Case investigation on the participation of women in reforestation in the Philippines

background

This study explores gender-based participation in small-scale reforestation projects in the Philippines. Seedlings of a native pine, Pinus kesiya, and exotic Eucalyptus were planted through small-scale projects led by groups called Peoples’ Organizations.

findings

The authors interviewed male and female participants. Interviewees largely spoke highly of the importance of the project. While women were largely excluded from planning meetings, they contributed a majority of labor to the project, especially to nursery management. Men were more often involved in plantation management. One leader explained that women were more involved in various activities because the men were pre-occupied with their farming activities. In some families, other family members took on more household responsibilities so that women could work on the reforestation project. However, obstacles such as forest fires and delayed payments stopping work caused high mortality in the plantation.