Though women play a major role in conservation of the ecosystem, they are worst affected by the conflict between development and conservation, which is why there is an urgent need to come up with a gender plan of action to ensure gender mainstreaming in conservation of biodiversity.

This was the crux of deliberations at a session on ‘Women in Biodiversity: Reframing Conservation Debates’, during the ongoing meeting of the Committee of the Parties (COP11) to the Convention on Biological DIversity (CBD) at Hyderabad on Tuesday, with particular focus on coastal and marine issues as part of which the plight of fisherwomen in coastal Odisha was highlighted by fisherwoman Chittiamma Buguru, who is advisor to the Odisha-based Samudram Women’s Federation.

Talking about the marginalisation of women in the fisheries sector, Pradeep Chatterjee, secretary of the National Fishworkers’ Forum said that despite their contribution women fish workers get negligible support from government policies as they have no voice. “Over 48% of fish workers are women, more than 73% of those involved in fish marketing are women and over 75% of the fish curing and processing work is done by fisherwomen, yet they get negligible support from government and have hardly any representation in governing bodies to make their voice heard. All the benefits of government policies are cornered by men,” Chatterjee said.

Chandrika Sharma, executive secretary, International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF), pointed out the irony of the poor, particularly women, being the worst affected by development and conservation though they play a key role in conservation efforts and emphasized the need to empower them in the larger interests of biodiversity.

“They are caught in the pincer of development and conservation. Their activities are being curtailed by government policies banning fishing in protected areas while on the other hand ports and power plants are coming up in close vicinity of protected areas,” she said adding that there was a need to keep in mind the power local communities can play in governing resources as they have been there for generations and know the ecosystem best to protect it.

2012 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.