Elevating Women Woodland Owners in Forest Stewardship

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会议名称:“2021世界木材日”研讨会暨第三届国际林联(IUFRO) 林产品文化研究组讨论会
会议时间:2021年3月22日

报告嘉宾:Leonora Pepper
嘉宾简介:Southwest Program Manager of Forest Stewards Guild, USA.

摘要:
The long-term sustainability of forest systems—and the myriad benefits they provide—often comes down to the people and communities directly involved in their ongoing management and protection. Promoting buy-in and empowerment among those who can directly impact and steward forestland at an individual scale can be a crucial element in building resilience across much larger landscapes. In the United States, women woodland owners play a key role in stewarding our private forestlands, yet traditional landowner outreach programs often fall short of engaging this important population.
Despite over half of woodland properties listing at least one female owner, women have been shown to be less likely than men to commercially harvest timber, manage for wildlife habitat, participate in cost-share programs, have a conservation easement, obtain green certification, participate in tax abatement programs, or simply get advice about their wooded land. Forestry, being a traditionally male field, can be an intimidating space for women to break into; many feel they lack the knowledge or confidence to take important steps such as finding a consulting forester or making management decisions on their land. The Women Owning Woodlands (WOW) program seeks to address this gap by providing timely, accessible information and engaging learning opportunities to women landowners. This USDA Forest Service-funded project also supports a 3 national network of professionals who provide women-focused programming. In recent years, WOW leaders in over 20 U.S. states have been making strides building grassroots outreach programs aimed at empowering women to practice forest stewardship.
In 2020, much of WOW’s work at the network level was in supporting WOW leaders in adapting their programs to the pandemic context. When COVID-19 forced WOW leaders across the country to find new ways to reach women woodland owners and keep them engaged, the WOW professionals’ network came together to share ideas and offer mutual support. Whether pivoting to adapt existing programs to virtual platforms or safely offering field tours and women’s chainsaw safety workshops during the pandemic, WOW practitioners expanded and innovated in their approaches to women-focused stewardship outreach and education.
When asked about their land management goals, women often talk about conserving the land and protecting nature, wildlife habitat, and water. By empowering women woodland owners to manage their land, we can help support their decision-making and ensure the long-term resilience of millions of acres of family forests across the U.S.

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