The Indigenous Karen communities in Saw Tay Der Kaw, in Taw-Oo District, Kawthoolei, are victims of both
climate hazards such as storms, landslides, floods and pest outbreaks, as well as seven decades of armed conflict, militarisation, displacement and dispossession at the hands
of the repressive Burmese military regime.
Despite the considerable hardships and difficulties that they continue to face, the community has found resolve and resilience within their ancestral territory, known in
Karen as their Kaw. The Kaw is central to the community’s cultural, livelihood and social security, providing them withsanctuary, food, and water during periods of hardship.
Furthermore, the indigenous knowledge, local institutions, and a spirit of community collectivism passed down through the generations promote harmonious relations between
the community and their Kaw, enabling them to navigate through periods of difficulty, as well as sustaining their forests and resources for future generations. The community’s
resilience is grounded within the reciprocal relationship they maintain with their Kaw; their Kaw protects them, and in turn, they protect their Kaw.