1. Presented by: Julie T. B. Weah Director Foundation for Community Initiatives (FCI)

2. Group photo-Leadership training in Gbarpolu for women and other stakeholders

3. Forests and rural livelihoods Forests serve as a major livelihood asset for many in forest communities, i.e. women & men alike. – a bank of natural resources including timber and non- timber products. – a pharmacy, i.e. for collecting medicinal plants and non- plant products such as honey. – a communal food store for collecting food items. – a source of food sovereignty, i.e. allows farmers and gatherers control over their food sources. – a source of energy, i.e. fuel wood, charcoal, etc.

4. The informal economy The informal sector is a common phenomenon in many developing countries. It usually has the biggest share in the economy, but is least recognised. Informal sector activities are largely ignored, rarely supported, often regulated and sometimes actively discouraged by the Government. Micro-entrepreneurs under the informal sector often don’t have access to formal sources of finance, e.g. bank loans

5. Women and forests in a global context In the international forestry community full recognition has began to be given to the different roles that women and men play in forestry and forestry-related activities. The tasks they perform, the way they earn a living and allocate their time, the way they use forest and forest resources, the control they have over those resources can vary enormously. Many women have a highly specialized knowledge of forests in terms of biological diversity, conservation practices and sustainable management and use, and the food and medicinal values of forest products.

6. Women at a disadvantage Compared with men, women are frequently disadvantaged in their access to and control over forest resources, and in the economic opportunities available to them. This is often the case for a range of interrelated cultural, social, economic and institutional reasons. Despite all if this, women remain key and major users and contributors to the forest economy.

7. Conclusions As we ‘rethink’ Liberia’s forestry sector, we should also ‘rethink’ the role of women in today’s forestry sector to ensure that: Women enjoy the full bundle of rights that men enjoy, including ownership, access and control, etc. Women’s representation on the CFDCs and CFMBs needs to increase and be equal to their male counterparts. The manner in which NGOs select beneficiaries for training on forestry issues should target women to strengthen their capacities to participate in now and future governance and forest management processes. All stakeholders should avoid strengthening the ‘Usual Suspects’, i.e. the Chairmen of the CFDCs and CFMBs but rather strengthen and empower more women to join the struggle to better manage Liberia’s forests.

8. THANKS