Women and biodiversity conservation: Analyzing involvement of women in conservation work in Rwanda

Abstract

The field of conservation biology, a relatively new field of science, is driven by conservation professionals and practioners trained in both field work and theory. Although the importance of female scientists in science and technology has been established, and women have been encouraged to attend courses related to science and technology at universities, women remain underrepresented in science fields, including conservation biology. In many African countries women are underrepresented in the professional field of biodiversity conservation but the reasons for this remain undocumented. Rwanda is a country that has made tourism based on wildlife a priority for national development, and recently established its fourth national park. However, women remain underrepresented in conservation fields in this country. The aim of this study was to explore and identify factors inhibiting women from holding conservation positions in Rwanda and predict the benefits or added values of having women in conservation beyond simply obtaining gender balance in conservation. Interviews were used to collect data from conservation organizations and academic institutions in Rwanda. I identified the five most important factors influencing low participation of women in conservation: reproductive roles, household responsibilities, lack of selfconfidence to perform conservation work, difficulties of field work involved in some conservation positions, and the fear of loss of confidence by her community when a woman spends much time in the field. Participants in this study proposed solutions that included finding ways to allow married women, and those with children, to have their office based close to their families to ensure they can take care of their family; and ensuring that breastfeeding and pregnant women are based in the areas which have access to healthcare, schools for children and other needed social infrastructures. Women should be educated and empowered to perform conservation work and this should be done from an early age, and women already in the conservation domain should encourage others to enter the conservation biology profession. Society should be educated as well, to promote a shift in perceptions that empowers women to spend time in conservation field work. Increasing the number of women in the conservation discipline in Rwanda and elsewhere could bring benefits to biodiversity conservation projects such as ensuring the sustainable conservation of biodiversity and having women contributing to conservation education for the entire family and future generation