Gender-Based Community Participation in Biodiversity Conservation Activities:

A Case Study From Ratchaburi, Thailand

ADB-Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative (BCI)

Thailand at the present has lost its biodiversity at the alarming rate (ONEP, 2006) Target goal of ADB-BCI “the continuous provision of NR goods and services”(ADB, 2005)

To conserve the country’s biodiversity & sustain people’s livelihood, support and collaboration of local community is needed (MA, 2005)

Need of gender-based analysis in Development (Agarwal, 2001) Millennium Development Goal #3: promote gender equality & empower W.

social problem; poverty /education/ but gender issues not yet focused (ADB, 2007)

Gender-based community participation in Biodiversity conservation activities:

Objectives & Data Objectives & Data Collection Collection

To assess the different contributions of men and To assess the different contributions of men and women to livelihood through NRMwomen to livelihood through NRM

Focus-group discussion: M/F in each village

To comparatively assess the level of local To comparatively assess the level of local participation between men and women in participation between men and women in conservation projectsconservation projects

Ladder of Participation frequencies/WAI

To determine the influencing factors that boost To determine the influencing factors that boost or hinder the level of participationor hinder the level of participation

Questionnaire WAI

To provide recommendationsTo provide recommendations

Literature ReviewLiterature ReviewGender and NR Gender and NR

women’s work involves them closely with naturalwomen’s work involves them closely with natural

resources, whether as haulers of water, hewers of fuelresources, whether as haulers of water, hewers of fuel

wood, or contributors in agricultural production whilewood, or contributors in agricultural production while

men are interested in trees to produce building poles men are interested in trees to produce building poles

to sell for cash (Leach, 1992). to sell for cash (Leach, 1992).

Gender & community participation Gender & community participation

McAdam (1992): women’s parenting role constrainsMcAdam (1992): women’s parenting role constrains

one’s time and availability for participationone’s time and availability for participation

Agarwal (2001): factors that determine participationAgarwal (2001): factors that determine participation

such as rules, norms, and perceptions cansuch as rules, norms, and perceptions can

disadvantage women. disadvantage women.

Arnstein’s ladder of Arnstein’s ladder of citizen participationcitizen participation

3: 3: have been informed about this projecthave been informed about this project

4: give opinions/ feedback to the project 4: give opinions/ feedback to the project such as via survey such as via survey

5: have position but do not have decision-5: have position but do not have decision-making power making power

6: have a position and partially involve in 6: have a position and partially involve in decision-making process decision-making process

7: Fully involved in decision-making 7: Fully involved in decision-making

8: Fully in charge of management 8: Fully in charge of management

Characteristics of respondentsCharacteristics of respondents 84 persons in Punam Ron/ 102 in Pong / #M= #F Age : majority 30-42 years old Average monthly income: Pong Krathing Bon

(5,578.81 Baht) / Ban Punam Ron (4,470.75 Baht) Occupation: Pong Krathing Bon= farmers /Ban

Punam Ron= laborers in non-agriculture. most respondents spend 5-12 hours to carry out

productive and reproductive works daily reproductive work: less than 2 hrs.** Except women

in Ban Punam Ron (2-4 hrs.) **community managing role is not included :

babysitting children of relatives or neighbors, help out in temple

majority of respondents acquire primary educationmajority of respondents acquire primary education

Comparative Assessment Comparative Assessment Factors Pong Krathing Bon Punam Ron

Education • no education: more female numbers• 1st and 2nd education is acquired by

more men• Proportions of men with 2nd edu. are

four times > than of women

* *

Employment • Higher proportions of unemployed women than of men

• Large #women - unemployed (41.2%)

*

Occupation • farming and labor work – more M• in sale business – more W • Government officials are only male

**Female

Income • Large # women do not earn income.• In every income-generating group, >

portions of male than female

•No income: W>M•income >10,000 Baht : W>M

Factors Pong Krathing Bon Punam Ron

Workload •More women > men use more than 12 hours of working•Higher # of hrs. spent to carry out the reproductive work are occupied by > women

Leadership •Head of family is mostly male leader (3times >female)• In public sphere, male leaders are 2 times>female leaders

