IUFRO Unit 6.18.01 Gender Research in Forestry

TEN POINT PLAN – ADOPTED 10 AUGUST 2005

The IUFRO Unit 6.18.01 Gender Research in Forestry has adopted the following Ten Point Plan as a means of acknowledging and advancing the role of both women and men in forestry, to increase the strength, richness and diversity within all those bodies that work with forestry.

The working party sees the first six points as key issues in defining research and the remaining four points as actions not only at working party level but more importantly in a broader arena.

Education

To include (a) the gender content of courses and (b) the social setting provided within and educational environment including role models provided by both male and female teachers.

Also need to consider workplace training within organizations – ‘consciousness awakening’.

Research

Carry out research on gender (addressing both femininity and masculinity) and encourage the mainstreaming of gender in most research.

Reviews

Carry out and present reviews on the current gender situation (in workforce and forest ownership) including the development of a database of publications on gender and forestry.

The Business Case

Prepare one or more business cases detailing why gender balance is important.

Networking

Maintain, develop and link networks among women – include the newly formed ‘Knock on Wood’ network.

The Media

Contribute gender information to the media – be proactive in providing interest stories to local papers; use the media as a means of communicating with decision makers as well as the general public.

Mentoring

Encourage the mentoring of young men and women in all situations by setting good examples through both male and female role models.

The Political Agenda

Work at all levels, using all means, to put gender on the political agenda at all levels – avenues to include media, lobbying, becoming a politician and networking.

Professional Bodies

Target professional bodies (such as universities, companies and unions) in individual countries, and international bodies (such as IUFRO), to include gender mainstreaming in their agendas and culture, and to report annually on gender balance in governance, working groups and meetings.

Policies and Laws

Promote the awareness, development and implementation of gender relevant policies and laws – eg. flexible family, sexual harassment, equal employment opportunity

Note: The following are extracted from a larger listing which were also needs to be considered; those here are seen as being of primary importance.

KNOCK ON WOOD: Harvesting the potential of gender balanced forestry management
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, Lamington National Park, Australia
August 4th – 7th 2005