Woman for climate and peace action

Women are leading the way in protecting some of the world’s most important forests

Across forests around the world, women are not only stewards of these vital ecosystems, but also pioneers in reshaping the landscape of gender equality in environmental conservation.

While forest management and governance have historically been dominated by men, research shows that women’s perspectives are equally critical to forest conservation and restoration efforts: women often possess unique knowledge of trees and forests through their distinct roles in forest management, and they apply this knowledge to protecting and monitoring these ecosystems.

However, this knowledge and women’s role in forest governance have not been adequately recognized, and women still face barriers to participating in decision-making processes related to forest resources.  Addressing gender-related challenges in forest management, such as cultural norms, underrepresentation in decision-making and leadership, and legal and social barriers, can both empower women and lead to better conservation and livelihood outcomes.

Women’s capacity to manage forest resources can be improved by ensuring equal access to technologies and tools that democratize data and by facilitating women’s active engagement in forest management policymaking and processes. As more women emerge as leaders in this field, they inspire other women to follow in their footsteps to lead and benefit from forest management and protection, breaking restrictive social norms and paving the way for more inclusive and sustainable policies and actions.

 Last year, in recognition of the United Nations International Women’s Day – which in 2023 focused on innovation and technology for gender equality – Global Forest Watch (GFW) hosted a webinar to celebrate some of the incredible women we have been honoured to work with over the years, through the Small Grants Fund and Technology Fellowship.

This blog highlights more stories of women leaders who have used GFW’s satellite data and tools in their work, and shows the role of women in protecting some of the world’s most important forests and the impact this protection has on the lives of the communities that depend on them.