Annapurna Media Network, the parent company of Annapurna Daily newspaper, and Female Foresters Nepal organized a programme to mark the Women’s Day.

During the programme, the participants discussed detrimental effects of climate change on women.

Gender social inclusion expert Dibya Devi Gurung said that women have been affected on the basis of access and identity.

“Those who do not have much access to the resources have been affected the most,” Gurung said. According to her, access to resources means property, network, knowledge and education among others.

She said that the effect of climate is also different on the basis of geographical condition and ethnicity. That is why, she said that all should not be kept in one place.

“Janajatis, minorities and Dalits have been affected the most. Under Janajatis, Chepang women have been deprived of all kinds of facilities,” she said, adding, “That is why, the climate is also affected on the basis of identity. Janajati women are suffering from multiple discriminations because they have to depend on water, land and forests. Hence, they will have to face problems in their livelihood as soon as the climate changes.”

President Chure-Tarai Madhes Conservation Development Board Assistant Secretary Srijana Shrestha said that the women have also been affected even when the plants harmful for the forests grew due to the impact of climate change.

“Women have an indispensable relationship with the forests. They spend most of their time collecting woods and fodder for the cattle in the forests. Now, they have to spend a lot of time in the forests due to lack of woods and grasses for the cattle,” she said.

Adivasi Janajati and Local Community Manager Kamala Thapa said that the sixth report of the IPCC showed that Adivasi Janajatis have been affected the most.

Meanwhile Female Foresters Nepal expressed solidarity with the Unity for Sustainability launched by the AMN.