What happens when women lead in forest landscapes? Across the tropics, women are playing powerful but often overlooked roles in conserving forests, sustaining livelihoods, and strengthening communities. From Indigenous knowledge keepers to rural entrepreneurs, their contributions are wide-ranging and transformative. Yet, they continue to face persistent barriers like land insecurity, limited access to finance, and exclusion from decision-making.

This issue of Tropical Forest Issues explores how women are reshaping forest governance and challenging the status quo. Through case studies from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the articles show how inclusive policies, legal reform, and gender-responsive approaches are not only empowering women but also leading to healthier forests and more resilient communities. When women have a seat at the table, forests are better protected, biodiversity is preserved, and intergenerational knowledge thrives. As global pressures on tropical forests mount, supporting women as agents of change is not just fair, it’s essential for a sustainable future.
 

Indigenous Ikalahan women play a central role in the stewardship of their ancestral lands, with a deep connection to the forests that sustain their community's identity and way of life. Asami Segundo, a prominent member of the Ikalahan-Kalanguya community, reflects on the significant contributions of women in forest management, particularly through the intergenerational transfer of ecological knowledge. As a founder of the Ikalahan-Kalanguya Youth Organization for Sustainable Development (IKAYO), Asami emphasizes the importance of cultural preservation and environmental stewardship, focusing on the leadership of young women in these efforts.

The Ikalahan’s traditional agricultural practices, like swidden farming, rely on women's expertise in sustainable farming techniques that balance agricultural productivity with forest regeneration. Despite the vital role of women in forest stewardship, challenges such as limited local employment opportunities and inadequate institutional support hinder the full realization of their potential. Asami advocates for greater recognition of Indigenous women’s contributions in policy and decision-making, stressing the need for systemic change to ensure that their voices are heard and their knowledge is integrated into broader environmental strategies. Empowering these women is key to ensuring the sustainability of both their cultural heritage and the environment. 

In Uttarakhand, India, women play a crucial role in protecting the region’s forests, particularly in fire mitigation and conservation efforts. Their relationship with the forest is shaped by cultural, spiritual, and practical connections, making their contributions essential in managing one of the world’s most ecologically significant landscapes. With increasing temperatures and human activities putting pressure on these forests, the frequency of forest fires has risen, threatening both the environment and local livelihoods.

Women have been at the forefront of these challenges, leading efforts to prevent fires, preserve biodiversity, and protect sacred forests. Initiatives such as the Chipko Movement and the Maiti Andolan have demonstrated the strength of women’s leadership in conservation. They combine traditional knowledge with modern fire prevention techniques and sustainable land management practices. This article examines the role of women in Uttarakhand’s forest conservation and fire mitigation, focusing on their ongoing efforts and the barriers they face.

It also highlights the importance of empowering women by addressing the challenges they encounter, such as patriarchal norms and economic pressures. Supporting women’s leadership in forest governance can contribute to both environmental sustainability and gender equity, creating a stronger, more resilient future for the region. 

Women in Aceh, Indonesia, are reshaping grassroots environmental activism by stepping into leadership roles traditionally dominated by men. In the face of ongoing ecological threats and social barriers, two community-based groups, LPHD Damaran Baru and United Women Beutong (PBB), demonstrate how women are driving forest conservation through advocacy, restoration, and institutional innovation. Supported by the local organisation HAkA, these groups have pioneered approaches that combine customary knowledge, legal literacy, and inclusive governance.

The experiences from both groups reveal key methods for strengthening women-led environmental movements: fostering grassroots institutional development, engaging men as allies in both practice and decision-making, and crafting public narratives that balance visibility with community cohesion. While recognition can empower, it can also disrupt internal dynamics if not community-led. Lessons from LPHD Damaran Baru’s early successes and challenges have informed more adaptive and inclusive strategies in the formation of PBB. Together, these case studies offer practical insights into building resilient, gender-inclusive conservation movements in socially complex landscapes.
 

In Uganda, home to over 1.7 million refugees, the rapid depletion of tree cover due to firewood collection and charcoal production poses significant environmental and social challenges.

This study explores the impact of deforestation in refugee settlements, particularly on women, who are often the primary collectors of firewood. The research highlights the dual role that women play as both victims of environmental degradation and agents of change. Through the case of Charity, a South Sudanese refugee, the study showcases how refugee women are taking the initiative to address the issue by planting trees and creating sustainable solutions to meet their energy and building material needs. Charity’s efforts reflect a broader movement where women, often marginalized in environmental decision-making, are leading community-based programs to conserve natural resources and protect their welfare. 