*

•F leaders are 2 times>M leaders

NR uses •Men harvest timber, tree branches, wild animals •women harvest food plants, fuel wood, fodder, leaf litter, and herb•women are collector of water resources

*

*

*

Comparative Assessment Comparative Assessment

Gender division of labor (Pong Krathing Bon)Gender division of labor (Pong Krathing Bon)

inner = actor / outer = decision maker

Men make decision in most activities (7 out of 8 activities) but workloads are shared Men make decision in most activities (7 out of 8 activities) but workloads are shared

Gender division of labor (Punam Ron)Gender division of labor (Punam Ron)

Shared decision-making and workloadMen -farm maintenance , women - selling farm products

Shared decision-making and workloadMen -farm maintenance , women - selling farm products

Conservation practices Conservation practices

Women: transporting manure, manuring , agro-forestryMen : repairing water reservoir

difference : more sharing of works here

Community participation in Community participation in Biodiversity Conservation Activities Biodiversity Conservation Activities

Home GardenHome Garden Forest PlantingForest Planting Village NurseriesVillage Nurseries Firebreak ConstructionFirebreak Construction Check-dam ConstructionCheck-dam Construction Religious Ceremony on TreesReligious Ceremony on Trees Village Debate on CINPM (Community-Integrated Village Debate on CINPM (Community-Integrated

National Park ManagementNational Park Management) )

Community participation Community participation

Punam Ron: more participantsPunam Ron: more participants

in most activitiesin most activities

Pong Krathing Bon = higherPong Krathing Bon = higher

level of participation (WAI) level of participation (WAI)

Participation level (WAI) Participation level (WAI) Projects

Pong Krathing Bon (n=102)

Punam Ron (n=84)

M (51) F (51) M (42) F (42)

Home garden 0.29 0.37 0.29 0.46

Forest planting 0.38 0.21 0.46 0.36

Village nurseries 0.37 0.19 0.22 0.23

Fire break construction 0.41 0.16 0.34 0.28

Check dam construction 0.47 0.15 0.29 0.26

Religious ceremony on trees 0.23 0.32 0.14 0.19

Village debate 0.48 0.28 0.31 0.42

Total weight 2.63 1.68 2.05 2.20

Average 0.38 0.24 0.29 0.31

0.17 = level 1 of participation ladder

0.33 = level 2 of participation ladder

0.50 = level 3 of participation ladder

0.67 = level 4 of participation ladder

0.83 = level 5 of participation ladder

1.00 = level 6 of participation ladder

Comparative Assessment Comparative Assessment Factors Pong Krathing Bon Punam Ron

# Participants > M in forest planting, village nurseries, check-dam construction, fire-break construction, village debate

> F in home garden and religious ceremony on trees

> M in firebreak construction and check-dam construction

> F in home garden, forest planting, village nurseries, religious ceremony on trees, and village debate

ParticipantLevel

> M participation - forest planting, village nurseries, check-dam construction, fire-break construction, village debate

>F participation - home garden and religious ceremony on trees

> M participation is found in forest planting, construction and check-dam construction

> F participation is found in home garden, village nurseries, religious ceremony on trees, and village debate

Factors Pong Krathing Bon Punam Ron Drivers for participation

M- time, incentive, leader, and distance

F -time, incentive, and linkage b/w NR & livelihood

M- time and incentive F - time, incentive, and leaders

Drivers for non- participation

M- time, incentive, and advertisement F - time, incentive, family members,

and advertisement

M- time, advertisement, and distance

F- time, family members, advertisement, and distance

Recommend M-suitable time, provision of knowledge & money, and close distance

W- provision of knowledge & money, close distance, and advertisement

M-provision of knowledge & money, bottom-up approach, and advertisement

W- lose distance, while bottom-up approach and provision of knowledge & money carry the same weight of importance

Comparative Assessment Comparative Assessment

Drivers forDrivers forparticipation participation

Similarity across genders and villages Similarity across genders and villages Time and incentive are perceived as the most Time and incentive are perceived as the most

influencing factorsinfluencing factors

Gender-based difference in two villages Gender-based difference in two villages In Ban Pong Krathing Bon : men- leader & In Ban Pong Krathing Bon : men- leader &

distance /W- linkage between natural resources distance /W- linkage between natural resources and livelihood functionand livelihood function

