Paul Sein Twa

Paul Sein Twa (born 1972 or 1973 (age 49–50))[1] is a Karen environmentalist and indigenous activist from Myanmar who works to preserve the culture and environment of the Salween River basin.[1] He co-founded the Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN) in 2001 to help Karen indigenous communities the preservation and protection of their land and heritage. He received the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2020 for his efforts.[2][3]

Paul Sein Twa
NationalityMyanmar
Occupation(s)Environmentalist and indigenous activist
Known forKaren Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN)
AwardsGoldman Environmental Prize, 2020

Career

Sein Twa helped establish the Salween Peace Park, a transboundary protected area that aims to preserve the biodiversity and cultural heritage of the Salween River basin.[3] He and KESAN worked with 348 villages representing approximately 68,000 Karen people to consult with the community and mobilize support for the park, which was established in December 2018.[4][5][6] The park also rediscovered a traditional land governance system called Kaw, which prohibits the hunting of endangered species and reinforces the Karen people's connection to their ancestral lands.[7]

Recognition

In 2020, Sein Twa received the Goldman Environmental Prize in recognition of his efforts to mobilize Karen indigenous people.[2][8][9] The IUCN Asia Regional Office plans to support indigenous peoples and local communities by prioritizing inclusive governance in its program for 2021-2024. As part of its collaboration with Sein Twa and KESAN on the Accelerating Tiger Recovery in Thailand-Myanmar Transboundary Region project, the IUCN Asia has also started discussions on water governance in the Salween River basin.[10]

References
  1. Chandran, Rina (2020-12-03). "Indigenous wisdom protects forests, says prize-winning Myanmar activist". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  2. "Paul Sein Twa - Goldman Environmental Prize". 2022-03-18. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  3. "Supporting communities to fight for environmental justice, Indigenous rights, and peace". Discover Wildlife. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  4. "'Green Nobel' Prize-Winning Activist Says Indigenous Wisdom Protects Forests". Global Citizen (in French). Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  5. "ICCA Consortium". ICCA Consortium. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  6. "'Our struggle is far from over': Karen activist wins prestigious Goldman prize". Myanmar Mix. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  7. "To End Seven Decades of Ethnic Conflict, He Helped Set Up Peace Park". Earth Island Journal. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  8. "Myanmar: Land rights defender Paul Sein Twa wins 2020 Goldman Environmental Prize for Asia". Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  9. Arora, Sumit (2020-12-15). "Myanmar's Paul Sein Twa receives Goldman Environmental Prize 2020". adda247. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  10. "Paul Sein Twa, co-founder of KESAN and Salween Peace Park in Myanmar, receives Goldman Environmental Prize 2020". IUCN. 2020-12-04. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
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