The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), enacted in 2023, aims to address deforestation and forest degradation linked to high-risk commodities like palm oil, cocoa, and beef. While the regulation’s focus is on environmental sustainability, concerns have emerged about its potential social impacts, particularly for women in smallholder and forest-dependent communities. This paper examines the risks and opportunities the EUDR presents for women in agricultural and forest value chains, using an intersectional approach. It explores how the regulation could either jeopardize women’s tenure rights and livelihoods or provide opportunities to enhance their roles and recognition in sustainable production systems.

The paper also highlights the contributions of the Team Europe Initiative and the SAFE project in supporting gender equity in EUDR implementation. By emphasizing legal, technical, and market-based opportunities, the study underscores the importance of gender-responsive due diligence frameworks, digital data literacy, and market access for women producers. It argues that with proper safeguards and targeted support, the EUDR can help create a more inclusive and equitable system, benefiting women as both forest stewards and smallholder producers, while advancing the EU’s broader sustainability goals.
 

In Central Java’s Kostajasa Community Forest, Westhi Wigaringtyas, known as Wiga, has played a key role in promoting sustainable forestry and gender inclusion. In a traditionally male-dominated sector, Wiga challenged entrenched norms by championing women’s leadership in forest management. Her efforts helped transform Kostajasa into a certified, community-led model of inclusive governance, where women actively contribute to ecological monitoring, biodiversity conservation, and income-generating activities.

Through interviews and contextual analysis, this paper explores how Wiga’s leadership reflects the broader role of gender equity in social forestry. Her story demonstrates that empowering women strengthens both environmental sustainability and community resilience. By integrating women into forestry decision-making, communities like Kostajasa are reshaping conservation practices and unlocking new pathways for inclusive development. Wiga’s journey is a reminder that gender equality is not just a goal, but a driving force for climate action and transformative change. 

Download here the French version (original language)

In Bafwasende, agroforestry is quietly reshaping gendered power dynamics rooted in patriarchal traditions. Historically, agriculture has been marked by a strict division of labor: men held control over land and cash crops, while women contributed largely unpaid labor to sustain their households. Since 2019, with the support of Tropenbos DRC, women have begun to enter the male-dominated realm of cocoa-based agroforestry. Despite cultural, financial, and educational obstacles, many have managed to acquire land, establish cooperatives, and challenge norms that once excluded them from key economic roles.

This shift has led to increased visibility and influence of women in household and community decision-making, including governance roles within community forests. Some now control a significant portion of farm income and are recognized for their leadership and innovation. While tensions remain in a society still deeply patriarchal, agroforestry has emerged as a powerful, if unintended, lever for women’s economic empowerment and a reconfiguration of power relations. As more women engage in agroforestry to respond to poverty and instability, their growing autonomy is gradually reshaping the social landscape of Bafwasende. 

In the Brazilian Amazon, Indigenous women are stepping into fire management roles traditionally dominated by men. This article presents the case of the Xerente Indigenous women's volunteer fire brigade, the first of its kind in Brazil. Through technical training, community organizing, and environmental education, these women not only gained firefighting skills but also challenged deep-seated gender norms within their community. Their involvement has shifted the perception of women's capabilities in wildfire prevention and integrated fire management (IFM), promoting their inclusion in broader climate action efforts.

The study draws on in-depth interviews and participant observation to explore how Xerente women overcame institutional and cultural barriers to create their own brigade. Supported by allies in government agencies and civil society, they implemented prescribed burns, restored degraded land, and formed a regional network of Indigenous women firefighters. Their initiative demonstrates how localized, gender-inclusive approaches to climate resilience can catalyze both environmental and social transformation. The Xerente case underscores the importance of empowering Indigenous women as leaders in climate adaptation and wildfire mitigation across the Amazon and beyond. 

Despite increased female representation, forest research remains a male-dominated field, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study explores the lived experiences of 20 African forest scholars, with a focus on the gendered challenges faced by women. Interviews reveal that female researchers often struggle to balance societal expectations of caregiving with the demands of academic productivity and international mobility. While some women benefit from supportive partners and privileged backgrounds, many face marginalization in both domestic and professional spheres.

In contrast, male scholars often overlook these struggles, framing family responsibilities as manageable or irrelevant to their careers. Women also report being dismissed or undervalued in male-dominated academic and fieldwork settings. Despite institutional gender policies, these gendered dynamics remain deeply embedded and frequently invisible.

