UNFCCC COP23

Mangroves in the Tropics: Realizing theirPotential for Climate Change Mitigation
and Adaptation
13 November 2017 “16:45-18:15”, Venue: Meeting Room 4,“Bonn zone”

Women in mangroves restorationand management in Cameroon:
linking gender to mangroves in
the context of Climate Change
By:

Cécile B. Ndjebet, REFACOF, Cameroon

Content• REFACOF’ Short presentation• General information on Cameroon Mangroves• The importance of Gender in mangrove management inrelation to Paris Agreement• Way forward• Conclusion

The African women’s Network forcommunity management of forests(REFACOF)• Created in May 2009 in Yaoundé, Cameroon• Composed of 17 West and Central African countries andMadagascar• REFACOF is an advocacy platform focused on African
women’s tenure rights in land and forest reforms
Mission: Promote women ’ s rights in Africa and influence policy toachieve gender equity in land and forest tenure• 5-year strategic plan with 4 strategic pillars: Capacity building,Equitable, Tenure reforms, Advocacy and experience sharing

Cameroon’s Mangroves generalinformation• The total area of Cameroon mangroves is 232.723 ha; they are part of theGulf of Guinea Mangroves and are spread over about 177km; that is 30% of the590 km of the coast of Cameroon.
• Cameroon Mangroves are divided into three main zones: (1) the Rio DelRey, (2) the Cameroon estuary and (3) the Rio Ntem
• Four main species: (1) Rhizophora racemosa (red mangrove), the most widelyrepresented species, (2) Rhizophora Avicenia (white mangrove) developed along
the main canals, (3) Rhizophora mangle and (4) Rhizophora harrisoni• Very rich in fauna, flora and hydro biodiversity• Annual deforestation rate is 2,5% in average (FAO, 2007 and CIFOR 2011)• It is currently estimated that only 30-35% of the mangrove ecosystem is ina good state of conservation!

Gender in mangrove management
in relation to Paris agreement
Why does gender matter in mangrove management?
•5 main reasons:1)The ecological, socio-economic and cultural importance of themangroves :– Climate change adaptation and mitigation : mangroves are long-term carbon
sinks, storing carbon in the plants themselves but more importantly in the soils– Valuable environmental support services : fisheries nursery and habitat,mitigation damage and coastal protection, storm/flood protection …
– Livelihood benefits for local communities : food, fiber, energy, medicine,income, culture, shelter, …

Gender in mangrove and ParisAgreement (2)2) Paris Agreement has very clearly included references to genderboth at the field level as well as at the decision-making levels:– The preamble calls for gender equality and women’s empowerment– The sections on adaptation and capacity-building efforts specifically call on
countries to adopt gender-responsive approaches (Art 7, para 5; Art 11, para 2)3) The SDG 5 is about Achieving gender equality and empowering all
women and girls:
In relation with mangrove management, Target 5.5; 5.a; 5.c are particularly relevant:– Target 5.5 on women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities
for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and publiclife.
– Target 5.a on reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, aswell as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property,
financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance withnational laws.

Gender in mangrove and Paris
Agreement (3)– Target 5.c on sound policies and enforceable
legislation for the promotion of gender equality
and the empowerment of all women and girls at
all levels5)

Women are leading mangrove management
and conservation:– Restoration and rehabilitation activities– Mainstreaming agroforestry practices into foodcultivation– Development of clean energy technologies suchas improved cook stoves to reduce the utilizationof wood from mangrove– Development of alternative income generation
activities to reduce the pressure on mangroves,etc.

Way forward Take advantage of the Paris agreement to promote Genderresponsive mangrove management and restoration:
 Promote gender-responsive approaches in implementing NationallyDetermined Contributions (NDCs) and National Forest investment Plans• According IUCN, 37.5% of the submitted INDCs explicitly mention Gender or
Women in the context of their national priorities

 Empower women in mangrove management and conservation as well inclimate change initiatives
 Ensure technologies, build capacities and provide adequate financial resources towomen Encourage governments to carry out reforms to ensure women’sownership rights to land and forest Promote access to decision making and leadership for the women at
all levels

Let’s implement the Paris Agreement
and SDG5 to achieve the sustainable
management of mangroves and tocombat climate change!

Thank you for your attention!
Website: www.refacof.com
Email: refacofsecretariat@gmail.com