By ibrahima yakubu
Deforestation and Climate Change: A Double Blow for Indigenous Women in Nigeria
Climate change is a major driver of water scarcity, food insecurity, and unpredictable rainfall patterns, which negatively affect livelihoods worldwide. These consequences disproportionately impact women, particularly in vulnerable communities.
During a conversation with a woman from Zamfara State, who has five children, she described the struggles faced by indigenous women in traditional forest ecosystems. The ongoing deforestation driven by business interests and the extraction of natural resources is leading to pollution that endangers both human and wildlife populations in northern Nigeria’s forests.
Local communities, primarily indigenous groups living near biodiverse regions—such as forests, mountains, and marine areas—are among the first to suffer from these changes. The impacts vary by community and are influenced by gender roles and patriarchal structures, sometimes resulting in physical violence.
Women are increasingly migrating due to climate change and environmental degradation. Additionally, tensions between farmers and herders are escalating due to desertification and deforestation. Many have been forced to flee their homes because of banditry, kidnappings, and terrorism, leading to the displacement of thousands who now reside in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
As part of the Resilience Fund’s efforts to support women facing organized crime, this policy brief explores how women are struggling and adapting to the consequences of environmental degradation and biodiversity loss caused by illegal activities in forested regions, especially in rural and indigenous communities.
Women in these communities, with strong socio-cultural and economic ties to their environment, are increasingly impacted by the rise of illegal extractive industries. One woman remarked, “We must unite in the fight against global warming and the ecological challenges threatening our ancestral forests.”
The significance of forest resources differs between men and women, shaped by their respective roles and responsibilities in meeting household needs.
Protecting indigenous women means recognizing their unique relationship with their environment and ensuring they have a voice in resource management and decision-making processes.
In another interview, Malama Rabi Sani from Zaria, Kaduna State, highlighted how biodiversity loss and environmental crime affect rural and indigenous women.
She noted that environmental degradation has made it harder for women to find clean water, further complicating their daily lives in an insecure environment.
Dr. Nurudden Bello, head of the School of Health Science in Kaduna, proposed several strategies to support indigenous women against environmental degradation and climate change.
He emphasized the importance of empowering indigenous and community groups to protect their forests, asserting that strong land rights lead to better forest management.
Moreover, it is vital to implement protective measures for indigenous women, including legal frameworks that safeguard their rights, access to education, and resources for sustainable livelihoods. The economic advantages of safeguarding indigenous and community lands far exceed the associated costs. Supporting these groups in their efforts to sustainably manage their natural resources is essential, as many need assistance in monitoring and protecting their lands from illegal activities, such as gold mining and logging.
