Women, Power, and Environments: Deforestation for Food Production

Introduction

Various groups in the society -political, social, geographical, and economical- have established connections with the environment through activities that target current ecological issues. These groups entail gender where women around the world have in one way or another expressed interest on current environmental issues such as global warming, deforestation, water scarcity, and energy production among others (Warren, n.d). The perspectives of women on various environmental issues are tied together in the social movement of ecofeminism (Gaard, 2011). Women hold a vital position in the management of natural resources and although they were previously ignored, there is currently increased attention on the role they play and the impact they have on the natural environment (Gaard, 2011; Warren, n.d).

This research paper focuses on deforestation for food production and how it is perceived through feministic lens, especially on how it relates to social and ethical aspects of environmentalism. The topic is of interest since deforestation is a major ethical issue in environmentalism and women have contributed to its impact as well as its prevention. Studies show that deforestation for food production has more adverse impacts compared to deforestation for industrial use (Appiah et al., 2009). The paper addresses the following: the physical and human dimensions of deforestation, how the issue affects women, how actions taken to curb the deforestation problem impact other environmental issues, what can be done to improve the situation for humans in general and women in particular, and a review on whether all environmental issues are political issues.

Physical dimensions of deforestation

Deforestation is the removal of a forest, or trees on large scale location in order to use the land, for other uses such as food production. According to Domroes (1991) the size of tropical rainforests already cleared in the world by the last decade was over a half. Despite the significance of forests in conserving biodiversity, providing materials with medicinal benefits and food, regulating climate, and reducing global warming, deforestation is taking place at an alarming rate (Appiah et al., 2009). Domroes (1991) observed that forest coverage in Central America has reduced from about sixty per cent to less than a third of the total land area since 1960. A study found that in 1988 the total area deforested in Brazil’s Amazon basin, one of the world’s largest tropical forests, to cover about 230, 324 square kilometers (Domroes, 1991). Deforestation in the eastern part of Amazon began in the early years of the last century to provide space for settlement, and agricultural production. Subsistence farming and commercial agriculture are the major aspects contributing to deforestation around the world (Appiah et al., 2009).

Human dimensions of deforestation

There is a relationship between population and change in land use according to a plethora of studies which suggests that worldwide population growth is the main cause for deforestation (Appiah et al., 2009; Domroes, 1991; Schultz et al., 2001). Population growth rates in several parts of the world have largely contributed to deforestation as people create rooms for expansion, and both subsistence and commercial agriculture for food (Schultz et al., 2001). Developing countries record the most rapid growth population even as more forest space is contracted to provide space for food production in order to feed the population. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the land needed to produce additional food required to feed the expanding population is being degraded through deforestation, and poor farming practices.

The role of women in deforestation can be noted in the essence of their role in reproduction which leads to a higher population especially in circumstances where there is low utilization of family planning methods (Kumar & Hotchkiss, 1988). Additionally, women provide labor in Agriculture in most of societies in the world, by conducting farm work for domestic food production (Kumar & Hotchkiss, 1988). Raney et al. (2011) discusses how women labor in food production has increased deforestation in South American countries such as Ecuador. According to Schultz et al. (2001) ninety percent of women in the developing world depend on their land for survival. In Sub-Saharan Africa, at least eighty percent of food production is done by women, while this accounts for sixty percent in Asia, and fifty percent in Latin America (Schultz et al., 2001).

How the issue affects women

Women are affected in different ways by the operation of the environmental systems depending on their gender, race, class, and issues of social justice. Culture affects how women connect to the environment as some communities are still rooted in patriarchal systems where gender roles are distinct (Raney et al., 2011). Majority of households are headed by men who also own the lands and are responsible for controlling the women’s labor on the land, whereas women are tasked with the duty of feeding their families through agricultural food production (Raney et al., 2011). In addition to that, women who act as laborers for Agricultural production are mostly of low socio-economic status, as they have been conditioned that their role is to stay at home, and take care of their families. Most of these women have low educational attainment, and therefore cannot qualify for white collar jobs that are usually preserved for their men. In the aim to satisfy their families, these women are forced to dedicate their efforts on food production, even though increased demand for food production is the main cause for deforestation which results to devastating ecological impacts (Raney et al., 2011).

Despite the issue of deforestation being a universal concern, it seems to affect women differently than other demographics, and this is because of the nature of their connection with the environment (Raney et al., 2011). Since it is women who are responsible for the highest production amount of food especially in the developing world, they are forced to toil harder in the event of unpredictable drought circumstances, especially if they are single women with children to feed. A study of targeting the Himalayas in Northern India revealed that deforestation in the area had caused adverse soil erosion, landslides, and flooding which had forced the women villagers in the area to look trek higher up the mountain in search of food, and fuel (Kumar & Hotchkiss, 1988). Deforestation increases the risks of flooding and a study shows that women are more likely to die in extreme weather conditions as compared to men. This is related to masculinity issues which afford women less strength to survive adversities compared to men. Also men are tasked with gender role of caring for the children, the sick and the elderly which can slow down movements while escaping hazardous conditions (Kumar & Hotchkiss, 1988).

