Women and men in tropical dry forests: a preliminary review

From a broad review of 670 publications on gender and forests, ~130 were found to address the world’s dry forests. These were examined with the intent to extract gendered social, cultural, political and economic patterns of relevance in such forests. Seven interrelated themes recurred in this literature: 1) population pressure, 2) migration, 3) intra-familial and inter-group conflict, 4) hierarchy and significant power differences, 5) strict gender differentiation, 6) commercialization of crops and NTFPs, and 7) fuelwood collection. Based upon these themes, the uniqueness of each situation and the importance of finetuning any approach to local realities to generate outcomes that can benefit women, we propose four promising ways to enhance the prospects for gender equity in dry forest areas: 1) a strengthening of groups and collective action, 2) explicit challenges to traditional gender norms, 3) a focus on products and spaces that interest women, and 4) addressing migration and population issues

Gender bias affects forests worldwide

Gender biases persist in forestry research and practice. These biases result in reduced scientific rigor and inequitable, ineffective, and less efficient policies, programs, and interventions. Drawing from a two-volume collection of current and classic analyses on gender in forests, we outline five persistent and inter-related themes: gendered governance, tree tenure, forest spaces, division of labor, and ecological knowledge. Each emerges across geographic regions in the northern and southern hemisphere and reflects inequities in women’s and men’s ability to make decisions about and benefit from trees, forests, and their products. Women’s ability to participate in community-based forest governance is typically less than men’s, causing concern for social equity and forest stewardship. Women’s access to trees and their products is commonly more limited than men’s, and mediated by their relationship with their male counterparts. Spatial patterns of forest use reflect gender norms and taboos, and men’s greater access to transportation. The division of labor results in gender specialization in the collection of forest products, with variations in gender roles across regions. All these gender differences result in ecological knowledge that is distinct but also complementary and shifting across the genders. The ways gender plays out in relation to each theme may vary across cultures and contexts, but the influence of gender, which intersects with other factors of social differentiation in shaping forest landscapes, is global

(Afterword) Riska: memories of a Dayak girlhood

This brief afterward discusses Riska’s experiences in the context of Colfer’s ethnographic knowledge of gender and lifestyle changes among the dayaks of Kalimantan. It discusses the burgeoning literature reflecting women’s voices, a genre to which Riska contributes. Building on her own ethnographic experience, Colfer highlights important changes that have affected women’s lives, such as increasing wage labour opportunities for men, new technological devices for men, negative stereotypes of dayaks on the part of outsiders, and agricultural extension programs that focus on men. The problems that dayaks often encounter when they try to join mainstream Indonesian life are briefly discussed. She concludes by recounting some of the important positive values represented by dayak ways of life: a sense of humor and equanimity in the face of disaster; unusual generosity; recognition of differing strengths; acceptance of responsibility of reach other’s welfare;and a value placed on hard work, initiative and creativity

Human health and forests: a global overview of issues, practice and policy

This book is the first comprehensive introduction to the issues surrounding the health of people living in and around forests, particularly in Asia, South America and Africa. Part I is a set of synthesis chapters, addressing policy, public health, environmental conservation, and ecological perspectives on health and forests including women and child health, medicinal plants and viral diseases such as Ebola, SARS and Nipah Encephalitis. Part II takes a multi-lens approach to lead the reader to a more concrete and holistic understanding using case studies from around the world that cover issues as important as the links between HIV/AIDs and the forest sector and diet and health. Part III looks at the specific challenges to health care delivery in forested areas including remoteness and the integration of traditional medicine with modern health care. Generous use of boxes with specific examples add layers of depth to the analyses and the book concludes with a synthesis designed for use by practitioners and policymakers to work with forest dwellers to improve their health and their ecosystems. This book a vital addition to the knowledge base of all professionals, academics and students working on forests, natural resources management, health and development world-wide

(Afterword) Riska: memories of a Dayak girlhood

This brief afterward discusses Riska’s experiences in the context of Colfer’s ethnographic knowledge of gender and lifestyle changes among the dayaks of Kalimantan. It discusses the burgeoning literature reflecting women’s voices, a genre to which Riska contributes. Building on her own ethnographic experience, Colfer highlights important changes that have affected women’s lives, such as increasing wage labour opportunities for men, new technological devices for men, negative stereotypes of dayaks on the part of outsiders, and agricultural extension programs that focus on men. The problems that dayaks often encounter when they try to join mainstream Indonesian life are briefly discussed. She concludes by recounting some of the important positive values represented by dayak ways of life: a sense of humor and equanimity in the face of disaster; unusual generosity; recognition of differing strengths; acceptance of responsibility of reach other’s welfare;and a value placed on hard work, initiative and creativity

Aturan-aturan sederhana katalisasi aksi kolektif dalam pengelolaan sumberdaya alam

Tulisan ini disusun untuk membantu pihak-pihak yang tertarik bekerja dengan kelompok-kelompok kecil (biasanya suatu masyarakat atau kelompok dalam masyarakat) untuk membantu mereka mencapai tujuannya. Tulisan disusun atas dasar berbagai literatur tentang pengelolaan hutan dan sumberdaya alam berbasis masyarakat, pengalaman menjadi katalisator aksi kolektif di lebih dari 30 masyarakat di 11 negara dengan menggunakan suatu pendekatan yang disebut Adaptive Collaborative Management (ACM); dan pengalaman mendorong aksi kolektif dua kelompok masyarakat di Sumatra. Tulisan ini mengutamakan prinsip-prinsip kesetaraan, keadilan, saling menghormati dan aksi yang efektif. English abstract: This booklet is designed to help people interested in working with small groups (usually communities or groups within communities) to reach their goals. It has been written, building first on the global literature on community based management of forests and other natural resources; secondly, on a base of experience catalyzing collective action within communities in more than 30 communities in 11 countries, using the approach called “Adaptive Collaborative Management” (ACM); and thirdly, through experience trying to catalyze collective action in two communities in Sumatra. It assumes an interest in equity, justice, and respect, as well as effective action

Marginalized forest peoples’ perceptions of the legitimacy of governance: an exploration

Two issues prompted this review: Global concerns to decentralize and democratize will require more effective involvement of now-marginalized people; and addressing global problems (climate change, poverty, forests, and biodiversity loss) will pragmatically require their involvement. This exploratory review examined how marginalized groups in tropical forests have perceived the legitimacy of their forest-related governance. These perceptions are examined within the contexts of gender, age, ethnicity, and occupation. Important mechanisms by which people dealt with their marginalization are also addressed. These issues take on special urgency within the context of the recent global, forest-related climate change discourse