The study calls for a rethinking of academic norms, especially those emphasizing mobility and output, as well as urges more awareness of the socio-cultural barriers women face. To advance equity, future research should further examine how gender and local contexts shape participation in forest science. 

Women in rural India have historically faced significant barriers to participating in forest governance despite their essential role as stewards of forest resources. Gender norms, limited mobility, and unequal access to education and leadership opportunities often restrict their involvement. However, state policies like the Forest Rights Act and quotas for women in forest management committees aim to address these inequities. This research explores how women in Odisha and Madhya Pradesh have overcome these challenges and played key leadership roles in forest governance.

Factors such as family support, women’s collectives, and targeted training programs have empowered women to take on leadership roles. Through these avenues, women have contributed to improving forest management, including restoration projects and sustainable resource practices. Additionally, they have gained greater economic agency, particularly through increased control over forest-related incomes, like the tendu leaf trade. This highlights the transformative impact of women’s leadership on both forest conservation and community development, underlining the importance of continued policy support and community-level efforts to address persistent gender barriers. 

Download here the French version (original language)

"Non-timber forest products play a crucial role in improving the living conditions of women in rural areas, while contributing to food security and the household economy."
This study explores how non-timber forest products (NTFPs) support the livelihoods of women living around the Dinderesso and Kou classified forests in Burkina Faso. Ethnobotanical surveys with 100 women revealed 13 key NTFPs, including néré seeds, shea kernels, and tamarind, which provide an average income of 319,572 FCFA (~$518) per year. Most women operate informally, with only a small fraction organized into associations or formal enterprises. Income from NTFPs is used for household expenses, education, and small-scale investments, contributing to greater financial independence. However, women face growing challenges such as resource depletion due to climate change, overexploitation, and insecurity. Enhancing sustainable forest management and supporting women with better tools and training are essential to preserving this income source and empowering rural communities.

Download here the French version (original language)

The marginalisation of women in forest communities, particularly in Abonis, East Cameroon, has led to both socio-economic hardship and environmental degradation. Despite being the primary gatherers of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and key actors in subsistence farming, women have traditionally been excluded from forest governance, leaving them without a voice in decisions that directly affect their livelihoods and local biodiversity.

In Abonis, this exclusion has contributed to unsustainable logging, reduced availability of essential forest products, and increased vulnerability for households. Women are forced to travel further to collect NTFPs, often at the cost of time, health, and income. However, targeted interventions have begun to reverse this trend. With support from Action for Sustainable Development (ASD) and partners, women received training in agroforestry, nursery management, and sustainable beekeeping. They were also included in forest governance through a pioneering partnership with a legal female forestry operator.

These initiatives resulted in the restoration of degraded land, the enrichment of agroforests, and the diversification of income sources. They also improved food security, climate resilience, and gender equity. The Abonis experience underscores the critical role of women in sustainable forest management and the importance of inclusive strategies to address both environmental and social challenges. 

Gender inequality in Brazil’s forestry sector is deeply rooted in historical and cultural norms that have long excluded women from full participation. Despite recent progress, women remain underrepresented, particularly in leadership roles, and continue to face systemic barriers in accessing training, employment, and decision-making spaces.

In response, the Forest Woman Network (Rede Mulher Florestal, RMF) was established in 2018 to address these challenges head-on. Through collaborative action, mentorship, data collection, and inclusive policy advocacy, RMF has become a leading force in advancing gender equity in forestry.

The network has expanded significantly in size and scope, engaging both private and community stakeholders across diverse regions of Brazil. Its work illustrates how organized, grassroots networks can create structural change, empower individuals, and foster a more inclusive and sustainable forest sector.

Key Takeaways
1. Gender gaps remain wide, especially in leadership and technical roles.
2. Mentorship and training open pathways for women's advancement.
3. Inclusive corporate practices are gaining traction, but progress is uneven.
4. Gender equity contributes directly to sustainability and resilient forest governance.
5. Networks like RMF are critical to building visibility, support, and collective power. 

Empowering women is essential for the success and sustainability of land restoration efforts in Cameroon, a country rich in ecological diversity but facing significant environmental challenges. This study aims to assess the development of gender-sensitive restoration options and encourage researchers and practitioners to better integrate gender into land restoration projects. It specifically investigates how selected initiatives consider gender as a key factor throughout the project cycle in the Bimodal Humid Forest, Western Highland, and Sudano-Sahelian zones of Cameroon.

