This project assesses the gender impacts of forest conservation projects introduced to indigenous peoples (IP) in Luzon. It focuses on four indigenous peoples, namely, the Kalanguya/Ikalahan, and Ifugao-Ayangan of Nueva Vizcaya, Aeta of Nueva Ecija, and Molbog of Palawan. This research conducts a Gender Impact Assessment (GIA) on forest conservation projects, including the National Greening Program (NGP) and other government-initiated forest conservation projects.

In conducting GIA, this study analyzes: (1) gender-disaggregated socio-economic impacts of forest conservation projects on indigenous peoples; (2) gender gaps engendered by these initiatives in terms of access and control of benefits and opportunities, participation in decision-making, leadership positions, and employment status; and, (3) policy recommendations to close gender gaps and improve the project design and delivery to promote gender empowerment in forest conservation projects. It uses mixed methods, where both quantitative and qualitative tools generate gender-disaggregated data on: (a) roles and activities; (b) access and control; (c) practical and strategic needs; (d) decision-making participation; (e) gender impacts on labor, time, resources, and socio-cultural factors; (f) influencing factors (economic, social, environmental and education); and, (g) level of equality and recognition of women’s issues.