic species and ecosystem, villagers have proposed the establishment of a Fish Conservation Zone on the Kamoethway River.

8. A Socio-Economic Assessment Training workshop was held from 28-29 August 2014. The objective of the workshop was to recognize the scope of their resources, to understand their community, and to discuss how to balance utilization and conservation. Villagers develop socio-economic assessment questionnaires Participants conduct a socio-economic assessment (12-13 September 2014) Village-level capacity building

9. Findings from Socio-Economic Assessments Cash Income Non Cash income

10. Monitoring River and Forest Ecosystems Kamoethway indigenous people documented the condition of the river and its ecosystem, including: measuring the depth and width of the river; and an initial test of the water for contamination of heavy metals discharged by the mining company. While conducting the scientific monitoring, indigenous knowledge was used for ecosystem analysis.

11. Forest Protection Working on a fire break Posting signs raising awareness about forest fires

12. Monthly Community Forest Network Meetings Representatives from 12 villages of Kamoethway contributed their knowledge.

13. Demarcationofconservationareas Demarcation of conservation areas 12 villages are surrounded by these conservation areas. In order to manage the forest properly, nine categories of conservation areas were demarcated. The conservation areas are: 1. Wildlife sanctuary; 2. Watershed forest; 3. Agroforestry land; 4. Utilization forest; 5. Umbilical cord forest; 6. Culture forest; 7. Herbal forest; 8. Fish sanctuaries; and 9. Cemetery land

14. Working Groups Local people join working groups based on their expertise: Herbal medicine Forest trees Edible wild vegetables Wildlife Handicraft Rotational Farming

15. TRIP NET works to develop the capacity of local people to effectively and sustainably manage their own natural resources (biodiversity, forest landscape and ecosystem) in order to rehabilitate and improve the quality of life in communities that have been affected by long-term armed conflict. People-Centered Approach Members of RKIPN (Rays of Kamoethway Indigenous People and Nature)