Gender assessment in plantation forestry in Uganda

Book excerpt: Women play a vital role in forestry, but their contributions are not fully realized due to existing gender inequalities. The policy environment for addressing gender equality in Uganda has improved in recent decades, but women continue to be disadvantaged by insecure property rights and by limited access to forests, trees and land resources. Women also suffer from discrimination and bias in the provision of services, including credit and technology, and are often excluded from decision-making at household, community and national levels. Gender mainstreaming and women empowerment were therefore core aspects of the Sawlog Production Grant Scheme Phase III (SPGS III). FAO, on behalf of the Government of Uganda, is implementing the SPGS III project. The project aims at increasing the incomes of the rural population through commercial tree planting by small, medium, and large-scale private sector actors and the local communities, while at the same time helping to mitigate climate change effects through intensive afforestation. Empowering women in forestry can create significant development opportunities and generate important additional benefits for their households and communities. Therefore, FAO conducted a study to assess status of gender equality and women empowerment in plantation forestry in Uganda and make recommendations on how to better integrate gender equality in commercial forestry.