Gender Roles and Land Use Preferences—Implications to Landscape Restoration in Southeast Asia

Abstract

This section discusses the roles that women play in agricultural production, as well as their land use choices and the implications of those choices on landscape restoration. Based on case studies from Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, we argue that the pathway to land restoration is influenced by the way that land is appreciated by direct stakeholders. Women, due to their increasingly productive roles, could become agents of either land degradation or restoration. Ignoring their specific needs may lead to unsuccessful implementations of land restoration programs. We recommend a greater emphasis on understanding gender-specific differences over land-use and land management practices as an entry point, followed by nuanced design and implementation of gender-responsive and gender-focused land restoration approaches and investments