Ghana has inaugurated a cross-sectoral REDD+ Gender sub-working group to enhance women’s participation and contribution to the forestry sector.

The move is to make the reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation a gender-sensitive process and to address gender inequalities from the onset of the process.

REDD+ is an acronym for the Reduction of greenhouse gas Emissions from reduced Deforestation and forest Degradation

The REDD+ scheme covers Climate Change mitigation activities in the forestry sector through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from reduced deforestation and forest degradation as well as conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks and sustainable forest Management.

Mrs Patience Opoku, Chairperson of the sub-working Group, said women’s role as major forest stakeholders and contributors to forest conservation and management had traditionally been ignored and this had created a disconnect between the fields of gender equality and forest governance.

She said because of traditional gender inequalities, women’s perspectives and circumstances were rarely taken into account in forest governance.

Mrs Opoku said to ensure the success of the new forest initiatives, there was an urgent need for action that recognised that forest governance had two different dimensions: that of women and that of men.

She said the sub-working group, which consisted of men and women would bring to bear the differences in perspectives on governance of forest resources to ensure sustainability.

Mrs Roselyn Adjei-Zuta, Assistant Manager REDD+ Safeguard and Gender of the Forestry Commission, said gender mainstreaming would enhance women’s participation and contribution to the forestry sector, which had been ignored over years.

She said it would also ensure that negative impacts on women and vulnerable groups were minimized during the REDD+ process.

She said the REDD + would help provide an opportunity for both men and women to benefit equitably by reducing intimidation and fear on the part of some women during decision making and bring their knowledge and skills to bear.

She stated that a gender responsive REDD+ process would provide improved forest governance and restrict access to forest resources to ensure its sustainability as well.

Professor J.G.K. Owusu, Co-chair of the National REDD+ Steering Committee, said Ghana was committed to the REDD+ process.

He said activities of human beings were impacting negatively on the environment and mitigation efforts needed to be enhanced to ensure sustainability.

The launch was held on the theme: “Sustaining Gender Equity and Equality in Ghana’s REDD+ Process.”