Gender, Climate Change and Biodiversity
| Climate change influences the rich variety of life on earth. A number of impacts have already been observed and are expected to aggravate in the future: species shifting habitats, changes in distribution and life cycles, reproduction timings and growing seasons for plants, as well as the development of new physical traits. Due to drastic effects of the rapid progress of climate change, many species will be unable to adapt. Addtionally, effects of human interference into ecosystems like over-harvesting, pollution and the introduction of invasive species reduce the resilience of ecosystems and thereby renders the environment more vulnerable to the threats of climate change. |
Gender Dimension
The gendered division of labour influences the use and benefit of resources. Men’s and women’s different roles in family and community in terms of labour, property rights and decision making processes generate varying knowledge about biodiversity and ecosystems and different skills in association with biodiversity. The rural population in the Global South living under poverty conditions depends on the biological resources to meet 90% of their needs. About 80% of the world’s population depends upon traditional medicine to meet their basic health needs.
Women’s traditional role as household managers relies on biological diversity. Women collect plants and animals to feed and cure their families and to supplement the family income. This requires specific knowledge on eatable wild species, their nutritional values, the necessary preparation and where and when to find them. Women’s responsibility for food and medical plants, housing material and livestock is depending on local natural resources. Destabilizing biodiversity due to climate change affects women exceptionally.
Successfully conserving biodiversity depends upon the active involvement of local and indigenous communities and on promoting gender equity as different studies have shown. Projects that consider both are not only more effective and balanced but also strengthen the social formation of communities.
Groups as Diverse Women for Diversity have coined the term "Biopiracy" for extracting, patenting and selling women’s local knowledge for the benefit of industry and research institutions. Processes that involve and enhance cycles of exploitation, commercialization, biodiversity deprivation and poverty undermine women’s knowledge and status. The access to and control over resources thereby influences women's truggle for autonomy and sovereignty.
Both sexes have different needs, interests, knowledge, and behaviour that shape conservation initiatives. This is an important aspect to consider when designing projects, conducting appraisals, allocating budgets, and analyzing sensitive indicators to evaluate project performance.
Due to widespread traditional gender discrimination, women’s experiences have been excluded from decision making and most representation venues, women’s knowledge and skills in managing natural resources and biodiversity are poorly considered and represented.
Response
Unlike the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, the Convention on Biological Diversity mentions women’s roles. Nevertheless, its implementation requires a greater focus on gender.
Greater recognition must be given to the role of women in biodiversity use, management and conservation.
There is a need to include women in all efforts towards biodiversity conservation. The importance of the knowledge possessed by women, including their right to use local plant biodiversity, must be recognised. How can we prevent such knowledge – which is currently largely unrecorded and unrecognized – from being lost?
In the context of climate change, women’s biodiversity knowledge becomes even more vital as it may hold keys to survival.
Awareness on the potential wealth of women’s contributions in all forums and institutions dealing with biodiversity must be raised. Conservation efforts need to draw from the principles of social justice, equity and equality.
