Gender and Biodiversity: A New Approach to Linking Environment and Development

Abstract

The 1992 Convention on Biological Conservation and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (1996) reflect the growing importance of biodiversity for environmental conservation and as a way of maintaining the genetic variety needed for plant breeding and providing new sources of medicines. More recently, agrobiodiversity has been seen as vital for food security in developing countries. This article considers the need to understand decision‐making for biodiversity at the grassroots. To achieve this, gender roles, as influenced by gender divisions of labour in food production and the gendered use of different environmental spaces, have to be considered. Women's roles in seed selection and seed saving and use of wild plants for food and medicines play a major role in biodiversity conservation, but these roles are not unchanging and are increasingly influenced by global trade networks and geographical context.

The political economy of alternative trade: Social and environmental certification in the South African wine industry

“…Thus, WIETA and the BWI have begun discussions about whether "you can actually look at so-called ethical issues without also looking at the environment" (wine industry executive, interview 21/09/06). This echoes the call from some commentators for greater integration of social and environmental issues (Blowfield, 1999;Momsen, 2007), and reflects business imperatives that require goods and services to be produced under conditions that are both socially and environmentally responsible. Some respondents believe it would be ideal to have a single symbol or label that ties together ethics and environment across the whole of South African agri-industries.…”

Collective action in agrobiodiversity management: gendered rules of reputation, trust and reciprocity in Kerala, India

“…The shrinking demand for agrobiodiversity, especially in terms of rice varieties, is contributing towards a decreasing social status of women. Collective action in agrobiodiversity management requires different responsibilities for men and women (Momsen, 2007). The actual tasks are complementary, though this is subject to change with the conversion of the farming system from paddy for subsistence to cash crops for the market, where women's expertise is less useful.…”

“…The growing recognition of the key position of biodiversity for global food security and environmental functioning has not been adequately reflected in the public support extended to the guardians of genetic wealth (Swaminathan, 1998). Though the special role of women has been articulated in the CBD (Momsen, 2007), no intervention strategies or research programmes have been developed to generate knowledge and funds for a massive public investment. The transformation of women from users and conservers to decision-makers, advocates and managers of biodiversity requires direct and inclusive approaches.…”

Integrating Ecology and Poverty Reduction

“…New high-yielding varieties of plants may not meet the full range of nutrients needed to assure food security within the household nor provide the by-products often used by women, such as straw for making mats and fodder and leaves for relishes. Thus, genetic erosion is tantamount to a form of cultural erosion that, ultimately, may result in loss of social status for women by reducing their ability to prepare traditional foods, and to make craft items (Momsen 2007 ) . When women's ways of thinking and doing are not included, we have an incomplete picture of how a territory or watershed functions.…”

“…In agrobiodiversity research, gendered knowledge is often still considered to be abstract, uninfl uenced by relations of power, culture, and context (Momsen 2007 ) . Clearly, gender infl uences much of what we know and what happens in the developing world in regard to biodiversity.…”