WHY WOMEN?
To heal the planet, we must address gender inequality. The planet’s restoration isn’t just about planting trees—it's about rebalancing power structures that have long caused harm. This includes the patriarchy, which has not only oppressed women but also contributed to environmental degradation.
We need everyone to join this movement—of all genders—but we centre women because they are key to a restored, just, and sustainable world.
WHY DO WE CENTRE WOMEN?
We believe women are the heartbeat of our planet's healing. Studies consistently show that when women are part of decision-making, they act for the many, not the few. Women are rising as powerful guardians of Nature—because when women lead, everyone benefits. But it’s not just about leadership. It’s about acknowledging and rectifying systemic imbalances that have harmed both people and the planet for centuries.
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CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT GENDER-NEUTRAL
Women are disproportionately affected by climate change due to socio-economic, political, and legal barriers deeply embedded in society. But this isn’t just about statistics—it’s about real-world impacts that change lives. The solutions to climate change must include the full participation of women. They bring unique perspectives, knowledge, and strategies for mitigation and adaptation. Without their inclusion, we cannot hope for a fair or effective response to climate crises.
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THE POWER OF WOMEN IN FOREST CARE
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Women have long been the stewards of forests, yet they’re often excluded from decision-making processes that affect their future and the environment. The science is clear—when women are involved in forest-care projects, the outcomes are better for both the forests and the communities.
Women are more likely to rely on forests for resources, and when they have a voice in the care and restoration of those forests, ecosystems thrive. Gender inequality, therefore, doesn’t just harm women—it harms our entire planet. Equitable participation is the key to healing both.
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Centring women in our work doesn’t mean excluding men—it means correcting historical power imbalances and lifting up the voices that have been silenced for too long. It’s about acknowledging that true healing requires equity for all. We must create a world where nature and people flourish in harmony, where everyone, regardless of gender, can contribute to the planet’s restoration.
WE CHAMPION GENDER EQUITY.
Gender equity and women’s empowerment are at the core of everything we do. In all our projects, we challenge dominant power structures and ensure the voices of women are heard, valued, and celebrated. By integrating gender equity into every facet of our work, we’re fostering a world where balance is restored, not just between people, but between people and Nature.
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Supporting women isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s essential for a sustainable future. From protecting sacred lands to leading reforestation efforts, women are at the forefront of change. When we empower women, we enable whole communities to thrive.
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You can support this work by becoming a month donor today.
WHAT WE'RE DOING.
We’re not just planting trees; we’re planting the seeds of a transformative shift towards a more equal future. Here are some of the ways our projects are empowering women around the world:
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🌳 Recognising Women’s Wisdom: Honouring and elevating the vital role women play in sustainable land use and reforestation.
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🌱 Women Leading the Way: Women as decision-makers, foresters, and guardians of their own lands.
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💪 Empowering Women’s Agency: Giving women the tools and the power to shape the future of their communities.
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🌿 Reducing Risks, Lifting Burdens: Creating safer, more resilient landscapes through reforestation, agroforestry, and income-generating initiatives.
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Together, we’re reimagining a world where women rise as true stewards of the Earth, guiding us towards a just and sustainable future.
IN ACTION.
Kasese, Uganda
In communities historically divided by gender in restoration efforts, focusing on gender equity and women’s participation is changing lives.
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Kamalha Annet, from Alpha Women Empowerment Initiative (AWEI), shares: “Women will be able to gain more skills. For example, when we’re in the field with some of the farmers, men are supposed to be the ones to plant trees. But nowadays, we are training the women to know how to plant them.”
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Through projects like these, gender equity is integrated into leadership training, budgeting, and menstrual hygiene education, which has led to less absenteeism in schools and significant progress in community-based restoration efforts. This is real-world change, improving the lives of women, girls, and their communities.
EXPLAINED:
GENDER EQUITY OR GENDER EQUALITY?
What is the difference between gender equity and gender equality? Often used interchangeably, these terms have very different meanings and, therefore, different implications for the best approach to reaching gender balance.
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While gender equality refers to the equal treatment of genders in all areas, gender equity goes a step further by acknowledging the fact that women (and all who do not identify as cis-male) have historically been disadvantaged and, therefore, require different treatment and accommodations to level the playing field. In other words, gender equity recognises that equality cannot be achieved by treating everyone equally but by providing different levels of support and resources as needed to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.
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"Gender equity includes the spectrum of genders recognised by bioregional communities. All genders need equality in access to trees and forests for their mental and physical health."
- Rooted in Ethics, TreeSisters.
"There's a solid base of evidence showing that women are disproportionately vulnerable to climate change, not because there is something inherently vulnerable about women, but because of socio-cultural structures that deprive women of access to resources, decision-making, information, agency, etc."
- Marina Andrijevic, research analyst, Climate Analytics.
