Scaling Up Women’s Roles in Sustainability and Conservation through Wildlife Farming - An Overview.

Abstract

Unsustainable harvesting and exploitation has resulted in declining status in the populations of wildlife globally. Various strategies aimed at reducing the pressure on wild populations have been designed and formulated by conservationists. One of these strategies is wildlife farming. The success of these strategies requires the active participation and involvement of all segments of the society including women. This article attempts an overview of women’s participation and involvement in wildlife farming to enhance sustainability and conservation of wildlife. Review of recent studies on gender and traditional responsibilities in natural resources utilisation and management as well as their participation in wildlife farming was carried out. Although women outdo men in the utilisation of natural resources, as well as play vital roles in marketing chains of wildlife products, their participation in conservation technologies and strategies particularly wildlife farming was low. In addition, skills training in wildlife farming are usually given to men with the exclusion of women resulting in low uptake of the production technology. The involvement and participation of women in wildlife farming would provide in the long-term alternative income generation sources to both urban and rural women, ensure food security, enhance sustainable livelihood and widespread uptake of wildlife farming practices with overall positive impacts on conservation and sustainability of wildlife resources. Since women bear much of the burden of the negative effects of environmental degradation, they should not be neglected in efforts at ensuring sustainability to improve their livelihood and self-sufficiency.

Keyword: Scaling up, women, roles, sustainability, conservation, wildlife farming