Connections Between Gender And Biodiversity.

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2013, Ariela Summit, Ecoagriculture Partners,   "The Youth Guide to Biodiversity" 1st Edition (Chapter 11) Youth and United Nations Global Alliance. Reproduced with permission.

Chapter 11. Marie Aminata Khan, CBD. Verbatim.

The importance of biodiversity to individuals varies by gender. Gender refers to the social roles that men and women play and the power relations between them, which usually have a profound effect on the use and management of natural resources. Gender is not based on biological differences between women and men. Gender is shaped by culture, social relations and natural environments.

Thus, depending on values, norms, customs and laws,men and women in different parts of the world take on different gender roles.

Gender roles affect economic, political, social and ecological opportunities and constraints faced by both men and women. Recognising women’s roles as land and resource managers is central to the success of biodiversity policy. For example, women farmers currently account for up to 60 to 80 percent of all food production in developing countries, but gender often remains overlooked in decision‑making on access to, and use of, biodiversity resources.

Just as the impact of biodiversity loss is disproportionately felt by poorer communities, there are also disparities along gender lines. Biodiversity loss affects access to education and gender equality by increasing the time spent by women and children in performing certain tasks, like collecting valuable resources such as fuel, food and water. 

To conserve biodiversity, we need to understand andexpose gender‑differentiated biodiversity practices and gendered knowledge acquisition and usage. Various studies demonstrate that projects integrating gender dimensions generate superior results to those that don’t. Gender considerations are not solely women’s issues; instead, this outlook could yield advantages for whole communities and benefit both sexes.

The Millennium Development Goals emphasise clear linkages between gender equality, poverty alleviation,biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. 

Such insights should be included in our outlook and approach to reversing biodiversity loss, reducing poverty and improving human well-being.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) recognises such linkages. It has developed a Gender Plan of Action that defines the CBD Secretariat’s role in stimulating and facilitating efforts on national, regional and global levels to promote gender equality and to mainstream a gender perspective.