Women's land rights at COP16

We, rural women from across the world play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation due to our deep-rooted knowledge of local ecosystems, traditional agricultural practices, and community-centred approaches to resource management.

Here, at COP16 we come together to demand our rights to land, as they are critical to continue our conservation work. Secure land tenure is the foundation that allows us to invest in sustainable practices, protect natural resources, and maintain biodiversity.

• We must begin rebalancing power in favour of rural women all over the world and prioritise women's land rights as a cornerstone of our efforts to preserve biodiversity and ensure a sustainable future for all.
• Less than 20% of the world's landowners are rural women. When we do own land, it is often of poorer quality and on smaller plots. This must change. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, if we had the same access to resources, including land, agricultural yields could rise by almost a third, potentially reducing hunger for 150 million people. This is largely due to the vital role rural women play as knowledge bearers in sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, and resource management.
• Cultural norms dictate male control over important social and political spaces, including land rights. While 164 countries legally recognize women's rights to own and manage land, only 52 countries ensure these rights are practised.
• Women’s land rights not only build thriving and resilient households but also foster communities with improved incomes, better child nutrition, greater educational attainment for girls, and more sustainable use of natural resources.

At this COP16, we call on our states and international bodies to heed our recommendations:

1. Recognize and protect women’s land rights as fundamental to biodiversity conservation.
2. Integrate women’s traditional knowledge and practices into environmental policies.
3. Ensure direct financial support for women-led initiatives in conservation and sustainable development.