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Banchaung, Tanintharyi Region, Myanmar (Burma)
2016 - 2020
Short description
Overall goal: Indigenous communities in the Tanitharyi River Region play a leading role in nature conservation and sustainable development of their communities. Facilitating Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities to map the boundaries of their territory, appreciative inquiry of community assests, co-development of management systems based on traditional and ‘scientific’ knowledge, mapping of natural resources, agreement on users zones, training of youth in natural resource management and leadership, lobby and advocacy for community (land) rights, research into private sector acting as drivers of deforestation, etc.
Main purpose
Biodiversity conservation / restoration,
Land tenure equality and security,
Trust building between conflicting groups
Other expected benefits
Erosion control / slope stabilization,
Reduced environmental degradation from sustainable resource use,
Climate adaptation / resilience,
Increasing community cohesion / community building,
Strengthening indigenous culture,
Rehabilitation of mangrove areas – coastal protection
Conflict context
There is a conflict over power in the Tanintharyi area of Myanmar, between the national government and the Karen National Union. Some areas are still controlled by the government while others are controlled by the KNU and some are ‘grey’ areas, where neither party has complete control. The NGOs we work with aim to protect civilians and nature from this armed conflict, as both have become a victim of it. While it has been relatively easy to cooperate with the KNU on matters of the environment, it has been more difficult to do so with the national government.
Peace and security contributions
Improved management of natural resources were appreciated by authorities (AICHI goals); strengthened communities to undertake community-based development and to engage with local government. Improved livelihoods through sustainable resource use has reduced the incentive for young people to join armed groups. Despite the increase in violence in recent years, local NGOs and communities continue their practices of sustainable resource use. The project also served as an entry point for dialogue between conflicting groups, where enviornmental protection served as a neutral or apolitical topic which all parties found important. For example, it brought together the Karen National Union (KNU) and the national government of Myanmar to establish forest management protocols.
Reported elements of good practices
- Establishment of community territories and user zones;
- Improvement of sustainable livelihoods;
- First-time meetings between forestry services of the Myanmar national government and the Karen National Union;
- Sensibilisaton of Myanmar government for community management.
Reported challenges
- Distrust of central government and central security forces; harassment and intimidaton of local CSOs;
- Fear for violence from central state;
- Too little resources for implementation of all needed activities (capacity building, market access, exchange visits etc);
- Freedom of movement.
Practical details of implementation
Capacity building of local communities focused especially on youth and women. 36 youth leaders graduated from the 8-month course called Tanintharyi Community Volunteer Service (TCVS) that was supported by IUCN NL, and the elders feel more confident that the next generation will continue to work for the communities and local biodiversity. In case of an increase in conflict, communities are better organised, have more self-confidence, have increased food-sovereignty. Local NGOs consists of indigenous representatives who have strong ties to the communities they serve, which allows them to gain understanding of their needs and create context-specific solutions with local knowledge.
Method of monitoring environmental and peace impacts
Environmental impacts are monitored by local NGOs with GPS. They measure how many hectares of land falls under the communities’ management. They also fill out environmental indicators.
Social impacts are measured through participative monitoring and outcome harvesting. Through conversations with local communities, actors’ changes in behavior are monitored.
Futher reading
Contact details
mail@iucn.nl