In Ban Punam Ron, women consider leader as In Ban Punam Ron, women consider leader as their influencing factortheir influencing factor

Drivers for Drivers for nonparticipation nonparticipation

Common finding across village and gender Common finding across village and gender Time and advertisement are perceived as the most Time and advertisement are perceived as the most

influencing factors for both M&W in both villages influencing factors for both M&W in both villages In both villages, W consider family In both villages, W consider family

members/neighbor influence as influencing factormembers/neighbor influence as influencing factor

Difference Difference Incentive: Both M&W in Ban Pong Krathing BonIncentive: Both M&W in Ban Pong Krathing Bon Distance: Both M&W in Ban Punam Ron Distance: Both M&W in Ban Punam Ron

Quantitatively, they perceive gender is Quantitatively, they perceive gender is not influencing factor …… let’s see !! not influencing factor …… let’s see !!

Quantitative finding Quantitative finding

Correlation analysis: the higher no. of male,Correlation analysis: the higher no. of male,

the lesser numbers of participants in Religiousthe lesser numbers of participants in Religious

Ceremony on TreesCeremony on Trees

1) there is a link b/w gender & participation 1) there is a link b/w gender & participation

2) No. of male participants influence 2) No. of male participants influence

participation of the opposite sex. participation of the opposite sex.

qualitative data??

Insights from Male Pong Krathing BonInsights from Male Pong Krathing Bon

Overload work for W if women are employedOverload work for W if women are employed Traditional belief: W stay at home/ M study& work Traditional belief: W stay at home/ M study& work reproductive work is women’s responsibilityreproductive work is women’s responsibility If shared: get laughed at/wife go out If shared: get laughed at/wife go out Men are more suitable for leadership Men are more suitable for leadership

(travel/household chores ~ children)(travel/household chores ~ children) Community work: W cook/ religious/ decoration Community work: W cook/ religious/ decoration W feel uncomfortable to involve when many men W feel uncomfortable to involve when many men

are thereare there

Female Pong Female Pong Krathing BonKrathing Bon

feel uncomfortable to express opinions in publicfeel uncomfortable to express opinions in public Not consider reproductive roles as workNot consider reproductive roles as work proudly accepted that men are breadwinners for a proudly accepted that men are breadwinners for a

familyfamily believe in men-dominated society (more knowledge, believe in men-dominated society (more knowledge,

experience, and social connection)experience, and social connection) accept household chores as their total responsibility- accept household chores as their total responsibility-

too muchtoo much public service are mostly undertaken by menpublic service are mostly undertaken by men Reasons: husband said so, chores/children, children Reasons: husband said so, chores/children, children

annoy, feel unwelcomedannoy, feel unwelcomed Opposite result from young female adult Opposite result from young female adult

Male Punam Ron Male Punam Ron fair arrangement on workload fair arrangement on workload Education: equal nowEducation: equal now ““as commonly seen everywhere in as commonly seen everywhere in

the world, the president or leader the world, the president or leader of any country is mostly male”. of any country is mostly male”. (men are more suitable) (men are more suitable)

is difficult for women, especially is difficult for women, especially the married ones, to travel aroundthe married ones, to travel around

More women in public function More women in public function because they stay at home or work because they stay at home or work within community area within community area

Female Punam RonFemale Punam Ron Feel comfortable in sharing opinionsFeel comfortable in sharing opinions both husband and wife do generate incomes and do both husband and wife do generate incomes and do

share responsibility in household chores.share responsibility in household chores. Female leaders should be encouraged (they are Female leaders should be encouraged (they are

also)also) women are more precautious in making decisionwomen are more precautious in making decision no gender difference: knowledge, experience, and no gender difference: knowledge, experience, and

social connection. social connection. feel proud to be part of conservation projects & feel proud to be part of conservation projects &

receive knowledge from hands-on activitiesreceive knowledge from hands-on activities Differences b/w villages : education gap, age, Differences b/w villages : education gap, age,

existence of female leaders , traditional pratices existence of female leaders , traditional pratices

Recommendations Recommendations Promote gender sensitivityPromote gender sensitivity Promote public participationPromote public participation Promote formulation of Promote formulation of

gender-friendly policies gender-friendly policies