March 21, 2026
From Margins to Guardians: Women at the Heart of Forest Conservation
Monrovia, Liberia – On this year’s International Day of Forests, the Natural Resource Women Platform (NRWP) joins the global community in recognizing the critical role forests play in sustaining life, livelihoods, and climate resilience. We also highlight the indispensable role of forest-dependent women in protecting and preserving these ecosystems.
Across Liberia, women living in and around forest communities are the backbone of environmental stewardship. They are farmers, seed keepers, water providers, and caregivers whose survival and well-being are directly tied to the health of forests. Yet, despite their deep connection and knowledge, they remain largely excluded from decision-making processes on land use, forest governance, and natural resource management.
NRWP’s work centers on amplifying the voices of these women, ensuring they are recognized not only as beneficiaries but as leaders and rights holders. Through community trainings, including the Right to Say NO (R2SayNO) framework, we support women to understand and assert their rights in the face of growing pressures from extractive industries, large-scale agriculture, and climate-related interventions.
Forest women continue to face significant challenges: land dispossession, environmental degradation, and the imposition of “development” projects that often disregard community consent or fail to deliver promised benefits. Women bear the brunt of these impacts, as they are responsible for securing food, water, and livelihoods for their families.
On this International Day of Forests, NRWP calls for:
Recognition of women as key actors in forest governance and conservation
Full and meaningful participation of women in decision-making processes
Respect for community rights, including Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC)
An end to harmful extractive practices that threaten forests and livelihoods
Increased investment in women-led, community-based forest protection initiatives
Protecting forests cannot be achieved without the leadership and inclusion of women. Sustainable forest management depends on local knowledge systems, collective action, and respect for the rights of those who depend on these ecosystems for survival.
As we mark this day, NRWP reaffirms its commitment to working alongside forest women to defend their rights, strengthen their leadership, and promote a future where forests are protected not for profit, but for people and planet.