Rural women, the drivers of change in forest-based climate action
Rural women around the world serve as community leaders, blending modern knowledge with ancient wisdom to protect their communities. They are among the most knowledgeable stewards of forest landscapes and stand at the forefront of environmental protection efforts. Briseida Iglesias, part of the Indigenous Guna community in Panama, is an environmental sustainability and cultural heritage advocate within her community. She promotes traditional plant knowledge, educates younger generations on forest stewardship, and plans for her community’s resilience to climate impacts. Sara Omi, a leader of the Emberá people of Panama, works alongside other Indigenous women across Mesoamerica to propose solutions for combating climate change and preserving traditional knowledge. Aissatou Oumarou, a climate activist from Chad and a member of the Mbororo Fulani tribe, draws attention to the challenges rural and Indigenous women face. She notes the biggest hurdles are access to land and water, support from authorities, and the environmental impact of outside actors on Indigenous territories. Nana Marina Cruz, spiritual guide and cultural advocate from the Maya Tz’utujil Indigenous Peoples in Guatemala, uses her voice to hold world leaders accountable. She shares a “plea for conscience” and condemns their pursuit of wealth at the expense of Mother Earth. According to the authors, these sentiments align with the UN-REDD Programmes’ goals. This knowledge and advisory programme by the United Nations focuses on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) in developing countries and fighting climate impacts through forest solutions. Local women play an ‘indispensable’ role in REDD+, and the Programme has a duty to provide a platform for them.
