International Women's Day 2025: ITTO's commitment to gender equality in sustainable forestry

Women are the primary collectors and users of forest resources, including woodfuel, foods and medicinal products. Photo: ITTO

International Women's Day, celebrated annually on March 8, recognizes the achievements and contributions of women around the world. This year's theme, "For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment," aligns with the International Tropical Timber Organization’s (ITTO) commitment to gender equality in both policy and practice. ITTO has long championed the empowerment of women, acknowledging their vital role in sustainable forest management and conservation.

In many rural communities, women are the primary collectors and users of forest resources, including woodfuel, foods, and medicinal products. They often possess substantial traditional knowledge of sustainable forest management, making them key actors in forest conservation and the restoration of degraded forests. Women also make significant contributions to forest value chains that generate household income and can serve as effective pathways out of poverty.  ITTO’s operationalized guidelines on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women 2018 provide a framework to ensure gender considerations are integrated into the Organization’s policies, programs, and projects in recognition of women’s invaluable contributions in the field.

Empowering women through ITTO projects

ITTO's commitment to gender mainstreaming is evident in various field projects that focus on women's empowerment as a means of achieving sustainable forest management and rural development.

• Forest Landscape Restoration in Togo

An ITTO initiative in Togo has transformed the lives of women in the Blitta and Lacs prefectures by supporting forest landscape restoration and improved agroforestry practices. Participants received training in nursery establishment, seedling production, reforestation techniques, enrichment planting, and agroforestry. This initiative has enabled women to learn new skills, gain employment, and become financially independent while contributing to the restoration of degraded lands.

• Nursery management in Ecuador and Mexico

In the Chimbo River Basin, Ecuador, ITTO trained women from vulnerable groups in nursery management, equipping them with skills to care for local rainforests. This initiative provided stable employment and improved their socio-economic status while contributing to forest restoration.

Similarly, in El Piñonal, Mexico, ITTO addressed both deforestation and the lack of job opportunities for women in rural communities. Women were trained in native tree species identification, seed collection, germination, and nursery maintenance. Their involvement in reforestation efforts not only enhanced local ecosystems but also fostered economic empowerment.

Both projects highlight how forestry initiatives can create sustainable livelihoods while promoting gender inclusion and environmental restoration.

• Charcoal production in Côte d’Ivoire

In 2009, ITTO awarded a small grant to the MALEBI Women's Association in Côte d’Ivoire, enabling them to enhance charcoal production using efficient, eco-friendly techniques. This initiative improved the standard of living in the local community and raised awareness of forest conservation. Building on this success, in 2016, ITTO supported MALEBI in implementing a larger project, restoring a 100-hectare area in the Ahua gazetted forest, ensuring a sustainable wood supply for charcoal production. This work led to a significant World Bank project in 2018, benefiting an estimated 345,000 farmers and forest-dependent community members.

Supporting women in diplomacy

ITTO acknowledges the vital contributions of women to policy development on sustainable forestry. The Organization has recognized the indispensable role and impactful contributions of women in advancing sustainable forestry in the tropics, honoring their invaluable efforts in shaping international policies and practices. 

ITTO's leadership exemplifies its commitment to gender equality. Executive Director Sheam Satkuru, the first woman to hold this position in the Organization’s history, has been a vocal advocate for women's empowerment in forestry and equality in society. 

She emphasizes that achieving ITTO’s objectives will be accelerated by efforts to close and eventually eliminate the gender gap and empower women at all levels. Ms Satkuru believes that without gender equality, sustainable forest management cannot be fully realized.

As a testament to this advocacy and her tenacious efforts, the MALEBI Women's Association from Côte d’Ivoire honored ITTO Executive Director Sheam Satkuru with an award during the 60th Session of the International Tropical Timber Council meeting in December 2024, recognizing her personal role in promoting women's empowerment in Côte d’Ivoire and across the world.

In her words, "I strongly believe that achieving ITTO’s objectives will be accelerated by efforts to ensure equality and empower women at all levels, strengthening the deserved recognition of the crucial roles women play in life.”

Looking ahead

As we celebrate International Women's Day 2025, ITTO reaffirms its dedication to promoting gender equality and empowering women in the forestry industry. The Organization emphasizes that the full potential of societies and communities can only be unlocked when men and women work together in mutual recognition and support within their cultures. Through continued efforts in policy development, project implementation, and capacity building, ITTO continues its efforts on a more inclusive and sustainable future for tropical forests and the communities that depend on them.