Gender, Climate Change and Forest

Because of their carbon storing capacities, forests are a major issue in climate change politics. They are complex ecosystems that yield subsistence and income for more than 60 million indigenous people who are almost wholly dependent on forests, for some 350 million people who are depending on forests to a high degree, and more than 1.6 billion people who depend on forest products to some degree, for survival necessities e.g. for fuel wood, medicinal plants and some foods. There is a close link with poverty: The majority of people living in extreme poverty depend at least in part on forests for their livelihoods, permitting them to survive. Moreover, forests are hosts to a wealth of biodiversity, 70% of flora and fauna species live in tropical forests, and forests play an important role for water resources and protection of the land from flooding and erosion.

Gender Dimension

It is essential to recognize that forests are indeed crucial carbon stores stores, but also provide a home and livelihood for about 300 million people worldwide. As soon as this social component is focused, the gender aspects of forestry become evident. Women play a crucial role in agroforestry, especially when it comes to non-timber forest products (NTFPs) like food, and materials for crafts, building materials, medicine, and rituals. The collection of forests materials can also be an important income-generating activity. Women possess extensive local and/or indigenous knowledge on tree species, edible plants and those with healing capacities. In many areas, women are the primary guardians of the forests and their rich biodiversity. Their role in forest conservation has yet to be acknowledged: Women are virtually invisible in formal forestry, particularly in decision-making positions. Policy-making in the forest sector is male-dominated and tends to neglect women’s needs and interests. Women are also not likely to have any benefits from a compensation and carbon trading system: because they are the least to profit from the destruction of forests, they would be the least to receive compensation.

Response

Women’s specialised knowledge of forestry, botany, biodiversity, and water management makes them critical resources in combating deforestation. To realise this potential, women’s leadership must be supported by policies that recognise their expertise and support women in combating gender discrimination.
All forest protection mechanisms and measures should include affected communities in consultation, decision-making and implementation. Effective partizipation of women in the process has to be ensured.
Any policies and measures related to tropical forests need to be ruled by a set of principles ensuring the recognition of the contribution of indigenous peoples and other forest dependent communities to forest protection, and their legal and traditional rights over forests. In particular, the historical role and positive contribution of women in the governance and nurturing of forests must be recognised and their full participation in decision making must be ensured.

	Home l Press l Databases l Sitemap l Contact l Impressum Action < Forests Policy Action Resources Network Campaigns Agriculture Biodiversity Consumption Coastal Zones Disaster Energy Forests Health Migration Tourism Transport Water Login User Gender, Climate Change and Forest Because of their carbon storing capacities, forests are a major issue in climate change politics. They are complex ecosystems that yield subsistence and income for more than 60 million indigenous people who are almost wholly dependent on forests, for some 350 million people who are depending on forests to a high degree, and more than 1.6 billion people who depend on forest products to some degree, for survival necessities e.g. for fuel wood, medicinal plants and some foods. There is a close link with poverty: The majority of people living in extreme poverty depend at least in part on forests for their livelihoods, permitting them to survive. Moreover, forests are hosts to a wealth of biodiversity, 70% of flora and fauna species live in tropical forests, and forests play an important role for water resources and protection of the land from flooding and erosion. Gender Dimension It is essential to recognize that forests are indeed crucial carbon stores stores, but also provide a home and livelihood for about 300 million people worldwide. As soon as this social component is focused, the gender aspects of forestry become evident. Women play a crucial role in agroforestry, especially when it comes to non-timber forest products (NTFPs) like food, and materials for crafts, building materials, medicine, and rituals. The collection of forests materials can also be an important income-generating activity. Women possess extensive local and/or indigenous knowledge on tree species, edible plants and those with healing capacities. In many areas, women are the primary guardians of the forests and their rich biodiversity. Their role in forest conservation has yet to be acknowledged: Women are virtually invisible in formal forestry, particularly in decision-making positions. Policy-making in the forest sector is male-dominated and tends to neglect women’s needs and interests. Women are also not likely to have any benefits from a compensation and carbon trading system: because they are the least to profit from the destruction of forests, they would be the least to receive compensation. Response Women’s specialised knowledge of forestry, botany, biodiversity, and water management makes them critical resources in combating deforestation. To realise this potential, women’s leadership must be supported by policies that recognise their expertise and support women in combating gender discrimination. All forest protection mechanisms and measures should include affected communities in consultation, decision-making and implementation. Effective partizipation of women in the process has to be ensured. Any policies and measures related to tropical forests need to be ruled by a set of principles ensuring the recognition of the contribution of indigenous peoples and other forest dependent communities to forest protection, and their legal and traditional rights over forests. In particular, the historical role and positive contribution of women in the governance and nurturing of forests must be recognised and their full participation in decision making must be ensured. Downloads gender cc position paper for COP13: protecting tropical forests and gender justice IUCN-factsheet: gender and forestry Bibliography on gender and forestry World Rainforest Movement: Women, Forests and Plantations - The Gender Perspective genanet/WRM leaflet: Forests, deforestation and plantations from a gender perspective Links ODI Grey literature collection: Gender and forestry 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