Nomcebo Kunene

Conservationist

Let us continue to assert ourselves as women not just to be seen as tokens but rather for our invaluable contributions

As a natural scientist, Nomcebo Kunene was driven to specialise in her chosen field of environmental conservation due to the glaring under-representation of women in the field, especially at senior management level.

The under-representation is not only felt locally, but it is a global phenomenon.

She holds the view that gender disparity impacts negatively on environmental conservation, arguing that overwhelmingly women are consistently becoming victims of under-representation, and face barriers to participate in natural resource management and climate change decision-making processes at local and global levels.

Kunene continues: “As conservationists, we need to take time to understand the gender dynamics underlying natural resources, and to ensure that projects and programmes respond to the needs of both women and men. This is a global problem, so [to combat the problem of underrepresentation] we need to build a more equal planet while we work to protect it.”

The conservationist says in the modern world, her sector is faced with many challenges ranging from, among others, development challenges, disparities in agriculture, illegal mining, poaching, deforestation, climate change and many more.

“Therefore, we need trusted troops of soldiers and ambassadors to defend the cause for conservation. We have many famous female conservationists from all over the world, but not enough African women.”

Kunene has recently been shortlisted for a bursary to benefit the first cohort of 40 sub-saharan African women in environmental conservation leadership development programme expected to last for nine months.