Regional collaboration in mainstreaming gender and peace in biodiversity conservation promoted at Curtin-MENGO Symposium

Miri – 12 May, 2009 – Biodiversity experts from Malaysia and Australia who gathered for the Curtin-MENGO Symposium 2009 at Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) on 28 and 29 April 2009 have pledged to heighten regional collaboration in mainstreaming gender and peace in biodiversity conservation.

The symposium was co-organised by Curtin University’s Australian and Sarawak staff with Malaysian Environment NGOs (MENGO) and The Peace Café to develop a cross-cultural approach of peace that represents both female and male values in biodiversity conservation.

According to Beena Giridharan, Curtin Sarawak’s Dean of Foundation and Continuing Studies and on-campus coordinator of the symposium, the event brought together practitioners of diverse cultures and backgrounds including indigenous leaders, representatives of non-governmental organisations and university researchers.

MENGO Project Leader Dr Sundari Ramakrishna, meanwhile, said the event raised the importance of sharing knowledge through broad participation in planning and implementing management approaches.

The symposium was launched by Professor Joan Gribble, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor of Curtin Sarawak, who highlighted the need to pay urgent attention to the global environmental situation, saying that it would require active participation by both women and men.

Peace ecologist Dr Ratna Malar Selvaratnam said the focus on peace helps people understand the different voices that need to work together to conserve our biodiversity heritage. She also outlined the importance of understanding the power of values in determining the success of biodiversity conservation.

According to Professor Janette Harz-Karp from Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia, the participants came with many expectations. They wanted to build networks, learn of gender in community-based natural resource management, sustainability, conservation, community work, implementation tools and gender analysis. Professor Harz-Karp organised innovative and interactive activities, such as The World Café and Open Space that encouraged active participation of the diverse voices and people at the symposium to help achieve the expectations of the participants.

Participants realised that biodiversity involved a lot of different sets of values, and peace was an underlying theme. The concepts of peace provided a means for dialogue and solutions with regards to biodiversity. River Foo of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said, “I can now see the links between peace, gender and biodiversity management. I’m going to apply this learning in WWF’s mangrove management project in Terengganu.”

The understanding of identities beyond gender roles of men and women in conservation activities was an equally strong theme. Dr Kalithasan of the Global Environment Center (GEC) said, “I’ve had successful conservation activities before, but there is a need to define success. I realise considering gender inclusion is also essential in my area of conservation, which is the successful implementation of river rehabilitation and management.”

The symposium also provided a unique opportunity for cross-cultural interaction, providing an insight into different ways people think about biodiversity. Hellan Empaing, chairperson of the Sarawak Rural Women’s Association, outlined the different ways in which women’s and men’s voices are valued in biodiversity management. She said that societal norms and customs can sometimes overpower a community’s values of right and wrong.

Adrian Lasimbang, president of Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia, a national network of indigenous peoples’ organisations in Malaysia, talked about his approaches to understanding the differences between female and male knowledge about natural resources and the environment. Adrian inspired the participants with his case studies in map-making and the complementary roles of men and women in natural resource knowledge.

Australian researcher Dr Aileen Hoath commented that social mapping of community use of biodiversity resources is rather ‘messy’. “These are not neat and predictable social systems, but flexible and creative worlds,” she said.

A student interning with Waterwatch Penang stressed that engaging with youths requires updated knowledge about technology and interactive communications. She mentioned Facebook as an example of effective technology and communication to inform young people about environmental issues and activities.

Dr Angela Wardell-Johnson, an environmental sociologist and research fellow with The Centre for Advanced Studies in Australia, Asia and the Pacific (CASAAP) at Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia, outlined the range of values in biodiversity through the different voices contributing to decision-making. She said, “We have to think beyond our local community to understand the impact of society on biodiversity.”

Dr Sundari Ramakrishna and Dr Ratna Malar Selvaratnam, who are spearheading MENGO’s work in peace and gender approaches to biodiversity conservation, are confident that through the symposium, there would be continuing engagement of the participants in this crucial area. “We’ve had concrete learning and dialogue opportunities. Now we at MENGO will continue to be here as resource persons to ensure the application and learning continues,” said Dr Sundari.

Dr Shenbaga Rajaratnam Kaniraj, Curtin Sarawak’s Dean of Research & Development, wrapped up the proceedings by reminding the participants of the grassroots Chipko movement, the original women’s biodiversity movement formed in India in the 1970s to save their families’ livelihoods and connections to their biodiversity. He said the movement produced an important intellectual heritage that should be emulated the world over.

Curtin Sarawak will be the site of a book launch of the outcomes of the symposium later this year.

Discussing the importance of sustainability and gender inclusiveness.

Participants and keynote speakers at the Curtin-MENGO Symposium.

Organisers of the Curtin-MENGO Symposium with Pro Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor of Curtin Sarawak.