Gender and forest conservation: The impact of women's participation in community forest governance

Published Date
5 September 2009, Vol.68(11):2785–2799, doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2009.04.025

ANALYSIS

Author 

• Bina Agarwal ^,

• Institute of Economic Growth, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India

Received 11 December 2008. Revised 16 March 2009. Accepted 21 April 2009. Available online 18 June 2009. 

Abstract

Would enhancing women's presence in community institutions of forest governance improve resource conservation and regeneration? This paper focuses on this little addressed question. Based on the author's primary data on communities managing their local forests in parts of India and Nepal, it statistically assesses whether the gender composition of a local forest management group affects forest conservation outcomes, after controlling for other characteristics of the management group, aspects of institutional functioning, forest and population characteristics, and related factors. It is found that groups with a high proportion of women in their executive committee (EC)—the principal decision-making body—show significantly greater improvements in forest condition in both regions. Moreover, groups with all-women ECs in the Nepal sample have better forest regeneration and canopy growth than other groups, despite receiving much smaller and more degraded forests. Older EC members, especially older women, also make a particular difference, as does employing a guard. The beneficial impact of women's presence on conservation outcomes is attributable especially to women's contributions to improved forest protection and rule compliance. More opportunity for women to use their knowledge of plant species and methods of product extraction, as well as greater cooperation among women, are also likely contributory factors.

Keywords

Forest conservation

Gender composition

Community forestry institutions

South Asia

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