By Eleanor Trenary | Philanthropy Officer
Thank you for your support of land rights in Myanmar! Your donation to this project is helping millions of rural households enjoy stronger rights to land. With secure rights to land, people can invest in climate-smart agriculture, reduce conflict with family members and neighbors, and boost their income by selling extra produce.
Who you’ve helped: Ma Phyu’s story
Ma Phyu is an indigenous ethnic minority woman in southern Myanmar and before her community gained secure land rights, they feared being displaced and lived with constant uncertainty.
“We always had to worry about our farms, whether they would be removed by the government or if we would be sued by the Forest Department for trespassing.”
Thanks to a Landesa-supported program in partnership with the Myanmar civilian government, the land was reclassified and the village received a Community Forest Certificate. This Certificate gives them the legal right and documentation to live and practice traditional agroforestry among the trees of the forest.
“Now I am confident,” Ma Phyu told us. “I dare to announce to anyone that this is my farm and these are crops from my farm.” Ma Phyu has joined the forest management taskforce in her village, and is encouraging other women to step into leadership roles.
The Certificate gives the villagers security, as well as responsibility to protect the delicate ecosystem. By giving secure land rights to the community, the forest is protected from clear-cutting or deforestation by developers. With assistance from the Forest Department, Ma Phyu has planted over 2,000 native tree seedlings this year, which will boost her family’s income and replenish the forest.
“I imagine in the future my farm will be prosperous with organic crops and homegrown nutrients for my family.”
Scaled Impact Felt Throughout Myanmar
Ma Phyu’s story echoes throughout Myanmar: over 71,000 families have received land through government allocation programs supported by Landesa. The government has identified an additional 2.8 million acres of land available for allocation, which will continue to improve the lives of rural farmers and landless households through the country.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for your support of land rights in Myanmar! Together, we will continue to champion secure land rights for millions of the world’s poorest women and men, providing opportunity and promoting social justice. For additional updates on our work around the world, please, visit landesa.org or follow us on social media.
With gratitude,
Eleanor Trenary
Philanthropy Officer
P.S. Global Giving is matching all new monthly donations this year—share this project with your friends and family and ask them to join you in supporting this important work!
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