Although women play central roles in agriculture and natural resource management, they are often excluded from decision-making, limiting their ability to effectively contribute to restoration efforts. Through examining various land restoration projects, the study finds that while women are involved in crucial activities like agroforestry and tree planting, systemic barriers such as limited access to land, resources, and leadership roles hinder their full participation. Some projects have made progress by integrating gender perspectives and involving women in decision-making and leadership, but advancements remain limited. The study highlights the need for gender-responsive project design to ensure more inclusive, effective, and sustainable outcomes in land restoration.Empowering women is essential for the success and sustainability of land restoration efforts in Cameroon, a country rich in ecological diversity but facing significant environmental challenges. This study aims to assess the development of gender-sensitive restoration options and encourage researchers and practitioners to better integrate gender into land restoration projects. It specifically investigates how selected initiatives consider gender as a key factor throughout the project cycle in the Bimodal Humid Forest, Western Highland, and Sudano-Sahelian zones of Cameroon.

Although women play central roles in agriculture and natural resource management, they are often excluded from decision-making, limiting their ability to effectively contribute to restoration efforts. Through examining various land restoration projects, the study finds that while women are involved in crucial activities like agroforestry and tree planting, systemic barriers such as limited access to land, resources, and leadership roles hinder their full participation. Some projects have made progress by integrating gender perspectives and involving women in decision-making and leadership, but advancements remain limited. The study highlights the need for gender-responsive project design to ensure more inclusive, effective, and sustainable outcomes in land restoration. 

Social enterprises (SEs) are emerging as powerful vehicles for addressing socio-economic challenges in Indigenous communities. On Groote Eylandt, a remote island in northern Australia, Bush Medijina offers a compelling example of how a hybrid economy, one that integrates market, state, and customary economies, can create sustainable development opportunities. Led by Anindilyakwa women, this SE blends traditional knowledge of medicinal plants with modern commercial practices to produce skincare and haircare products. It draws on government support, mining royalties, and cultural practices to deliver social benefits while also providing a platform for women’s leadership and empowerment.

Through Bush Medijina, this research highlights the dual impact of SEs in Indigenous communities: enhancing women’s well-being and preserving traditional land management practices. By offering flexible employment opportunities, the SE enables women to balance cultural responsibilities with paid work. This article demonstrates how such enterprises foster resilience by integrating cultural and commercial interests, and how their success depends on the support of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal allies. The case of Bush Medijina offers valuable insights into the intersection of culture, commerce, and sustainability in Indigenous-led development initiatives. 

Across forest landscapes, women, especially Indigenous and rural women, are often excluded from land and resource governance, despite their critical roles in sustaining ecosystems and livelihoods. Deep-rooted inequalities and gender norms restrict their access to resources, leadership, and decision-making power. Yet when women are meaningfully included, they bring distinct knowledge and priorities that can strengthen environmental stewardship and resilience. Evidence from Bolivia, Colombia, Ghana, and Indonesia shows that women's participation is not just equitable; it’s effective.

This article explores how targeted, gender-responsive strategies, such as women-led organizations, community savings groups, and tailored training, can unlock transformative change. These interventions improved women’s access to land, finance, and climate-smart practices, while also shifting power dynamics in local governance. Key to their success was combining practical support with engagement of traditional leaders and broader community buy-in. Rather than offering a fixed model, the cases highlight adaptable approaches for strengthening women’s agency in diverse contexts, showing that supporting women’s leadership is vital for both social equity and resilient landscapes.

The "Climate and Energy in Mali" (CEMALI) project, led by UN Women, pioneered a gender-responsive approach to forest management, aiming to reduce deforestation and empower women through sustainable practices. Implemented from 2017 to 2019 with support from the Malian government, GERES, and the private sector, and funded by Sweden and Norway, CEMALI placed women at the center of reforestation and biomass management. This innovative approach not only tackled environmental challenges like deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions but also promoted women’s leadership in restoring forests and advancing clean energy solutions.

Key outcomes included the regeneration of over 1,100 hectares of forest, the production of 114,315 improved cookstoves, and the creation of women-led enterprises in the bioenergy sector. These initiatives reduced dependency on unsustainable biomass, alleviated domestic workloads, and provided significant socio-economic benefits. By involving women in every stage of forest and energy management, CEMALI demonstrates how gender-responsive climate action leads to stronger, more resilient communities, offering a model for integrating women’s leadership in sustainable development. 

