Gender, Climate Change and Coastal Zones

Coastal zones are areas of high activity for fishing, but also farming, trading, tourism and industry. These regions are especially vulnerable to the hazards of climate change, namely sea level rise, coastal erosion and extreme weather events like tsunamis and tropical cyclones. Seashore vegetation like mangrove forests is destroyed and seawater can intrude into freshwater reservoirs. In Asia and the Pacific area people inhabiting low-lying coastal areas are especially at risk in disaster events that may threaten their lives or destroy the means to provide their livelihoods.

Gender Dimension

The fishing sector is still mainly regarded as a male business, although women play a crucial role in post-harvest activities like marketing and processing fish and in reproductive tasks like maintaining nets. They are also directly involved in fishing - mainly in small-scle fisheries and close to the shore in opposition to men who are more likely to fish off-shore. These multiple tasks and missing gender-sensitive data render it difficult to estimate women's contribution in this sector.
Because they are responsible for the freshwater supply of their families, women are especially aware of the need to protect the ecosystem. Other traditional female tasks like harvesting mussels and mangrove crabs are also depending on a sustainable use of natural resources.

Response

Women's multiple tasks and missing gender-sensitive data on post-harvest activities render it difficult to estimate their contribution to the fishery sector. The collection of such data is also a crucial prerequisite for the implementation of gender mainstreaming into integrated coastal zone management. Gender based analysis and gender impact assessment will be useful instruments to insure the recognition of gender issues in this area.
Women's contributions to nature resource management and conservation efforts like mangrove rehabilitation and land conservation should be recognized. They should be empowered to participate actively in decion-making processes and activities like environmental education and campaigning, water resource protection and enhancing sanitation.

	Home l Press l Databases l Sitemap l Contact l Impressum Action < Coastal Zones Policy Action Resources Network Campaigns Agriculture Biodiversity Consumption Coastal Zones Disaster Energy Forests Health Migration Tourism Transport Water Login User Gender, Climate Change and Coastal Zones Coastal zones are areas of high activity for fishing, but also farming, trading, tourism and industry. These regions are especially vulnerable to the hazards of climate change, namely sea level rise, coastal erosion and extreme weather events like tsunamis and tropical cyclones. Seashore vegetation like mangrove forests is destroyed and seawater can intrude into freshwater reservoirs. In Asia and the Pacific area people inhabiting low-lying coastal areas are especially at risk in disaster events that may threaten their lives or destroy the means to provide their livelihoods. Gender Dimension The fishing sector is still mainly regarded as a male business, although women play a crucial role in post-harvest activities like marketing and processing fish and in reproductive tasks like maintaining nets. They are also directly involved in fishing - mainly in small-scle fisheries and close to the shore in opposition to men who are more likely to fish off-shore. These multiple tasks and missing gender-sensitive data render it difficult to estimate women's contribution in this sector. Because they are responsible for the freshwater supply of their families, women are especially aware of the need to protect the ecosystem. Other traditional female tasks like harvesting mussels and mangrove crabs are also depending on a sustainable use of natural resources. Response Women's multiple tasks and missing gender-sensitive data on post-harvest activities render it difficult to estimate their contribution to the fishery sector. The collection of such data is also a crucial prerequisite for the implementation of gender mainstreaming into integrated coastal zone management. Gender based analysis and gender impact assessment will be useful instruments to insure the recognition of gender issues in this area. Women's contributions to nature resource management and conservation efforts like mangrove rehabilitation and land conservation should be recognized. They should be empowered to participate actively in decion-making processes and activities like environmental education and campaigning, water resource protection and enhancing sanitation. Downloads Cross currents: navigating gender and population linkages for integrated coastal management IUCN-factsheet: Why gender makes the difference - Fisheries and aquacultures in coastal zones CIDA-factsheet: Coastal zone management & equality between women and men Workshop report: Room to Manoeuvre. Gender and Coping Strategies in the Fisheries Sector Links The Gender and Water Alliance: Integrated Water Resourse Management (IWRM) Resource Guide - Gender and Coastal Zone Management Who we are gendercc – women for climate justice is the global network of women and gender activists and experts from all world regions working for gender and climate justice. Send page Print Copyright © 2008 gender cc l All Rights Reserved