Forest ecosystems are crucial to maintaining countless diverse but inter-connected systems that sustain people’s livelihoods, replenish water sources, and nurture biodiversity, which all combine to form important parts of a healthy environment. Deforestation has a direct negative impact on these dependent/connected systems because in addition to causing destruction of biodiversity, drying of water sources and soil erosion, it also directly impacts forest communities. This then creates new inequalities and exacerbates existing ones since people lose their primary livelihood means, their territories, as well as the socio-cultural activities deeply linked to their forests. Often, Indigenous and rural women are disproportionately affected by forest loss given their daily roles and practices that depend on healthy forest ecosystems. Ultimately this leads to a disproportionate increase in women’s burden of work, both reproductive and productive.
Women in all their diversity experience marginalization in multiple and intersecting ways, depending on their social status, ethnicity, age, class, sexual orientation and gender identity, amongst others. They face systemic barriers from patriarchal social norms that exclude them from decision-making to discriminatory laws and practices that prevent their access to land and forests.Extractive activities supported by a capitalist economic system that privileges GDP growth and corporations over people’s welfare and healthy ecosystems leads to degradation of forests and the violation of women’s rights. Consequently, it is integral to analyse the gender-differentiated impacts of the drivers of deforestation and to promote women’s rights in forest conservation policies. GFC collaborates with local women’s groups and communities to research and understand the impacts of deforestation at the community level as well as documenting community-based and women-led initiatives and solutions to halt biodiversity loss. Capacity building from local to global levels on gender-responsive forest policies and women’s rights, decision-making and participation in forest conservation is also a key strategy of GFC.
Together with feminist movements and women’s networks at the international multi-lateral policy level, the Global Forest Coalition advocates for women’s rights and gender-responsive forest conservation policies. GFC works with the Women’s Major Group (WMG) on sustainable development as well as tracking developments at UN Environment processes. In addition, we are part of the Women and Gender Constituency at UNFCCC process and the CBD Women’s Caucus at the Convention on Biodiversity. Finally, GFC is a partner of the #Women2030 Programme, which works towards promoting gender-responsive implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The #Women2030 programme is being implemented in 52 countries across different regions of the world. It is led by a coalition of 5 women and gender network organisations collaborating to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a gender-equitable and climate-just way.
We aim to integrate women’s rights and gender equality in all our other policies and GFC campaign activities
October 15th marks International Day of Rural Women. Today, along with eight of our member groups, we are celebrating the role and invaluable contributions of women and girls all around the world towards protecting forests and biodiversity, producing healthy and sustainable food and providing for their families and communities. However, rural women are still among the most vulnerable and marginalized groups, showing that there is much work to be done in the struggle for gender equality. As our member groups …
Orignially published in ECOonline September 2020. By Souparna Lahiri, Global Forest Coalition The United Nations Biodiversity Summit is taking place at a time when the Covid 19 Pandemic has resulted…
September 21st marks International Day of Struggle Against Monoculture Tree Plantations, a day to celebrate resistance against the establishment and expansion of harmful commercial monocultures. To commemorate the occasion and…
Feminist findings and recommendations for achieving Agenda 2030 This global shadow report aims to capture the inspiring and diverse range of work that has taken place through the Women2030 programme…
July 8, 2020 — A report released today sheds light on gender equality in Latin America through community-based assessments in five countries, suggesting that a significant gap remains between progress…
World leaders have gathered virtually for this year’s edition of the UN’s High-Level Political Forum. Top on the agenda is assessing how progress is being made globally to achieve gender…
by Juana Vera Delgado, Global Forest Coalition (Русский ниже) Assessing progress on gender equality and the impacts of COVID-19 are top on the agenda at the UN’s High-Level Political Forum…
by John C. Cannon, originally published on Mongabay Gender-based violence shakes communities in the wake of forest loss Women in the province of East New Britain in Papua New Guinea…
By Ruth Nyambura, Global Forest Coalition (GFC), Kenya On the 22nd of May each year the world celebrates the International Day of Biological Diversity and this year’s celebrations are significant…
As part of the #OurNatureIsNotYourSolution campaign we're launching this special edition of our magazine Forest Cover, written in collaboration with our member groups. Forest Cover highlights how hype around NBS…
The Women’s Major Group has published this powerful statement in response to the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) President’s letter to UNEA’s Ministerial Declaration. The statement links the current coronovirus crisis…