Surrounded by the ecological richness of Amazonian Ecuador, Quijos women are leading efforts to defend ancestral lands and revitalize traditional forest management practices rooted in their cultural identity. As territorial fragmentation, extractive industries, and patriarchal land regimes threaten their way of life, women from the Quijos Nation have emerged as key figures in resisting environmental degradation through the stewardship of forest gardens known as chagras. These agroforestry systems are not only vital for food sovereignty but also serve as spaces of ecological and cultural continuity, where gendered knowledge is cultivated, practiced, and passed on.

Through the initiative of Sacha Awana, an Indigenous research team, women are reclaiming leadership in land governance and forest conservation. Their work emphasizes the importance of collective land titling and the intergenerational transmission of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), particularly in the face of increasing external pressures. By integrating ritual, subsistence, and ecological practices, Quijos women’s gardening reflects a holistic approach to biodiversity management. Their advocacy highlights the need for gender-inclusive land governance and reaffirms that Indigenous women’s knowledge and spiritual connection to the land are critical to sustaining both cultural resilience and ecological health.
 

In the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, women are not only protecting forests, but they’re also reshaping their communities. Through small, collective businesses called microenterprises, women are gaining financial independence, building new skills, and stepping into leadership roles. Whether it’s beekeeping, agroforestry, or crafting eco-friendly goods, these enterprises are helping women provide for their families while caring for the land.

A study based on interviews with women in Acre and Pará shows how these efforts lead to meaningful change. Women reported greater income, more confidence, stronger decision-making roles, and new opportunities for learning and growth. These changes touch every part of life, such as personal, economic, and social.

But it’s not just about money. These microenterprises are also helping to conserve forests by reducing deforestation and promoting sustainable land use. They show that when women thrive, so can the environment.

To keep this momentum going, the article calls for better access to credit, training, and supportive policies. With the right support, women’s enterprises can become powerful drivers of both gender equality and sustainability in the Amazon and beyond. 

 In Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo, where over 80% of households depend on charcoal, unsustainable production is driving forest degradation. This study examines how a women’s association, AFEVADES, partnered with a local sawmill (CFT) and CIFOR-ICRAF to transform sawmill wood residues into sustainable charcoal, particularly the gender dynamics and sustainability outcomes of the initiative. Initially an informal survival strategy, the activity evolved into an organized initiative following the women’s official registration in 2020. With training in efficient carbonization methods and access to microcredit, AFEVADES doubled charcoal production efficiency, reduced processing time, and gained a consistent, exclusive wood supply.

The initiative has strengthened women’s economic autonomy and visibility in a traditionally male-dominated value chain. Women now lead 95% of operations, manage their earnings, and contribute significantly to household needs, from food and education to home construction. Over four years, the group converted 2,638 m³ of wood residues into 11,000 bags of charcoal, reducing pressure on surrounding forests. While still modest in scale, this model demonstrates how gender-inclusive, locally rooted solutions can support both livelihoods and forest sustainability. It also underscores the need for broader policy support and investment to scale sustainable alternatives across the region.

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"Korebaju women, seeds of thought to harvest the good life of new generations." This guiding vision captures the essence of a transformative process unfolding in Solano, Caquetá, where Korebaju Indigenous women are leading efforts to restore the Amazon forest and strengthen community well-being. Against a backdrop of ecological degradation, armed conflict, and gender inequality, these women have asserted their role as key custodians of the territory through the Working Landscapes project led by Tropenbos Colombia.

By reclaiming traditional knowledge and promoting gender equity, Korebaju women have led initiatives in three key areas: creating a community-based response to gender-based violence, revitalising food systems through seed exchanges and chagra cultivation, and managing family nurseries for ecological restoration. These actions, rooted in the philosophy of buen vivir (good living), connect care for the land with care for the community.

Their leadership in restoration efforts, from selecting native species to managing nurseries, demonstrates a deep ecological understanding and a commitment to collective benefit. Through participatory governance, intercultural dialogue, and intergenerational knowledge exchange, Korebaju women are reweaving social and ecological ties. Their experience shows that sustainable forest management and climate resilience are inseparable from women’s empowerment and cultural continuity. 

In the forests of Likouala, the Republic of Congo, Ba’Aka women play an essential yet often invisible role in sustaining the ecosystems that surround them. While their communities are widely recognized for deep ecological knowledge, it is the women, through their rituals, who quietly shape the rhythms of forest life. Their expertise, passed down through generations, guides the use of medicinal plants, determines the timing of fishing seasons, and even blesses the tools used in hunts.

