Sixteenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

In recent years, efforts to help rural women grow and manage trees in Cameroon had little positive impact because of the failure to incorporate rural women’s participation. Most activities are based on assumptions that local farmers (80% women), participate in conserving forests resources through the application of modern techniques. This paper indicates that rural women, if and when included in the climate change campaign, can be true agents of change, inherent problem-solvers, good leaders in influencing national and local climate change policies, influence poverty eradication, contribute meaningfully to climate solutions, and ensure long term environmental benefits. Rural women must therefore be placed at the heart of relief efforts in the building of communities affected by calamities related to climate change. They are and must continue to be stewards of natural resources and should be positioned to develop strategies for adapting to changing environmental realities, as they are responsible for family needs sourced from the natural environment in which they live. More importantly, they have demonstrated alternative agro-forestry conservation measures like, beekeeping, tree planting, medicinal plants cultivation, organic farming and gardening, which highlight the importance of forests in rural livelihoods and impacts on the health of the environment at wider levels. Natural forests have important cultural values, and serve important ecosystem functions. The study concludes that including rural women in ecosystems conservation improves the implementation of strategies to alleviate poverty in communities, especially amongst women and youth, who increasingly have temptations of converting natural forests areas into agricultural and grazing land.