A logging branch within the Menkragnoti Indigenous Land. Indigenous Peoples in the Brazilian Amazon with full ownership rights have much lower rates of deforestation.
Forest Protection
Climate change is an accelerating societal concern, now commonly described as a crisis. A UN Environment Programme report outlines the greatest risks of climate change, such as the subsistence of coastal regions, the pollution of nature, and resource scarcity. One of the most effective forms of climate action is forest protection. The UN Sustainable Development Goals currently promote sustainable tree management through the Life on Land initiative. Local governments collaborate with community organizations to set tree planting goals. Collective action for forest protection is also mobilized through the International Day of Forests as forests contribute to the health of all forms of life on Earth. Trees breathe life into the planet by producing oxygen and clean the air by absorbing pollutants. They provide food, oxygen, habitats, and aesthetic beauty while cooling down urban areas. When loggers recklessly commercialize the forest, these great benefits are lost, and more pollution is created. In this regard, trees are the cornerstone of climate action, and the best way to protect them is to support Indigenous women.
Indigenous Leadership
More than 2,000 Indigenous cultures depend on forests for their livelihoods, medicines, fuel, food, and shelter. Many Indigenous peoples regard nature with deep respect, and their land yields significantly better environmental outcomes. While humans have deeply altered most land-based and marine environments, these trends have been less severe, or avoided altogether, in regions managed by Indigenous peoples. For instance, in the Caru Indigenous Territory of Brazil, the Guaajarara people have acted as Forest Guardians for over 500 years. These individuals embark on long and highly dangerous patrols to detect illegal logging activity and protect the land using satellite technology. In the greater Maranhão state of Brazil, the capacity of federal government agencies to enforce environmental laws has diminished. As a result, the efforts of these guardians have been instrumental in protecting the forest.
Within this group of Forest Guardians in Brazil, there is an autonomous women’s group known as the Guerreiras Da Floresta, or Forest Warriors. These women are empowering forest protection by connecting with other Indigenous groups similarly seeking to protect their territories and conducting training with neighbouring communities about the importance of environmental conservation. The results of their participation are clearly shown by the declining rates of deforestation in these areas. The Caru Indigenous Territory has seen 4% forest loss since 2000. In comparison, the state of Maranhão has lost almost 25%. Another example of Indigenous female environment leadership is found in the Kui People of the Prame commune in Cambodia, whose spiritual leader has been central to challenging sugarcane companies. These cases demonstrate that when we protect Indigenous women, we protect the environment.
Sexism & Colonialism
Studies show that climate change will disproportionately affect people based on social aspects such as gender. Women, who already experience patriarchal oppression (e.g. the gender wage gap), face higher risks of violence and reduced access to resources like energy and water. Women are also commonly excluded from decision-making processes, receiving less than 1% of international philanthropy for environmental initiatives. Gender biases like these may be compounded in Indigenous communities, who experience severe and ongoing harm from pollution. For example, women of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation may be acutely affected by pollution from Ontario’s Chemical Valley. Additionally, First Nations women in Canada may have uneven access to clean drinking water due to the ongoing water crisis. EcoJustice Canada describes this toxic pattern as a direct result of colonization. These are the forces of injustice that must be confronted in order to effectively protect nature.
Intersectional theory addresses the complex relationship between multiple systems of oppression and can be a useful tool when it comes to analyzing phenomena such as climate change. It is important to note that definitions of intersectionality vary and have evolved to reflect unique experiences. According to Kimberlé Crenshaw, the experiences of women of colour are frequently the product of intersecting patterns of racism and sexism, and these experiences tend to be underrepresented in the media. Intersectionality ought to be recognized by decision makers, both generally and in the context of climate change, because it seeks to disable hierarchical exclusion with the goal of social and ecological justice.
In this context, evidence suggests that equality leads to stronger climate action. Studies show that gender quotas increase the effectiveness of climate policies. Indigenous landowners also produce better environmental outcomes, with their territories described as ‘islands of green in a sea of deforestation’. The story of the Guerreiras Da Floresta is uniquely powerful in its demonstration of a necessary increase in Indigenous female leadership and forest conservation. Patriarchy and colonialism have subjected Indigenous women to centuries of exploitation, and these injustices are ongoing. Considering the important connection between Indigenous female leadership and positive environmental outcomes, there are distinct advantages to decolonization and gender equality that extend beyond the typical arguments for social justice. Advocacy groups like Intersectional Environmentalist and the Leap actively seek to dismantle multiple systems of oppressions in the context of climate change. Indigenous Climate Action is another pressure group that seeks to reinforce Indigenous leadership in environmental protection. Aligning with these groups' principles may be the best way to help the Earth and its people. Combating the climate crisis means more than just lowering carbon emissions; it also means taking responsibility, acting with compassion, and deeply reflecting on our relationship with one another.
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