International Women’s Day 2026: Five women shaping the sustainability of tropical forests

On International Women’s Day 2026, under the theme “Rights. Justice. Action.”, the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) celebrates five remarkable women who are advancing sustainable tropical forest management across disciplines.

On International Women’s Day 2026, under the theme “Rights. Justice. Action.”, the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) celebrates five remarkable women who are advancing sustainable tropical forest management across disciplines—an occasion made even more meaningful as the Organization marks its 40th anniversary of international cooperation for sustainable tropical forests.

From strengthening timber legality systems and reforming trade laws, to mobilizing frontline fire volunteers, securing women’s land rights, and defending Indigenous knowledge, these leaders are turning commitment into action—ensuring that forest management is not only environmentally sound but also fair, transparent, and inclusive.

Bridging policy and practice in Indonesia

For Rina Kristanti, International Cooperation Officer at Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry, the theme speaks directly to the link between field realities and national policy.

As she explains:

“Rights, Justice and Action” means capturing field conditions and delivering them in the policies as concrete steps for ensuring sustainable forest management, fair benefits for local communities and the promotion of equitable development.” 

Dr Rina has driven tangible change through her leadership of ITTO projects that strengthen Indonesia’s Timber Legality Verification System (SVLK) and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the domestic wood market. By engaging directly with industry actors, she supported improved awareness of sustainability, legality and traceability requirements—translating policy into practical impact.

She also points to the need for greater gender inclusion in conflict mediation and forest governance, noting the shortage of certified women mediators in forest-related disputes. Her advice to young women entering forestry reflects both realism and optimism:

Don’t hesitate to take on challenges and voice your perspectives—your contributions can drive positive change in sustainable forest management.

Frontline action against wildfires in Ghana

In West Africa, Lucy Amissah, Deputy Director and Principal Research Scientist at the CSIR-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, works at the frontline of rising wildfire risks.

She describes community-based fire management as a coordinated effort involving awareness campaigns, fire belts, prescribed burning and trained volunteer brigades.

Awareness campaigns are organized to inform communities about wildfire risk during the fire season… Community fire volunteers are usually mobilized, trained and equipped with basic firefighting tools… These activities have contributed, to some extent, to forest and community protection in my region.

Yet women still face barriers in fire management roles:

Fire suppression, for example, is a physically demanding job… In some communities, cultural norms also discourage women from fully engaging in fire management activities.

For Lucy, long-term fire risk reduction depends on sound forest management:

Forest management activities that reduce fuel load and the likelihood of intense fires can reduce fire risk in the long term.

She believes women are central to both fire and forest management and advocates for the:

Empowerment (of women) to take part in decision-making concerning forest management practices and benefit-sharing arrangements through capacity-building programmes.

Securing women’s land rights in Africa

For Rose Pélagie Masso, Planning and Cooperation Regional Coordinator of the African Women’s Network for Community Management of Forests (REFACOF), the theme “Rights. Justice. Action.” goes to the heart of forest governance.

She frames it as a matter of equity in access, tenure and decision-making power over forest lands and resources. 

Rights relate to land and forest tenure—including access, use and ownership—while justice refers to social equity and fair distribution of forest benefits. Action, she emphasizes, means real and sustained engagement in sustainable forest management, evidenced through ITTO projects.

Rose describes REFACOF’s approach as transformative:

It is a gender-transformative approach that seeks systemic change grounded in dignity, mutual respect and the harmonious participation of men and women.

She underscores that tropical forests face multiple pressures—from industrial agriculture and illegal logging to poverty and persistent barriers to women’s participation in decision-making. Yet she sees women as central to solutions, which ITTO has strongly supported.

Women, she notes, are pioneers in the sustainable use of non-timber forest products, restoration of degraded lands and agroforestry practices—often maintaining standing trees while generating livelihoods. Still, they remain underfunded. She stresses that we need to invest in women, as they are essential to climate action, poverty reduction, and genuine sustainable forest management.

Indigenous knowledge in action in Mexico

In the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, Doña Anselma Chalé Euan, founder of the Kuchil Kaab enterprise, has spent decades defending the “monte,” a concept that encompasses not only forests but the living relationships between land, people, bees and traditional farming systems.

For her, the International Women’s Day theme is deeply personal:

Wherever I go, I will always defend what is ours… As long as I live, my voice will be the voice of many women.

Her enterprise produces honey from Apis and Melipona bees, along with medicinal and cosmetic products rooted in Maya traditional knowledge, all of which are central to an ITTO project in the region. Through training and community outreach, she helps others understand the links between bees, forests and human wellbeing.

She speaks candidly about the social barriers she faced growing up, including gender discrimination within her own household. Those early experiences shaped her lifelong advocacy for women’s confidence and self-determination.

Today, she sees deforestation and weak enforcement of environmental laws as major threats. While technology advances, she reminds younger generations that Indigenous knowledge systems have long guided sustainable land use.

Some say, “Technology is coming!” Yes, I know it is coming, but before technology, we were intelligent—we are intelligent. We knew how to plant, we knew what we could eat… so we must move forward, but we must not destroy. We provide training so people can learn about the bees and the plants they can use to heal….

At the community level, she promotes collective responsibility for protecting the monte and encourages families not to sell forestland that sustains their livelihoods. She calls on authorities to better understand and protect the living systems of the forest—from bees to sacred trees—so that development decisions maintain ecological balance.

Advancing fair and legal timber trade

Cassandra Price, Assistant Director for International Policy at Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, views the International Women’s Day theme through the lens of global governance.

For me, this year’s theme captures both the ambition and the challenges of working in international forest policy. It also reminds us that our work isn’t just about the trees—it’s about people.

She highlights the importance of recognizing the rights and roles of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, ensuring that global commitments translate into tangible, on-the-ground results.

One of the most significant milestones in her career was contributing to reforms of Australia’s illegal logging laws—strengthening due diligence requirements and promoting legal and sustainable timber trade. She emphasizes the importance of stakeholder engagement and outreach in achieving meaningful compliance and industry buy-in, and notes with pride that the reform work was delivered by a small, highly capable team of women.

As Chair of the 62nd session of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC), she sees international cooperation as essential in an evolving global context:

In today’s evolving global context… international cooperation is more important than ever.

She notes that rights, equity and accountability must be embedded from the outset of tropical forestry policies, finance and programmes to build trust and deliver long-term sustainable outcomes.

Looking ahead, she is encouraged by the growing leadership of women in forest policy and governance:

The future of international forestry is stronger, more innovative and more resilient because women are not just participating in the system—we are helping to shape it.

Turning commitment into action

“These five women across regions and disciplines demonstrate that rights-based and inclusive forest management supported by gender empowerment is not an abstract concept”, ITTO Executive Director Sheam Satkuru emphasizes. “It is daily work grounded in policy reform, scientific research, innovative approaches, community mobilization, restoration, Indigenous leadership and cooperation”.

On International Women’s Day 2026, ITTO honours the important roles they play and continues its commitment to advancing gender equity and empowerment, strengthening inclusive governance and supporting sustainable tropical forest management.

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We thank all the interviewees for their time and insights. Special gratitude goes to Adi Estela Lazos Ruiz for her efforts in coordinating responses from Mexico.