one in three private forests (most are) are in the hands of womenwhat are the owners of those lands. However, decision making How to manage these spaces is not up to them. And of the work carried out on site, in the 92% of the timethey are in charge menwho continue to be the main forest workers.
Women who work in the field are only 9% and are invisible, according to a new study commissioned by Acció Climàtica
That is, women too are invisible in the forestry sectora work environment that is just beginning to grow in Catalonia. These are the main conclusions of a new study commissioned by the Conselleria d’Acció Climàtica, which was presented this Tuesday in Avinyó (el Bages) and which also shows the little presence of women in the fishing sector continental (in rivers and lakes).
“Real equality is very far away and sexist behaviors are still present”
Director of Forests of the Generalitat
“This diagnosis should not only serve to x-ray the sector, but also to change it. Real equality is very far away and sexist behaviors are still present,” he acknowledges. Anna Sanitjas, director of Forests and Forest Ecosystems of the Generalitat. She proposes making visible this 9% who do work among trees: “We launched a plan to get closer to this equality. The first thing we will do is set up a working group so that women who own forests are empowered and make decisions.”
In many cases, decisions are made by other owners or simply by their male relatives. “Above all children and husbands They are the ones who end up in charge of deciding what is done in this forest, even if it is owned by a woman. And this has to change,” warns Sanitjas. A photo exhibition to vindicate the forestry workers.
The forestry policy plan, which should outline the future of forest management in Catalonia, will include measures to advance equality between men and women
The weight of tradition
The Department is drafting the general forest policy planwhich must draw the future of the forest management in Catalonia. And here, it is planned that measures will be included to achieve equality between men and women.
The study shows that men are not integrative with women who work in the forest
How can this situation be reversed? One of the points to focus on is University, for example, in addition to promoting the hiring of women by employers. Women who choose to study Forest engineering or professional degrees related to forests just They represent 20% of students, a scenario that does not contribute to changing things.
Traditionally, forestry tasks have always been a area reserved for men. The study shows that they do not usually show a desire for inclusion and integration towards the women who take the step and dare to work there. On the contrary, they often adopt an old mentality and discredit their peers, the study says.
Discriminations
Added to this underlying machismo are obstacles such as childcare or difficult schedules of this sector, which reinforce the “cultural distance” between women and the forest.
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Discrimination, as in other sectors, is constant. The Workwearfor example, is designed for male bodies and gender prejudices towards manual labor mean that women are usually more present in management or research work and not so much on the ground.
“We always talk about introducing female talent, because women seek collaborative work and are not usually so individualistic. And these values should be taken into account in forests, which are key to the future of Catalonia,” considers Sanitjas.