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. These impacts can lead to coastal vegetation like mangrove forests being destroyed and seawater flowing into freshwater reservoirs. In Asia and the Pacific region, people inhabiting low-lying coastal areas are especially at risk from natural disasters 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-scale fishing close to the shore, in contrast to men, who are more likely to fish off-shore. The variety of tasks that women perform and the lack of gender-sensitive data render it difficult to estimate women's contribution in the fisheries sector.

Because they are often responsible for supplying freshwater for their families, women are especially aware of the need to protect ecosystems and biodiversity. Other traditional female tasks like harvesting mussels and mangrove crabs are also dependant on the sustainable use of natural resources.

Response

Women's varied tasks and the lack of gender-sensitive data on post-harvest activities makes it difficult to assess women's contribution to the fisheries sector. The collection of gender-sensitive data is also a crucial prerequisite for the implementation of gender mainstreaming in integrated coastal zone management. Gender-based analysis and gender impact assessments will be useful instruments to ensure the recognition of gender issues in this area.
Women's contributions to natural resource management and conservation efforts like mangrove rehabilitation and land conservation should be recognized. Women should be empowered to participate actively in decision-making processes and activities such as environmental education and campaigning, water resource protection and sanitation.

	English \| Deutsch \| Español Home l Press l Databases l Newsletter l Sitemap l Contact l Imprint Activity fields < Coastal Zones Gender @ UNFCCC Activity fields Resources Networking About GenderCC Agriculture Biodiversity Consumption Coastal Zones Disaster Energy Forests Health Migration Population 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. These impacts can lead to coastal vegetation like mangrove forests being destroyed and seawater flowing into freshwater reservoirs. In Asia and the Pacific region, people inhabiting low-lying coastal areas are especially at risk from natural disasters 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-scale fishing close to the shore, in contrast to men, who are more likely to fish off-shore. The variety of tasks that women perform and the lack of gender-sensitive data render it difficult to estimate women's contribution in the fisheries sector. Because they are often responsible for supplying freshwater for their families, women are especially aware of the need to protect ecosystems and biodiversity. Other traditional female tasks like harvesting mussels and mangrove crabs are also dependant on the sustainable use of natural resources. Response Women's varied tasks and the lack of gender-sensitive data on post-harvest activities makes it difficult to assess women's contribution to the fisheries sector. The collection of gender-sensitive data is also a crucial prerequisite for the implementation of gender mainstreaming in integrated coastal zone management. Gender-based analysis and gender impact assessments will be useful instruments to ensure the recognition of gender issues in this area. Women's contributions to natural resource management and conservation efforts like mangrove rehabilitation and land conservation should be recognized. Women should be empowered to participate actively in decision-making processes and activities such as environmental education and campaigning, water resource protection and 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 © 2010 genderCC l All Rights Reserved