Open more opportunities for women in conservation
WOMEN have more to offer in conservation efforts and in decision making roles but are left out most of the time according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Marine program officer Alisi Rabukawaqa.
In an interview with The Fiji Times for International Women's Day Ms Rabukawaqa spoke out about women and conservation and the need for them to be speaking out more on this subject.
"When I think about women's role in conservation, there's a gender component to it.
“I immediately think of gender equality and representation,” she said.
"Men and women all use resources around us and also make a contribution to its conservation, but we have to acknowledge that societal structures disempower women more than men," she says.
Ms Rabukawaqa said when there are consultations about conservations in the community, mostly men take part in the conversation.
"Most often, it's the men who are sitting in the room, having the conversations when it comes to finding out what the needs are in communities in terms of safe keeping our environment.
"But in reality, it's both men and women who are engaged in these sectors.
"Men go fishing at night, while women fish in the day. This means that women also have opinions or ideas for a more balanced approach to conservation."
Ms Rabukawaqa says she would find women in the kitchen or in their homes instead of participating in discussions and having conservations about protecting their environment and this needs to change.
"The women's contribution, their voices, their roles, get lost in the discussions, because they're not a part of it as most of the time, they're literally out doing the work that's been consulted on or they're in the kitchen, or looking after children.
"There are so many community or societal roles for women to play that disengages them from being in the conversation in the room."
"Let's just go and talk to them where they are. We need to ask where they're at and talk about what needs to be considered and what their thoughts are on the issue.
"You'll find that the contribution of men varies from that of women when it comes to these discussions."
She believes in order to have a balanced approach to conservation; more opportunities needs to be given to our women in all forums.
"There's an element of how we facilitate these spaces to ensure that we're getting responses from everyone in these types of conversation especially for our women.
"When you're having a conversation and it's only the issues and realities of the men engaging in fishing industry being discussed, the role our women play will not be considered.
"I think that's a key role for being a female conservationist is that you're able to think of these things and consider them."
Despite overwhelming odds for women in conservation, Ms Rabukawaqa is hopeful for the inclusion of women not only in the environmental protection sector, but in all areas.
"I think there has been a lot of organic natural progression over the last few decades. I feel that Fiji have always been open to adapting to changes.
"We have seen gender inclusion in many components of work around the country.
"Don't just think of conservation from the perspective of the community. All different sectors have a role to play in that balance, because we are the ones who have to be asking ourselves, how are we ensuring that we're bringing that gender balance into this space?
"It's the small things like making sure that there's gender balance in meetings and other interventions.
"But at the same time, we also must recognise that just because someone's in the room doesn't mean they're participating.
Working with women in conservation has been an eye opener for Ms Rabukawaqa in her line of work to conserve marine life in our ocean.
She believes that it's the women that will drive conservation efforts in Fiji as well as the Pacific.
"In my line of work, I find that I'm working and engaging with a lot of women in key leadership roles that are driving conservation efforts.
"These are women who make important decisions and recommendations on how our oceans should be, or needs to be protected.
"It just goes to show, in what I mentioned earlier, that we've been progressing and growing organically. "The participation of women in these roles and leadership are evidence of that.
"However, these are all great female leaders who are at mid management levels, so to speak.
"I'm very excited to see more women take on permanent secretary positions, as well as ministerial roles.
"In Fiji, we have amazing and brilliant women who are already in leadership roles. "Opportunities need to be given to them to lead and run ministries, because they're doing it at all levels.
"We have a role to play in gender inclusivity of women empowerment across our different sectors and fields of work.
Ms Rabukawaqa has been actively involved in environment conservation, climate act activism and indigenous peoples' traditional rights and knowledge advocacy for more than a decade.
She sits on the youth-led grassroots network 350.org Pacific Climate Warriors Council of Elders as the Melanesian representative, providing traditional knowledge on working with Pacific communities and indigenous perspectives on their climate justice work.
Ms Rabukawaqa also sits on the committee for the Women's Fund Fiji where they provide direct funding to organisations and communities that make up feminist and women's rights movements.