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The Thawthi Taw-Oo Indigenous Park encompasses 5754 square kilometres of land and is home to more than 70 000 people and a myriad of flora and fauna. However, this area has been marked by 74 years of civil war. The conflict has resulted in loss of life, mass forced displacement of more than 200,000 people, land grabbing, degradation of forests, loss of wildlife and cultural sites, and an increase in illicit extractive activities (e.g. poaching, wildlife trade, and mining). Threats to the indigenous communities and the environment have escalated since the military junta's coup in early 2021.  

To protect their way of life against these growing threats, communities have united to establish the Thawthi Taw-Oo Indigenous Park. The TTIP represents their vision for a community-led biocultural approach to conservation, which centres diverse Karen indigenous cultural heritage, knowledge and traditions. The TTIP strives to realise the community's understanding of what constitutes peaceful living, bottom-up governance, and democratic federalism. 

Preserved forest landscapes 

Even though the TTIP is still in its initial stages, Taw Oo communities have engaged in biocultural conservation practices for generations, and thus successfully conserved vast forest landscapes. Situated in the globally recognized Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot, these landscapes function as  carbon sinks and help mitigate climate change. Furthermore, these efforts have contributed to enhancing community tenure security, which in the long-term strengthens livelihood and food security, as well as reducing poverty. 

The TTIP’s vision and governance structure are inspired by the Salween Peace Park (SPP), in Mutraw District, Kawthoolei. After witnessing the successes of the SPP, which was formally launched in 2018 and was awarded the Equator Prize in 2020, Taw Oo communities were motivated to establish a similar initiative in their region. 

The TTIP is in need of more sustainable and long-term funding and would also benefit from more international and regional recognition.  

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