Gender differences in the perceived impacts of coastal management and conservation

Abstract

Gender influences the ways that people are involved in and rely on coastal resources and spaces. However, a limited understanding of gender differences in this context hinders the equity and effectiveness of coastal management and conservation. Drawing on data collected through purposive sampling from 3063 people in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Indonesia, Kenya, and Madagascar, we explored how men and women perceived the effects of coastal management and conservation on human well-being. We found significant gender differences in perceptions of the presence of impacts, whereby 37% of women and 46% of men perceived individual-level impacts, while 47% of women and 54% of men perceived community-level impacts. When asked about the degree and direction of impacts, the responses were not significantly different by gender. When describing the types of impacts, women and men articulated these differently, particularly impacts related to economic, governance, and health aspects of well-being. These findings highlight pathways for developing more equitable and gender-responsive coastal management and conservation initiatives aimed at safeguarding biodiversity, sustaining fisheries, and supporting the well-being of all those who depend on the marine environment.