How Waves is advancing gender equality in forestry and forest landscapes
Despite the integral role women play in managing forests and forest landscapes, they face significant barriers to access, participation and leadership. In the Asia-Pacific region, women continue to be excluded from decisions that affect the very forests and natural resources they protect and rely on. This exclusion not only denies women their rights but also undermines the effectiveness of sustainable forest management and climate-related initiatives.
The barriers to gender equality in forestry and forest landscape management are multifaceted. They are rooted in social, cultural and economic systems. In many parts of the world, gender norms restrict women’s roles to the private (or domestic) sphere, while men dominate the public sphere. This reinforces the stereotype that women’s contributions to forest management are secondary, even though they are often the most dependent on forests for their livelihoods.
A woman representative from Citizens’ Forest Network in Thailand once told me that she has to make multiple arrangements before she can travel to attend meetings or trainings. “I need to secure permission from my family and ensure someone accompanies me to the meeting or training. A woman travelling alone from a remote area to the city can be dangerous.”
Cultural and behavioural barriers are evident in practice. Women are less likely to participate in forestry training programmes, and when they do, their mobility is limited, they lack resources and they experience societal resistance. Even in cases where the number of women and men participating is equal, it is men who speak the most. “Women tend to keep quiet when they are placed in the same forum as men. But when women and men are separated, they feel more confident to speak and voice their opinions,” observes Atcharaporn Daisai, project coordinator of the Citizens’ Forest Network, RECOFTC Thailand.