Despite this, conservation and development initiatives rarely consult them. Often sidelined by both patriarchal customs and external power structures, Ba’Aka women face overlapping layers of marginalization. Yet, their lived experience is rich with insight into how forests can be used without being depleted, and how culture and ecology intertwine. To understand and support sustainable forest management, it is crucial to see beyond surface hierarchies and recognize the quiet authority these women hold.

To truly integrate Indigenous knowledge into forest management, we must move beyond the masculine surface of Ba’Aka society and take the time to gain women’s trust. Only through patient, respectful engagement, often best led by women themselves, can we begin to understand the full strength they bring to the forest.
 

Suriname’s forests, covering 93% of the country, are essential for biodiversity and for the Saamaka people, who rely on the land for food, medicine, and cultural identity. Saamaka women, in particular, play a crucial role in maintaining this connection by managing non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and practicing sustainable agriculture.

This study focuses on the role of Saamaka women in forest management, exploring their deep connection to the land and the challenges they face. These include limited participation in decision-making, the impacts of gold mining, and the pressures of logging activities on their livelihoods.
Key findings highlight the women’s vital role in sustaining forest ecosystems through sustainable practices, particularly the collection and processing of NTFPs. Despite their contributions, they are often excluded from governance processes. External threats like deforestation and mining further limit their access to resources, forcing them to travel greater distances and endure physical strain.

The study calls for the inclusion of women in decision-making processes, recognizing their expertise and empowering them to take an active role in forest management and governance. 

Women in the Philippines are vital contributors to natural resource management (NRM), yet their participation is often hindered by the deep-rooted gender norms and power imbalances. Despite progress in gender equality across various sectors, women continue to face challenges in accessing leadership roles and decision-making power in NRM. This study, conducted by Bayi Inc. with support from Forest Foundation Philippines, aims to explore these dynamics within key landscapes such as Sierra Madre, Palawan, and Mindanao.

This study uses a feminist qualitative approach, combining surveys and focus group discussions, to examine the barriers women face in NRM. Key obstacles include limited economic opportunities, the burden of domestic labor, and societal perceptions that limit women to supportive roles. A major finding is the potential of Pakilepaan, an Indigenous governance model that promotes inclusive decision-making by fostering dialogue and collective responsibility. Integrating Pakilepaan and other gender-responsive approaches into NRM frameworks can create more equitable and sustainable practices. The study advocates for transformative approaches to NRM that prioritize inclusive leadership and gender-responsive policies to ensure women’s meaningful participation in resource management. 

Piangüera women of Colombia’s Pacific coast play a vital role in the conservation and sustainable use of mangrove ecosystems through traditional piangua harvesting and innovative restoration practices. In regions like Bahía Málaga and Punta Soldado, they blend ancestral knowledge with community organizing to protect biodiversity, sustain livelihoods, and strengthen cultural identity. Despite facing gendered barriers, environmental threats, and limited state presence, these women have formed powerful grassroots networks and initiatives such as Raíces Piangüeras.

Their leadership in mangrove restoration, eco-tourism, and environmental governance highlights the importance of inclusive, locally driven approaches to ecosystem management. Recognizing and supporting their contributions is essential for advancing equitable conservation strategies and integrating mangroves into climate and development policies, including Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) and blue carbon programs. 

"Our grandmothers crawled so our mothers could walk. Our mothers walked so we could run. And we’re running so our daughters can fly." This quote reflects the resilience of women who have fought against patriarchal and colonial systems. Indigenous women have been central in protecting forests and biodiversity, despite being marginalized.

This article examines the vital role of Indigenous women in forest conservation and biodiversity preservation. It explores how their traditional knowledge and leadership have helped safeguard ecosystems throughout history, even as colonial systems sought to silence them. Today, Indigenous women continue to fight for land rights, environmental justice, and recognition in global policy-making.

Before colonization, women held significant leadership roles, but colonial systems sought to remove them from public life. Despite these challenges, Indigenous women have continued to resist, preserving valuable ecological knowledge. Through legal battles, grassroots movements, and international advocacy, these women prove that leadership in environmental governance must include their voices.

From this article, we learn that recognizing and supporting Indigenous women’s leadership in environmental and land stewardship is key to effective, inclusive, and sustainable forest conservation. Their wisdom and resilience offer crucial insights for shaping future environmental policies.