The challenges of securing women's tenure and leadership for forest management: the Asian experience

This collection of analyses spotlight cases and interviews with prominent women activists involved in natural resource management in Nepal, Indonesia, the Philippines and China to better understand the diverse challenges faced by Asian women in relation to limited rights and insecure tenure. Despite contextual differences, the studies identify a number of similarities and trends. The authors argue that many poor Asian women face challenges articulated around three nexuses: generic gender issues; the interrelations between poverty and tenure issues; and ill-conceived, gender blind and gender biased development interventions. The paper includes the following recommendations: increase women’s visibility through mobilisation and networking; improve capacity building within projects and organisations; reinforce participatory ethos; and increase links with policy planning and implementation.