Text Box: Destruction and Degradation of the Burmese Frontier Forests Text Box: # Text Box: forests, and despite difficulties some farmers can still practice sustainable traditional methods. The communities are willing to restore their forest management practices and have been asking for the recognition and respect of their rights. “If they [leaders] wait until Burma gets democracy and the military government changes, the forests will be gone and there will be no forest for the coming generations." They recognize that action must be taken now, and that it cannot wait until the political situation is stable. In some villages they plan to mark out a separate area for their community and revive the traditional forest management system. "For 3 months each year there will be an open period in which the forest can be used by villagers, but only for basic necessities, not for commercial purpose”. "In the current situation, we couldn’t replant trees, but each family could plant one or two trees in their garden to use for firewood". “In our forest, we need to stop logging and take the wood that is just enough for our household needs. We need to protect our forest from fire, so more trees can grow up and more animals will come back to the forest”. These small-scale environmental initiatives by the local people are essential for successful changes in forestry management practices. Local community empowerment is very important. Campaigning and activities which KESAN has done in these communities, has proven to have sparked an interest with the local people, raising awareness about the importance of the environment, their forests and the need to manage forests sustainably. “What the KESAN trainer talked about forest conservation is fit to our community and the young people in my village need to learn about this issue”. “Thulei Kawwei magazine [published by KESAN] reminds us how the elder people used the forest with care. It is very useful for the young people to read this to get more knowledge of positive living in harmony with the environment. In Burma the SPDC censures outside information”. Karen forests are rich in biodiversity and it is important that they are conserved and utilised sustainably. Prevention of cultural and biological erosion is essential and the revitalization and restoration of the traditional forest conservation system is the beginning of an end to the destruction of the remaining forests. “If war and logging still continue, we Karen people will disappear. We need a person who will take responsibility in solving the political problems and conserve the environment”. Recommendations Campaigning and awareness raising using materials such as environmental magazine, workshops, and seminars, to inform the local communities about environmental issues and allow them to express their ideas through this forum. People empowerment: small scale, local development and training. Small-scale environment initiatives run by local people are an important, good beginning for successful forest management. The use of local knowledge and traditional practices in sustainable management is essential. Leaders and policy holders are needed, who are knowledgeable about forest management and are sensitive to the local people’s needs and practices. SPDC, cease-fire or non cease-fire groups need to recognize and respect local customary rights, land rights and common property rights in the context of forest use, management, and conservation. Environmental and social values protection must be prioritized before granting logging concessions. It means the authorities must conduct reliable Environmental Impact Assessments and Social Impact Assessments, and then if areas must be logged then it must be done in a sustainable way, which strictly abides by the forestry guidelines. The KNU must formulate or reform their forestry policy. At the same time an effort to help people develop their own forestry policy, management and operational plan is a good way to make the KNU forestry policy reflect the real need of the local communities. Documentation by local forestry officials on the status of the forests (community forest mapping). More participatory research on the forestry issues must be done to gain deeper understanding and to provide Text Box: