Future of forests and livelihoods in the hands of women –Stories of sustainable forest management from Colonia Alegría, Argentina

15/01/2025

Supported by FAO, in Colonia Alegría, Argentina, women are leading the way in sustainable forest management. Through innovation and collective action, they are balancing livelihoods with ecosystem conservation, transforming their connection to the land into a model of resilience and hope for future generations.

Spanning over 46.5 million hectares, the forests of Argentina are as diverse as they are vital. From the dense Yungas to the extensive chaco forest and the lush Paraná Forest, these ecosystems form a lifeline for countless rural communities. They provide essential products and services like water, food, and medicine, while also supporting livelihoods through timber, honey, and other forest products. Yet, for the residents of Colonia Alegría, in the province of Misiones, the forests are much more than resources; they embody a way of life rooted in cultural heritage, collective responsibility, and a deep connection to nature.

In this corner of Misiones, the forest is integral to daily life, shaping traditions, sustaining agriculture, and inspiring a shared vision for the future. However, the delicate balance between using the forest and preserving it has long been under strain. Unsustainable practices, driven by the pressures of tobacco and yerba mate cultivation, have led to risks of deforestation and degraded landscapes. Recognizing the urgency to act, a group of women in Colonia Alegría, supported by FAO, the Asociación Civil Minka, and the Argentine government, is redefining the relationship between people and their forests. Through the Native Forest Producers Program, implemented under the Green Climate Fund-funded “REDD+ Results-Based Payment Project for the period 2014-2016”, they are building a model of sustainable forest management that prioritizes both livelihoods and ecological stewardship.

Forests: A source of life and livelihoods

For generations, forests have been central to the lives of the people in Colonia Alegría. They provide water, clean air, food, and shelter, forming the foundation of the community’s well-being.

Andrea Pereyra, a 25-year-old mother and member of the “Women Entrepreneurs of Colonia Alegría”, reflects on their significance:

“The forest is life. It gives us water, air, and so much more. But we’ve learned that we can’t just keep cutting down trees to survive. We want to plant and preserve instead.”

Andrea works with her husband to plant native trees in degraded areas and participates in workshops that emphasize biodiversity and environmental care.

She dreams of a future where her farm sustains her family without harming the forest.

“We’re raising chickens and pigs to create a new source of income that doesn’t harm our forests,” she explains.

This shared vision resonates with Ramona Beatriz Domínguez, who highlights the forest’s irreplaceable value:

“When you live here, you see how much we depend on the forest. It’s not just for us, but for the animals, the water, and future generations. Without the forest, there’s no life.”

Ramona has embraced apiculture as a sustainable livelihood, managing beehives to produce honey and supporting her family.

“With more beehives, I can stay on my land and work with my children, building something sustainable,” she shares.

For Margarita Alejandra Lorenzo, the forest is an opportunity to create a sanctuary for both people and biodiversity.

“We’ve planted native species and maintain our farm with diverse crops like yerba mate, tobacco, and fruits. My dream is to develop agro-tourism, inviting visitors to see the beauty of this land and understand why it must be protected”.

Sustainable practices for a thriving ecosystem

Balancing livelihoods with conservation has not been easy. Historically, the community’s reliance on crops like tobacco and yerba mate has led to deforestation. These cash crops require significant land clearing, which depletes soil nutrients and reduces water availability.

To address deforestation and restore the land, the “Native Forest Producers Program of FAO Argentina” has introduced sustainable practices that balance conservation with livelihoods and provide both ecological and economic benefits. Through workshops and training sessions, women are learning how to cultivate seedlings of native trees that can be used for food, medicine, and timber, as well as other plant species that support apiculture and agroforestry systems. The program is also supporting the construction of a community center that will host a nursery, enabling the women to grow and distribute seedlings locally. This initiative not only restores degraded landscapes but also strengthens the community’s capacity to plan and manage their forest resources for long-term sustainability.

Central to this transformation is Ana María Roldán, the president of MINKA, whose leadership has been instrumental in bridging technical expertise and local knowledge. Ana María’s work has focused on empowering the women of Colonia Alegría to take ownership of their natural resources. Through her guidance, the community has adopted participatory processes to design and implement sustainable forest management strategies, fostering a sense of unity and shared responsibility. She sums up the program’s success:

“This isn’t about imposing ideas; it’s about working together to find what works best for our community.”

