Experts Advocate Increased Women Leadership in Biodiversity

 

Hadiza Abdulrahman 

Experts have advocated increased inclusion of women’s leadership in biodiversity to strengthen sustainable and effective conservation strategies.

This was the focus of a roundtable on Women and Biodiversity Leadership, held under the Scientific Diplomacy Programme organized by the Embassy of Spain and the Spanish Cooperation Office in Nigeria, with support from the European Union.

The roundtable on women’s leadership in biodiversity highlighted the crucial role of women in biodiversity conservation and discussed strategies to close the gender gap in biodiversity science. It also explored innovative approaches to integrating gender considerations into biodiversity policies.

They called on stakeholders to address gender inequalities and ensure women's full participation in the sector, while also urging the government to provide adequate funding, inclusive policy development processes, strengthening network for knowledge sharing, enhance access to resources etc.. 

Women's Voices in Biodiversity 

Dr. Toyosi Fadekemi Igejongbo, an aquatic ecologist and senior lecturer at Federal University, Akure, along with Ms. Jana Lopez, a primatologist at Drill Ranch in Cross River State, emphasized the crucial role of women in biodiversity conservation, sharing insights from their own experiences.

Ms. Jana Lopez informed that "Over the past several years, I have had the privilege of working in some of the most biodiverse yet ecosystem, including both Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea my work focus on the conservation of endangered primates especially on the drill monkey, an unknown and unique primate facing severe threats from habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade"  

she stated that Nigeria, while rich in biodiversity also faces severe threats. "The country has one of the World’s highest rates of deforestation, losing between 350, 000 and 400,000 hectares of forest each year, which represents around 4% of its total forest cover illegal logging and hunting, agriculture plantation and development mining are reducing the forest cover in Nigeria  to alarming numbers. Until today, Nigeria has already lost over 90% 0f its original forest" 

"Women play essential role in conservation worldwide, but their role in biodiversity -countries like Nigeria is critical. In regions like Cross River state and its remote rural communities, women involvement is central to conversation efforts, as they are often primary users and custodians of natural resources. Their deep-rooted knowledge of local ecosystems gives them an intuitive understanding of sustainable resource management,"  Lopez said. 

"Without healthy ecosystems, human survival itself becomes precarious", she added. 

While Dr. Toyosi Fadekemi Igejongbo a Senior Lecturer at the Federal University, Akure said women's participation enhances the depth and scope of biodiversity strategies, making conservation efforts more resilient, inclusive, ultimately more successful. 

Igejongbo maintained that "Empowering women in biodiversity science and management is essential steps towards sustainable and effective conservation" 

Dr. Igejongbo pointed out that women are the ones most in charge of natural resources, get fuel for the family, food so that automatically gives them an advantage to be at the fore front of conservation, but unfortunately that is not the case. most times when it comes leadership positions in conversation their voices are not respected, it calls for action. 

Aquatic ecologist advised that women in biodiversity should be encouraged, and empowered in the fore front of leadership to enhance balance representation in gender. 

A Director Deputy Director at the Department of Forestry, Ministry of Environment, discussed the Federal Government’s efforts on biodiversity, including initiatives for gender mainstreaming.

The Chief Gender Officer African Development Bank Dr. Maria Jose Moreno Ruiz emphasized that empowering women leads to greater development.

The representative of the European Union Delegation Ms. Leila-Amor Mathieu stated that the EU will continue addressing the impact of climate change on women and support conservation and preservation efforts. 

Other discussants, who participated virtually, including Mrs. Christina Martinez from the Foundation Biodivesidad and Ms. Vanesa Romero from GESPLAN, suggested strategies for integrating female leadership into biodiversity projects in Nigeria.