Gender and forest land management: when women take key roles in watershed rehabilitation

Despite the global recognition of the pivotal role of women in the protection and conservation of natural resources as inspired by various environmental movements lead by women (such as the Chipko movement in India and Igorot women struggles against Chico dam project in the Cordilleras, northern Philippines), the forestry sector in the country remains to be male-dominated, often setting women's participation as secondary to that of men. What happens when women claim key roles in watershed rehabilitation? This paper features two women's organizations as partner people's organizations (POs) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the development and protection of two critical watershed in the Philippines. The Samahan ng Kababaihang Makakalikasan ng Segium (SKMS) in Segium Subwatershed in Nueva Ecija and Pullaan Women's Organization in Ibulao Subwatershed in Ifugao are primarily involved in the planning and implementation of reforestation and agroforestry activities as well as maintenance and protection activities in their respective subwatersheds. These 2 POs are the only women's groups among the 147 POs engaged in the DENR watershed rehab project (FMP). Through focus group discussions, key informant interviews and life stories, the study (1) explores the rationale and motivation behind the organizations; (2) articulates the successes of the women's groups in terms of implementing watershed rehabilitation activities and contributing to the enhancement of the socio-economic well-being of the women in their communities; and (3) identifies the challenges the women's organizations confront in carrying out their watershed rehabilitation initiatives as well as the factors influential to the presence of these constraints. At the end, it highlights that organizing women upland farmers, whether self-initiated or project-oriented, and empowering them to formally participate actively in the forestry sector is a vital ingredient for an effective, sustainable and pro-people forest management.