She Shapes Biodiversity is a photo contest that aims to celebrate women’s contributions to the environment and seeks to recognize and amplify the roles and contributions of women that can pave the way for the implementation of a gender-responsive post-2020 global biodiversity framework. This contest runs prior to the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, also the Fifteenth Meeting of the Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 15), this 7-19 December in Montreal, Canada. This timing is to put attention and generate discussion on the need for a gender-responsive global biodiversity framework, with emphasis on a stand-alone target on gender equality (Target 22) in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. The proposed Target 22 is key to ensure women’s rights and gender equality in biodiversity governance is duly recognized, respected and pursued in living in harmony with nature.

#SheShapesBiodiversity will be part of Women4Biodiversity’s larger #GenderIsABiodiversityIssue campaign for a gender-responsive global biodiversity framework.

WHY SHE SHAPES BIODIVERSITY In both research and policy, women have been portrayed as victims or as vulnerable sectors of the population, as well as beneficiaries, but seldom recognized as agents of change. While there is truth to women’s vulnerability, with studies showing that women are disproportionately affected by biodiversity loss and climate change, women are also historically known to be natural resource managers for their families and communities, ensuring the latter are fed, healthy and cared for. Women from indigenous and local communities especially have traditional knowledge and practices on sustainable use of natural resources from biodiversity, and in the conservation and restoration of biodiversity.

The word “shapes” in “She Shapes Biodiversity” shows women as active agents of change in different actions for biodiversity – in sustainable use, conservation, restoration of biodiversity, and more.