Women’s Role in Blue Carbon Governance: Community-led Coastal Strategies for Gender Equity in Pahang

Abstract

This research investigates the positions women hold in the governance of blue carbon through community-driven coastal strategies aimed at gender equity in Pahang, Malaysia. With a focus on women’s engagement in the management of coastal ecosystems, data were gathered through secondary research involving journal articles, policy documents, and case studies. These were synthesized using thematic analysis to surface the dominant themes within the data. The findings indicated the importance of women’s contributions to the restoration of mangroves, sustainable aquaculture, and community-based conservation. These efforts improved the community’s coastal resilience, carbon sequestration, and cohesion. The efforts of women in community coastal initiatives also brought about change in the socio-structural order, with women’s governance recognition, resource claim empowerment, and access, the improvements and social cohesion strengthening resource control improving the integration of the community. The entrenched cultural attitudes to women’s leadership, inadequate access to training and mentoring opportunities, and the absence of resources to biologically and socially improve coastal management. The integration of gender-sensitive approaches into blue carbon policies and programs along with expanding capacity building, and inclusive decision-making at local and national levels, is highly important.  Equitable participation and the sustainability of blue carbon projects can be achieved through collaboration between governmental offices, NGOs, and local women’s organizations.