Gender and Biodiversity

Introduction

Gender refers to the social roles that men and women play and the power relations between them, which usually have a profound effect on the use and management of natural resources. Gender is not based on sex or the biological differences between men and women, however, gender is shaped by culture, social relations and natural environments. Thus, depending on values, norms customs and laws men and women in different parts of the world have evolved different gender roles.

Gender roles of women and men include different labour responsibilities, decision-making processes, and knowledge. According to their needs, men and women often use and manage resources in different ways. The gender attributions of local knowledge, including knowledge for managing biological systems have four key characteristics (Husinga et al., 2001):

1. Women and men have knowledge about different things.
2. Men and women have different knowledge about the same things.
3. Women and men may organize their knowledge in different ways.
4. Men and women may receive and transmit their knowledge by different means.

Gender and gender roles affect the economic, political, and social opportunities and constraints faced by both men and women.

The importance of biodiversity to individuals varies according to gender. Based upon the social roles of and power relations between men and women, gender is shaped by culture, social relations, and natural environments. For this reason, we need to incorporate gender dimensions into our understanding of biodiversity and its conservation, sustainable use and the sharing of benefits. CBD developed a Gender Plan of Action in 2008 that defines the Secretariat’s role in stimulating and facilitating efforts on national, regional, and global levels to promote gender equality and mainstream a gender perspective. The Millennium Development Goals emphasize clear linkages between gender equality, poverty alleviation, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Such insights should be included into our outlook and approach to reversing biodiversity loss, reducing poverty and improving human wellbeing.