'Benefits beyond carbon' : for whom? : gender analysis of communal forest governance and forest resource use in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract: In an effort to mitigate global climate change, the REDD+ mechanism (an acronym for ‘Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation plus the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stock’) continues to be put forward as an attractive carbon sequestration and forest conservation tool. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), hosting more than 63% of the Congo Basin rainforests, is the biggest receiver for REDD+ funding in Africa. These funds are used to improve forest governance towards sustainable forest management practices and forest conservation. In particular at the local level, these changes will affect communities’ forest resource use, forest management practices, and ultimately their livelihoods. Given the fact that the DRC scores fifth highest in the world on the Gender Inequality Index, it is unacceptable that gender issues remain peripheral in the process of setting up REDD+ governance structures. Therefore, my research addresses this issue of gender blindness in examining barriers to female participation in forest governance. Theories and frameworks from Feminist Political Ecology and Bina Agarwal in particular have guided the research for a deeper understanding of prevailing power relations and social norms that shape gender inequalities. Focus group discussions and individual interviews with community members in two different project sites in Equateur Province as well as field observations and expert interviews reveal socially constructed norms and perceptions on gendered forest knowledge, use and governance. Key findings from this study show a striking discrepancy in de facto and perceived women’s forest knowledge and activities in the forest, which nourishes men’s claims on dominant power over the use and management of forest resources. Likewise, women’s traditional exclusion from forest governance is predicated on a systematic undervaluation of their capacities. Women could be equally involved in REDD+ though. With the increased emergence of emancipative thinking and better access to education, progressive values towards gender equality challenge patriarchal norms and practices. The study’s findings show that men generally accept women’s active participation in formal forest governance institutions – even leadership – provided that the woman is sufficiently educated. In order for the whole community, men and women alike, to benefit from REDD+ interventions, it will be crucial to understand gendered differences in use, knowledge, and control over forest resources. In particular, women’s capacities must be strengthened to empower them to participate and profit in an equal manner. Unless REDD+ activities are designed and implemented appropriately, gendered power imbalances could be deteriorated by REDD+ project activities.