Empowering women is also necessary in the preservation of biodiversity. In many cultures women do most of the wood gathering, cooking, child-rearing and other jobs that support the family. Men often work outside the home and yet wield most of the power in the relationship. An educated woman is more likely to be interested in the long-term welfare of her family and community, which will include a concern for the surrounding natural environment. To maintain biodiversity over the long term, we need to work with and support local communities and projects for the long term.
Communities often are the recipients of short-term projects run by foreign organizations.
After waiting patiently for a project to finish, they often get on with their lives with little or no lasting effect. Without a long-term commitment, it can be difficult for a community to change for the better. We need to support people, processes and institutions, such as farmer cooperatives, small, sustainable industries and women s groups. We cannot separate people from the biodiversity where they live. Failures in the protected-area programs usually result from ignoring these realities.