Engaging Women and Girls in Tree Planting to Attain Customary Land Ownership - Papua New Guinea

This activity intends to break the imbalance in male land ownership dominance and empower women to engage in tree planting and gardening on their families land.

Fast facts

At least 100 school aged girls have participated in this activity;
This activity’s efforts to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and the effects of climate change have been recognized by international non-governmental organizations in Papua New Guinea.

The problem

In Papua New Guinea, women do not inherit or own land. Land is customarily passed on to males. There has been a persisting issue over land ownership in Nauro-Gor in Papua New Guinea for many years where women are not allowed to inherit or cultivate the land owned by their fathers, leading to many missed economic opportunities.

The solution

This activity intends to break this imbalance in land ownership dominance by actively engaging women and girls in tree planting on their father's land. Women leaders organize themselves into groups in their villages and get hands on training from forestry officers and conservation training from the Papua New Guinea Research and Conservation Foundation. The women are then able to build their own nurseries and distribute and plant trees. The women also conduct awareness seminars on tree planting and conservation of native flora and fauna for their community.

Helping the planet

The Nauro-Gor community is heavily involved in tree planting and conservation of the natural environment. Their efforts to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and effects of climate change have been recognized by international non-governmental organizations in Papua New Guinea.

Helping people

Women representation in this activity is highly encouraged. The activity operates on a community-based platform that enables everyone to voice their concerns and needs. Many women plan and carry out their own projects using their own funds for various projects in the community.

Scaling Up

Other communities or indigenous groups who are confronting similar issues of land dominance can use this activity’s model.