Rural women, drivers of change in forest-based climate action
PanamaBriseida Iglesias, a member of the indigenous Guna community in Panama, is a passionate advocate for environmental sustainability and cultural heritage, seeing great value in living and promoting sustainable living in her rural village, whether by planting trees and growing medicinal plants, adopting greener waste disposal methods, or teaching young people about the cultural and long-term importance of conserving the surrounding forests.
Like many rural women around the world, Briseida combines ancient wisdom and traditions with modern knowledge to guide her community on a path to greater sustainability that will improve lives and help combat the impacts of climate change.
“Our efforts extend to educating young people about the importance of seeking the wisdom and knowledge of our ancestors,” Iglesias said, on the eve of International Rural Women’s Day on October 15.
"By combining traditional practices with contemporary approaches, we strive to create a balance that ensures the well-being of our community and the environment," he added.
Briseida Iglesias, a fervent defender of environmental sustainability and cultural heritage ©Briseida Iglesias
Rural women, as agents of change, have a wealth of knowledge about forest landscapes and are using this experience to play a key role in combating climate change.
They are at the forefront of environmental conservation and bring valuable knowledge and practices that demonstrate how we can all build resilience in the fight against a changing climate. Their efforts, wisdom and experience are indispensable to combat climate change, protect forests and preserve their cultural heritage.
Sara Omi, leader of the Emberá people of Panama and Coordinator of Territorial Women Leaders of Mesoamerica ©Tim Lewis, If Not Us Then Who
The work of Sara Omi, leader of the Emberá people of Panama and Coordinator of Territorial Women Leaders of Mesoamerica, provides another example of the valuable work that indigenous women do in climate action.
“The women in my organization, both locally and throughout Panama, are proposing various alternatives to combat the effects of climate change and recover and preserve our traditional knowledge,” she said.
"For example, by creating botanical gardens made by women to promote this knowledge... We are working with the concept of the Living Forest, with traditional medicine, food security, agricultural production... Which are important tools to maintain the balance and protection of our Mother Earth."
Aissatou Oumarou, climate activist ©Aissatou Oumarou
Despite their crucial role, rural women, particularly indigenous women, face a number of complex obstacles in sustainably managing land, forests and natural resources.
Aissatou Oumarou, a climate activist from Chad and member of the Mbororo Fulani, knows the challenges all too well.
"Indigenous peoples are so marginalized that they have little or no access to land, and for indigenous women it is even worse," she said.
“The biggest challenge is access to land, territories and water, as well as support from local and administrative authorities to minimize the impact of concessionaires on indigenous territories in the forests and agribusiness in the savannahs,” Aissatou added.
Nana Marina Cruz, Mayan spiritual guide and cultural defender ©Manuel Inoa
Nana Marina Cruz, a Mayan spiritual guide and cultural advocate for the indigenous Tz'utujil Mayan people of Guatemala, holds similar views and points to the key role world leaders also play in the fight to protect forests and combat climate change.
"My message to world leaders is a call to conscience," he said. "They have the responsibility to authorize permits to mining and exploitation companies, effectively selling off our precious Mother Earth and its resources.
“If leaders truly embody their roles, they must take meaningful action to serve humanity and protect our environment,” he added. “Pursuing wealth at the expense of the health of our planet is not true happiness; it is time to prioritize life and conscience over profit.”
It is precisely these forest protection efforts that the UN-REDD Programme also strives to undertake, both at national and local levels, in its REDD+ support to countries. Recognizing the indispensable role that indigenous and local women play in REDD+, giving rural women an equal voice and providing them with a space to inform such support is also a crucial element of UN-REDD’s gender approach.
While progress is being made, a broad series of steps are still needed to ensure that in the future everyone, regardless of gender, has the capacity, tools and opportunities to effectively protect forests and adapt to and combat climate change.
“Protecting our Mother Earth is not only crucial for the well-being of indigenous peoples, but for all of us who inhabit this planet,” said Sara Omi.
By learning from the inspiring work of these rural and indigenous women, we all have a crucial role and responsibility to combat climate change in our daily lives, and the time is now – the forests, the environment and the planet depend on it.
Elizabeth Eggerts
Gender Specialist, UNDP Climate & Forests.
UN-REDD Programme
Amanda Bradley
Specialist in tenure, gender and Indigenous Peoples for REDD+
Forestry Division, FAO