Since women have historically been involved the role of providing food for their families and communities, they also have established a major interest to undo or curb the effects of deforestation (Kumar & Hotchkiss, 1988).

How actions taken to curb the deforestation problem impacts other environmental issues

Deforestation is most prominent in developing countries especially in South America, Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa (Raney et al., 2011). The world’s highest deforestation rate is found in Brazil where the tropical Amazon forest has undergone wide scale deforestation (Raney et al., 2011). Demographics of majority of women in these countries include non-Caucasian, low social class, low educational attainment, and partly employed or unemployed. Poor people are likely to clear forest land for food mostly because of lack of other alternatives (FAO). Governments in affected areas have implemented actions, for example, through policies and legislations against deforestation. Monitoring of deforestation through real imaging via satellites is a method applied by the Brazilian government (Domroes, 1991). However, this can generate other environmental issues such as global warming through emission of carbon in computer systems applied during the monitoring. Furthermore, strong legislation against deforestation may cause the high population of people to lack homes or spaces to live and will be forced to cluster in a small location, further increasing the area’s carbon footprints. A densely populated area is also a risk factor for communicable diseases due to depleted water resources and health services, and generally low living standards (Appiah et al., 2001; Kumar & Hotchkiss, 1988). Preventative measures for deforestation should look into addressing issues of social justice where equitable access to resources is enabled to all.

Opinion on what can be done to improve situation for humans, especially women

Deforestation is a risk factor to food insecurity, which is one of the main causes of poverty among humans (FAO). In my opinion, one of the ways by which to obtain sustainable food production and maintain its security is by improving the status of women through empowerment. Historically, women are connected to the environment through their attributes of nurturing and providing care for their families by feeding them. Empowerment of women, especially in rural areas where agriculture is extensively practiced will help them to understand the rightful strategies required to use land in a better way. This can begin by educating women about family planning and enabling access to family planning services, and especially making them understand the relation between high population, and food scarcity where land has been degraded through deforestation. Importantly, women should be allowed the right to make decisions in matters affecting their reproductive health. Males responsible for raising families should also be encouraged to take part in family planning decisions, rather than live the responsibility to females alone. Decline in population growth rate will assist to relieve pressure on land and put production and supplies of food in balance with its needs and demands (FAO).

Women empowerment also involves increasing their socio-economic status through education, and social inclusion which will help them access a variety of ways to care for the environment, especially through better farming practices (Raney et al., 2011). Another way is through improving social justice which will in turn improve food distribution systems and enable equitable distribution of land and other resources. For example, through providing technical advice and financial resources to farmers in rural communities, to enable all to access improved strategies for better agricultural production. Men should also get involved in helping women to make decisions and participate in activities that foster better food production. This means that caring for one another and the environment should be responsibility of the entire community, where everyone is made to understand the importance of conserving the environment, while using it in ways that can better serve humanity.

Are all environmental issues political issues?

All environmental issues are political issues since they affect the well being of people in their communities. Measures to protect the environment can be voiced through political channels at local, national, and international levels. Women, as a voice can come together to elect leaders who are concerned about the well-being of their environment, and this can be targeted at all levels-local, national and international. Political leaders who advocate simple practices such as people re-planting trees in their localities, to pushing for environmental protection policies at national and international levels usually receive great respect and support from ecofeminist movements driven by the common need of conserving the environment.

Conclusion

This research has addressed ecofeminist perspectives on deforestation for food production and its ethical issues on environmentalism. The research reveals that women are affected by gender, culture, socioeconomic and political issues in the way they relate with their environments. Women, especially from rural backgrounds in developing countries participate in food production the most, while serving in their gender roles of feeding their families. This combined with their role in reproduction, which increases population has been directly linked with deforestation. Deforestation has a negative consequence in the environment making the latter less supportive of food production hence leading to food insecurity and poverty. The solution lies in empowering women to help them handle food production in more sustaining ways as well as closing the gap between the rich and the poor to enable equitable distribution of resources and better utilization of the environment.

References:

Appiah, M., Blay, D., Damnyag, L., Dwomoh, F. K., Pappinen, A. and Luukkanen, O. (2009). Dependence on forest resources and tropical deforestation in Ghana. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 11, 471-487.

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Gaard, G. (2011). Ecofeminism revisited: Rejecting essentialism and re-placing species in a material feminist environmentalism. Feminist Formations, 23(2), 26-53.

Kumar, S. & Hotchkiss, D. (1988). Consequences of deforestation for women’s time allocation, agricultural production, and nutrition in hill areas of Nepal. International Food Policy Research Institute.

Raney, T, Anrique, G., Croppenstedt, A, Gerosa S., Lowder, S, Matuscke, I., Skoet, J., & Doss, C. (2011). The role of women in Agriculture. FAO: ESA Working Paper 11(02).

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Warren, K. (n.d). Ecological feminist philosophies: An overview of the issues. x-xxvi. Retrieved from www.vedegylet.hu/okopolitika/Warren – Ecofeminism Overview.pdf