Women in conservation continue to face significant cultural and systemic challenges, despite efforts to address gender equality across the sector.Pressures can lead to burnout, stalled careers, and women leaving the industry, reducing the diverse perspectives experts say are essential to tackling global conservation challenges.Peer-support networks and woman-to-woman mentorship are increasingly providing women with safe spaces to share their experiences and advice, helping participants rise to leadership positions and build long-term careers.While these networks can fill existing sector-wide gaps, experts say broader institutional and societal changes are also required to create safe, inclusive and supportive working environments for all.
When Jessa Cabaay began working in marine conservation in the Philippines, she frequently found she was the only woman in the room. Her isolation meant she often felt anxious while presenting at stakeholder meetings, sensing her audience questioned her credibility.
“Most of the fishing communities I was working with were older and male,” Cabaay says, describing her experience of discussions on planning out marine protected areas (MPAs). “They didn’t listen the first few times I tried to talk to them.”
