Gender, Forestry and Climate Change: Analyzing Challenges and Opportunities for Rural Women and

Adolescent Girls

Sahelian Regional Workshop

4-8, May 2009Bamako, Mali

By Susan KarutiGender Coordinator,MDG Centre, Nairobi

s.karuti@cgiar.org

Why Gender in Forestry?

Forests are natural resources important to livelihoods, poverty, environmental conservation and reducing the impact of climate change. Women are highly dependent on local natural resources for their livelihoodThe full potential of forests may never be grasped without an understanding of gender differential in the use forest resources differently.

Gender in Forestry cont…

Despite their critical role - women and girls’ access to natural and social capital lags significantly behind Depletion of natural resources and agricultural productivity - place additional burdens on women’ health and reduce time to participate in decision-making and IGAshigher risk for worsening environmental conditions -increasing desertification and water scarcity exacerbate their workloadsThe accentuated feminization of poverty has dramatic impacts beyond the present generation

Environ. Degradation and Feminization of Poverty

Example of exacerbated cycle of poverty for 

women

Source: WEDO, 2008

MDG 3 & Forestry

Gender equality -an integral and central element of any development interventions- a path towards achieving the other goals

1. Environmental degradation and girls in education 2. HIV/AIDS and Environmental Degradation3. Disaster /environmental stress and time burdens4. Women’s property and inheritance rights5. Gender inequality in employment6. Women in Decision Making7. Violence against girls and women

Gender and Climate Change

Climate change often impacts the areas that are basis of livelihoods for which women have primary responsibilityEffects of climate change are disproportionately severe for the most vulnerable groupsDiscussions on action to alleviate the impacts of climate change - scientific debate – alienating rural women with low literacy levelsNeed to demystify climate change - to generate popular understanding and consensus

Climate Change cont..

Poor rural women economies depending entirely on exploitation of natural resources and climateWomen are responsible for 70–80 percent of household food production- drought and intermittent rainfall patterns directly affect production of staple foodlack of skills on climate change adaptability and disaster management - vulnerability

Social & Economic Impact of Climate Change

Climate Change

CROP FAILURE

FUEL SHORTAGE

SHORTAGE OF SAFE,CLEAN WATER

RESOURCE  SCARCITY

NATURAL  DISASTERS

DISEASE 

DISPLACEMENT

CIVIL WAR / CONFLICT

Impacts on women

Household food provision;Increased agricultural work

Household fuel provision;food‐fuel conflicts

Household water provision;exposure to contaminated sources

Economic drawbacks; lack of land tenure; resource‐dependent livelihoods; school dropouts, early marriage

Greater incidence of mortality; reduction of life expectancy

Lack of access to healthcare;increased burden of caring for young, sick and elderly

Loss of livelihoods; lack of adequate shelter; conflicts

Loss of livelihoods and lives; sexual violence and trauma

The Impacts of Climate Change on Women

WEDO 2008

Adaptation & Mitigation: Women’s role

Effective gender sensitive adaptation and mitigation measures builds capacities and reduces risk women are the most vulnerable - they are also the best positioned to curb the effect of climate changeThey have a strong body of knowledge and expertise However, they’re underrepresented in decision-making - impedes their ability to contribute their perspectives and expertise on climate change

Women’s coping strategies:_______________________________________Agricultural adaptation strategies

• Practice crop diversification

• Plant crop varieties that are resistant to droughts, floods and pests

• Plant fruit trees and root crops

• Cultivate at higher levels

• Practice contour farming

• Construct temporary drainage or canals

Financial coping strategies

• Engage in off‐farm work

• Wives and other family members look for other sources of income in country and abroad

• Take out loans from money lenders, relatives and friends

• Sell off livestock

• Seek government financial assistance

• Reduce food consumption

MVP Interventions

“…without climate change, we would need an African Green Revolution…with climate change, we need an African Green Revolution even more urgently…” (Glenn, D., 2008).Women’s leadership is critical in environmental management, forestry, and climate change adaptation and mitigation measures

Energy Interventions: (For cooking and environment)

Agroforestry - Provide Fuelwood and Decrease Labor•Improved cookstoves and ventilation•Electrification

Water and Sanitation

Rainwater harvesting and storage tanks

•Rain water harvesting tanks Water treatment

Conclusion & Recommendations

Addressing desertification and land degradation requires an integrated and gender sensitive approach to agriculture and environmental management Gender analysis of all budget to ensure gender sensitive investments and programmesCollection of gender-disaggregated data and language in policy. research and development interventionsReducing the burden of housework through infrastructural investments

Conclusion and Recommendations cont…

Rural women have sound ecological knowledge however - “their voices are largely absent from the policy discussions and negotiations over global warming …” (Wangari Maathai)Juxtapose women economic empowerment programmes into environmental managementGender sensitive strategies to achieve a win-win solutions for both men and womenGender equality a precondition for meeting the challenges of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance (Kofi Annan)