Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/53278
Title: Forest co-management in the Sundarban mangrove forest: Impacts of women's participation on their livelihoods and sustainable forest resource conservation
Contributor(s): Begum, Flora (author); Lobry De Bruyn, Lisa  (author)orcid ; Kristiansen, Paul  (author)orcid ; Islam, Mohammad Amirul (author)
Publication Date: 2022-09
Early Online Version: 2022-05-27
DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2022.100731
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/53278
Abstract: The impacts of women's participation in forest resource management on forest conservation and women's livelihoods are poorly understood. This study investigated women's role in Sundarban mangrove forest co-management in order to identify these impacts. Qualitative data was collected through focus group discussions (FGDs, n = 16) and key informant interviews (KIIs, n = 29) in four villages, at different tiers of co-management institutions, and with multiple stakeholders. Thematic content analysis, a well-established method for analysing qualitative data, was used to investigate the views of stakeholders on women's role in forest co-management and its impact on forest conservation and livelihood outcomes. Women participate in all tiers of forest co-management institutions, including the village conservation forum, people's forum, community patrol group, and co-management committee. This participation has increased their awareness and understanding of government rules and regulations in forest conservation, extended women's social networks, and created opportunities for involvement in alternative income-generating activities. Thus, women have benefited from the provision of greater financial input into their families, which has ultimately elevated women's status in the family. Local women's knowledge of sustainable forest resource harvesting methods and compliance with Bangladesh Forest Department directives can foster forest resources conservation and wildlife protection. Although women contribute to forest conservation through their participation, their representation is lower than that of men in the co-management of the Sundarban mangrove forest. Policy interventions for community members are needed to influence men's attitudes towards women working outside the home. This may equalise gender participation in forest co-management and increase women's livelihood support through greater recognition of their roles and elevating the value and impact of their participation.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: Environmental Development, v.43, p. 1-16
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Place of Publication: Netherlands
ISSN: 2211-4653
2211-4645
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 300707 Forestry management and environment
410406 Natural resource management
440404 Political economy and social change
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 130404 Conserving natural heritage
180206 Rehabilitation or conservation of coastal or estuarine environments
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article
School of Environmental and Rural Science

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