For Environment, Democracy and Livelihoods
Economic Empowerment of Women through Forest Solutions is a response to the deep rooted patriarchal society that restricts women’s access to resources and opportunities. Women in the country have little access to productive resources such as land, forests and capital as well as associated opportunities such as education and employment. Their daily household activities are often considered unproductive. Impacts of climate change and COVID 19 pandemic has further triggered the pre-existing sufferings of women, especially of rural smallholders, land-poor and those working in the informal sector. In addition, increasing rural outmigration, remittance and changing livelihood patterns have either left agricultural lands fallow or have converted them into forests. Forests are one of the most accessible, stable, low-carbon economic resources for women in the context of a feminized economy and COVID-19 recovery since: (i) forests are one of the most accessible economic resources for women in Nepal and (ii) there are more women (57.19%) engaged in agriculture, forestry and fishery than men. Tapping women’s roles, leadership and economic opportunities through private forestry, leasehold forestry, and community forestry modalities would provide stable income to women, and increase their safety nets, to absorb climate shocks and build resilience.