Her efforts have also been pivotal in coordinating the development of the community center, which will serve not only as a hub for cultural and educational activities but also as a nursery for cultivating native seedlings—a vital resource for reforestation and biodiversity conservation in the region.

The role of women in forest management

One of the program’s key goals is to address gender inequalities while promoting effective forest governance. Women, as the backbone of rural households, are uniquely positioned to drive sustainable practices.

Iracema Da Luz Ferreyra, a local leader, describes the transformation:

“We’ve gone from thinking we couldn’t do this to becoming protectors of our forests. We’re planting native trees, producing seedlings, and learning about seed collection and storage. It’s about the future, not just today.”

Iracema is also spearheading efforts to establish a greenhouse, ensuring year-round production of native plants to support reforestation.

The program also fosters collaboration and knowledge-sharing among women.  Margarita notes:

 “Every workshop brings us closer together. We’ve learned about preserving forests, improving soil health, and even adapting to climate change. These lessons connect us as women and as caretakers of this land.”

For Isabel Barreto, the connection to the forest is deeply personal:

“The ‘monte’ gives us air, food, and even water for our neighbors. Protecting it feels like protecting a piece of our family.”

She also grows a variety of fruits and vegetables and produces traditional foods like pickles and “turron”, blending sustainable practices with cultural heritage.

Sustainable practices for a healthier ecosystem

Through the program, the women of Colonia Alegría are implementing sustainable practices that enhance both their livelihoods and the health of their forests. Key activities include:

1. Reforestation: Participants are planting native tree species to restore degraded areas. This helps combat soil erosion, improves water retention, and supports local biodiversity.
2. Apiculture: Beekeeping is being introduced as a sustainable livelihood. Bees play a critical role in pollination, which benefits both forests and crops, while honey production provides an additional income source.
3. Agroforestry: The integration of crops and native trees on the same land reduces the need for extensive land clearing. This approach maintains forest cover while supporting agricultural productivity.
4. Seed collection and storage: Women are being trained to identify and collect seeds from native trees. These seeds are stored and used for reforestation, ensuring the long-term sustainability of local forests. Margarita, reflecting on the process, says, “We want our children and grandchildren to know these plants, to inherit a world where forests thrive.”
5. Improved livestock management: By integrating rotational grazing systems and planting fodder trees, the community is reducing the pressure on forested areas while improving livestock health.

A cornerstone of the program in Alegria is the investment in community infrastructure, such as the FOPAR hall. This space serves multiple purposes, from hosting workshops to functioning as a seed storage facility and a cultural hub.

A model for replication

In Colonia Alegría, the “Native Forest Producers Program” is empowering participants to see themselves as stewards of the land and actively engaging women in decision-making processes to ensure inclusive and effective solutions, a model that FAO is hoping to replicate in other regions supported by the project. It aligns closely with FAO’s four priorities for Latin America: Better Production, by fostering sustainable food and agricultural supply chains; Better Nutrition, through promoting nutritious diets and access to healthy food; Better Environment, by restoring ecosystems and mitigating climate change; and Better Life, by addressing inequalities and supporting rural women’s empowerment. These priorities, rooted in the principles of efficiency, resilience, and inclusivity, reflect FAO’s overarching goal to transform agri-food systems and ensure no one is left behind, advancing the 2030 Agenda.

This initiative also serves as a model for replication, showcasing how technical expertise and local knowledge can transform forest management and community well-being. Across Argentina, similar efforts promise broader impacts, integrating forest conservation with sustainable land use and agricultural transformation. Under the REDD+ framework, Argentina’s achievements in safeguarding 165 MtCO2e of emissions reductions demonstrate its commitment to addressing the root causes of deforestation. The program’s four pillars—watershed management, integrated livestock-forest systems, wildfire response, and institutional capacity-building—promote gender equity, inclusive decision-making, and resilience.

As Ana María concludes:

“When women come together, we create solutions that benefit everyone. The program proves that empowered women can create solutions that benefit their families, forests, and the future of their communities”.