Empower Women during Covid-19

Help us create a better future for females in Nepal while fostering red panda conservation.

Gifts matched x2 thanks to Bergbrand!

Females in rural Nepal are disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

Gender inequalities limit the lives and livelihood options for women of the indigenous communities that depend on the red panda's forest home. And Covid-19 is making the situation worse.

Women who have been able to overcome cultural barriers and join our conservation efforts are now facing new problems that threaten their very livelihoods.

But we are committed to creating a more inclusive and sustainable world for women in Nepal, while fostering red panda conservation. And you can help. Together, we can choose to challenge gender stereotypes, bias, and inequalities.

RPN staff Pema Sherpa, Munmun Tamang, Sony Lama and Janam Shrestha choose to challenge.
RPN staff Pema Sherpa, Munmun Tamang, Sony Lama and Janam Shrestha choose to challenge.

The participation of women in red panda conservation is crucial.

Nepali women are the primary forest users in the country's red panda range. They are involved in firewood and fodder collection, and agricultural practices.

In celebration of World Wildlife Day 2021 — and its theme "Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet" — and International Women's Day 2021, this campaign will support capacity-building opportunities for women and educational scholarships for female students as well as efforts to recruit female Forest Guardians in local communities.

some of the ways we are empowering women in nepal: 

  • Sustainable livelihood and alternative income programs such as nature guide, homestay management, and nettle fiber extraction trainings.
  • Red Panda Conservation Scholarship program that provides financial support for the purchase of necessary school supplies to underprivileged students living in red panda range.
  • Working with our community partners in eastern Nepal to advocate for the recruitment of female Forest Guardians and Community Forest User Group  (CFUGs) members. Two CFUGs are now comprised entirely of women!

You can help us create equality and sustainable livelihoods for the women who are protecting the pandas! Make a gift today.

Munmun Tamang chooses to challenge.
Munmun Tamang chooses to challenge.

Khagendra Karki chooses to challenge.
Khagendra Karki chooses to challenge.
Terrance Fleming chooses to challenge.
Terrance Fleming chooses to challenge.
Forest Guardian, Dipa Rai, chooses to challenge.
Forest Guardian, Dipa Rai, chooses to challenge.
Sony Lama chooses to challenge.
Sony Lama chooses to challenge.

According to RPN's Monitoring Officer, Pema Sherpa, the door is slowly opening to getting more women involved in conservation efforts.

“Women are not allowed to put forth their views when discussing conservation policy, and they lack [equal] access to forest conservation efforts, but the scenario is changing,” said Sherpa. “In the past, women were confined only to household chores and they were hindered to get involved in conservation efforts.”

Today, says Sherpa, women and girls want to get involved with Red Panda Network’s conservation efforts, even if some families won’t allow women to work as Forest Guardians. “Nowadays,” she said, “society respects working women.” Sherpa specifically commented that many women are interested in becoming involved with ecotourism efforts as a way to conserve their environment.

“We believe that women are the first teachers of every child,” said Sherpa, “and that children are the building stones of every nation. Therefore, the participation of women in red panda conservation is crucial.”

Forest Guardian, Bimala Moktan, and local women choose to challenge.
Forest Guardian, Bimala Moktan, and local women choose to challenge.

It takes only minutes to start a campaign to increase your impact for women in Nepal!