REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Gender equality needs to be applied in protecting the forest, remarked Deputy of The Indigenous Peoples' Alliance of the Archipelagos (AMAN) Mina Setra.

"There must be no distinction. It is very important to include women in forest conservation, especially indigenous women, since they are the most affected by deforestation," stated Mina during a seminar on "Achieving Gender Equality in REDD+" here on Tuesday.

REDD+ stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation; and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries.

Mina explained that when the forest is either degraded or destroyed, indigenous women are the most affected because they derive their daily needs from it.

"The forest provides vegetables, fruits, medicines, material for weaving, and kitchen tools, and not to forget water," added Mina.

Indigenous women are the ones who fetch water for their daily needs, such as cooking, drinking, bathing, or even cleaning the house.

"They can walk for many kilometers every day, just for a bucket or two of water. However, forests can make their task easier because indigenous women who live near forests can get water from the forest springs," remarked Mina.

On the same occasion, Deputy Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection Heru P. Kasidi emphasized that the execution of the REDD+ program needed to ensure that women, disabled persons, and vulnerable parties are represented at every level and dimension of regulation, strategy, and action related to deforestation.

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