Gendered differentiation in the use of forest resources: Results from PEN

THINKING beyond the canopy

Gendered differentiation in the use of

forest resources: Results from PENVictoria Reyes-Garcia, Ronnie Babigumira, Gerald Shively & Terry Sunderland

UEA, 13th June 2011

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Research suggests that, within households,

gender relations influence the distribution of

income in general, and forest income in

particular. It is commonly assumed that

• Men extract forest products for sale and

women for household consumption.

• But women rely more than men on forest

products for income generation.

We use the PEN global data set to assess

within household gendered differences :

in the consumption and sale of forest

products, and

in the reliance of processed and

unprocessed forest products.

Gender and forest income

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Methods We highlighted the two key variables used in the gender

analysis.

1. Outcome variables

For both Unprocessed and Processed forest products, (i)

Wife and adult female members, (ii) Husband and adult male

members, (iii) Both, (iv) Children

2. Product characteristics

food, fuel, medicines/resins/dyes, structural/fibre, fodder,

manure/fertilizer, mineral/metals, others.

Dominant (largest share of income) product class for each

household which we use to control for product

characteristics

Global analysis: regional understanding

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Data: who does what?

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Data: types of products

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Men, women, and children participate in the

collection and processing of forest products,

but activities are gender specialized.

The share value of forest products

collected by men surpasses the share

value of forest products collected by

women.

Share value of forest products by age-sex groups

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Women Both Men Children

Processed

Unprocessed

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Women specialize in the collection and

processing of forest products for

subsistence, whereas men specialize on

forest products for sale.

Share value of subsistence vscash forest products

Unprocessed Processed

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Women Men

0

10

20

30

40

50

Women Men

Cash

Subsistence

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Regional patterns: Latin America

In the Latin American sites, where forest income and forest dependence

are higher, the share value of processed and unprocessed forest products

collected by men surpasses the share value of forest products collected by

women.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Women Both Men Children

Subsistence

Cash

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Women Both Men Children

Unprocessed Processed

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Regional patterns: Asia

In the Asian sites, the pattern is more complex. Overall men the share value

of forest products collected by men is larger, but differences are smaller than

in LA. Women have higher shares in subsistence.

Unprocessed Processed

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Women Both Men Children

Subsistence

Cash

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Women Both Men Children

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Regional patterns: Africa

In the African sites, the share value of unprocessed products collected by

women is larger than the share value collected by men. But men have a

larger share on processed forest products.

Unprocessed Processed

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Women Both Men Children

Subsistence

Cash

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Women Both Men Children

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Multivariate analysis

Unprocessed Processed

Women hh head 0.211*** 0.325***

Age -0.001* 0.001*

Education -0.001 -0.003

Good roof -0.023* 0.057

# kids 0.003 -0.006

Total income -0.000 -0.000*

Agricultural land -0.001*** 0.001

Participation on forest management -0.009 -0.045

Unprocess for construction -0.086*** -0.527***

Unprocess for fuel 0.194*** -0.117

Distance to road 0.001 0.003

Distance to forest -0.000 0.000

Income inequality 0.451 0.817

Female wage -0.003 0.000

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Key findings

• Female headed households rely more on income from NTFPs

and are probably more vulnerable to shocks

• Strong gender differentiation: product characteristics are

important

• Men contribute significantly to household income through NTFP

collection and sale: “they are doing their bit”

• Initial assumptions related to gender and NTFPs confirmed

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Possible future research

Understand outflows: How do men and women use income

from NTFP sale?

Regional differentiation: need to explore reasons

Capturing the “hidden economy”: would more formal

regulations/institutional arrangements ensure greater equity?

Understanding linkages between NTFPs and food security,

especially in the face of climate change

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Policy Implications

Within household distribution of

income from forest products

presents regional variations, so

there is no good “one size fit all”

policy regarding gender and

forest income.

Understanding gender-based

forest income distribution might

help design policies and

development interventions that

provide women with more

equitable access to income

However, most donors recognise

importance of gender-oriented

research yet successful

integration remains elusive

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