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Rita
Wati and her fellow women pioneers in the Maju Bersama movement during their
activity in Kerinci Seblat National Park. Photo
courtesy of Muhammad Ikhsan. |
Women are crucial to the Philippines’ agriculture, fisheries, and
forestry (AFF) sectors. The United Nations highlights that women have the
highly specialized knowledge of forests from species diversity, management of
resources, to conservation and restoration practices that are vital to
sustainable development and food security. The Philippines demonstrates its
appreciation for women in these sectors with the Gender
Equality and Women's Empowerment Plan (GEWE Plan) 2019-2025 to
expand economic opportunities for them.
But gender disparities persist. The Philippine Commission on Women reports that
women in the AFF sectors face marginalization in employment, pay, and resource
access, constituting only about 25% of workers and often receiving lower wages.
Women's significant contributions to AFF are also generally overlooked as their
work is typically considered household tasks.
This International Women’s Day (IWD) 2024, Indonesia-based
environmental organization that focuses on awareness raising and policy
advocacy, The
Institute for Studies, Advocacy, and Education (LivE) shares
insights on how local organizations can overcome the gender disparities by
empowering women to take the helm in sustainability and conservation.
Driving Change with
Indonesia's Pioneering Women-Led Conservation Movement
Finding the balance between environmental protection and economic
empowerment often met with a dead end, or in most cases, a sacrifice from the
one on the other side. This is often made worse by policies that did not
consider grassroots aspirations, such as what happens in Indonesia’s Kerinci
Seblat National Park, in the western part of Sumatra island.
Public apathy toward conservation of the park led to the depletion of
130,322 hectares in 2014. This impacted the decrease of biodiversity, the water
sources, the support systems for many agricultural fields that the surrounding
communities depend on. As a result, there was a disproportionate impact on
farmers, especially women farmers as they faced not only water scarcity, soil
fertility, and crop yields but also the cascading effect on it.
Recognizing the importance of forest conservation and the untapped
potential of women in nearby communities, LivE initiated training sessions
addressing women's rights in forest management. These sessions tackled
challenges encompassing health, domestic responsibilities, production roles,
and social engagement, linking them to environmental strains. This is where
Rita Wati, a 52-year-old native of Kerinci Seblat National Park and now
chairperson of "Women's Group for Environmental Care Maju Bersama,"
emerged as a driving force behind the park's conservation efforts.
In the early days of her advocacy, Wati faced skepticism for being a
woman in role that is often assumed by men and challenges in evolving
conservation regulations. She persevered in initiating discussions with the
national park authorities which enabled her organisation to submit a proposal
that allowed them to be involved in managing, conserving and benefiting from
the national park—leading Wati to ink a historic conservation partnership
agreement with the national park, marking Maju Bersama group as the pioneering
women's group managing a forest area in Indonesia.
"It's truly a joy. Inspired by our progress, now, women in many
villages are no longer silent. They are ready to move together to fight for
women's rights to the environment and forests," said Rita.
Advocating nature protection
and women empowerment
The success story of Maju Bersama group, now comprising 25 members, in
securing their rights to participate in forest conservation has sparked a wave
of positive outcomes. Beyond empowering their own businesses, they've honed
their capacities, influenced policies, and actively engaged in pivotal
decision-making processes.
Rita's impactful journey includes participating in national events like
The Asia Foundation's 'The Role of Women in Social Forestry for Food
Resilience' in 2019 and contributing to the establishment of the Indonesia
Social Forestry Manager Association. Recognized by local authorities, Rita
leads the park in gender-equitable conservation, aligning with UNESCO's World
Heritage Site standards. Her unwavering determination and successful
collaboration between the Maju Bersama group and Kerinci Seblat National Park
inspire women to advocate for environmental rights, bannering women empowerment
in environmental preservation.
About LivE
LivE (known as LivE Knowledge) was built as a means of managing
information and knowledge to raise awareness, support and encourage sustainable
natural resources and environmental management policy. Managed by Dedek Hendry
and Harry Siswoyo, LivE Knowledge stands for Institute for Study, Advocacy and
Education in Indonesian.
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