Introduction: The Challenges Women Face in Conservation
In Southeast Asia, a peer-support network is significantly improving the well‐being and career prospects of women in conservation. Despite growing efforts to address gender equality across the sector, women continue to encounter cultural and systemic barriers that can lead to burnout, stalled careers, and early departure from the industry. Such losses reduce the diverse perspectives that experts say are essential for tackling global conservation challenges.
When Jessa Cabaay began working in marine conservation in the Philippines, she frequently found she was the only woman in the room. Her isolation made her anxious during stakeholder meetings, as she sensed her audience questioned her credibility. “Most of the fishing communities I was working with were older and male,” Cabaay says, describing discussions on planning marine protected areas (MPAs)). “They didn’t listen the first few times I tried to talk to them.” She observed that her male colleagues were rarely under the same pressure to prove their competence. Now the technical manager of Community Centered Conservation (C3), a Philippine-based nonprofit, Cabaay explains that the fishers’ skepticism reflected cultural beliefs in many Philippine coastal communities that place women in domestic rather than professional roles. “There are expectations that as a woman, you follow; you cannot lead,” she says.
The Network of Women (NOW) Initiative
Peer-support networks and woman-to-woman mentorship are providing safe spaces for women to share experiences and advice, helping participants rise to leadership positions and build long‑term careers. Cabaay now finds strength through the Network of Women (NOW), an initiative led by the Asian Species Action Partnership (ASAP), a Singapore-based interagency coalition focused on critically endangered land and freshwater vertebrates. Launched in 2021, NOW combines in‑person leadership and well‑being workshops held in Cambodia and Laos with an online networking platform for its growing community of alumnae, all of whom work on ASAP‑supported projects across the region.
Cabaay says being part of the alumnae network, the NOW Collective, has built her confidence in her own cooperative, listening‑based approach, helping her earn the trust of the fishing communities. “I don’t need to change who I am in order to lead. Gentleness can be a powerful tool in conservation.”
Evidence of Widespread Gender Barriers
Research underscores the systemic challenges. A 2023 survey of more than 2,300 conservation professionals across 122 countries found women among those most at risk of psychological distress. Other studies show that women report missing out on career advancement opportunities because of their gender. Barriers include harassment and fear of retaliation; inadequate safety in fieldwork; pay gaps; limited career progression; and difficulty balancing irregular hours with caregiving and family expectations. These pressures often lead to burnout, stalled careers, or departure from the sector. Moreover, the perception of conservation as male‑dominated discourages many women from considering it a viable career.
How Peer Networks Fill the Support Void
Marcela Márquez‑García, a social scientist at the Austral University of Chile who studies gender‑based barriers in Latin America and is not involved with NOW, says “finding a community allows women to share experiences, realize that others have faced similar situations, and build the support networks that are often missing institutionally. In many cases, simply having a safe space to talk openly can reduce isolation and strengthen confidence to remain in the field.”
Broader Benefits of Women’s Inclusion in Conservation
Gender diversity enhances conservation outcomes. Márquez‑García notes that “gender diversity provides a wider range of perspectives, which directly enhances collective creativity, innovation, and knowledge generation.” In Southeast Asia, one of the world’s most biodiverse regions, conservation already grapples with funding gaps, worsening ecological crises, and geopolitical instability. Experts say failing to secure women’s participation undermines conservation efforts. ASAP director Nerissa Chao states: “Conservation can achieve better results when there’s diversity of thought and lived experiences. If women aren’t being actively engaged, we’re losing a hugely important part of the workforce.”
Research confirms that women’s inclusion drives positive outcomes for species conservation, habitat restoration, and equitable benefit sharing. For example:
- In South Africa, gender‑balanced ranger teams improved relationships and trust between rangers and surrounding communities.
- In El Salvador, women‑led protection programs boosted nest protection and enhanced turtle reproductive success.
- In Indonesia, a study found women farmers are more effective than older men at convincing peers to adopt new farming practices, highlighting their critical role in sustainable agriculture.
Women’s Leadership in Southeast Asia
Boosting women’s influence in conservation decision‑making across Southeast Asia is a central goal of NOW. Chao explains that as a funder, ASAP observed a lack of support mechanisms for women in the region and noted that traditional gender expectations limited many women’s agency. “Women aren’t necessarily encouraged to speak out or push back against the systems in place,” she says. “So it’s about removing some barriers, supporting them to reach their full potential, and ensuring we’re not losing talented people.” So far, two cohorts have received in‑person training in Cambodia and Laos, with ongoing support via the NOW Collective alumni platform.
Akchousanh Rasphone, conservation director for WWF‑Laos and a Collective member, says “what makes a difference is having colleagues who believe in you and give you opportunities.” She acknowledges that many sectors in Laos remain male‑dominated, making platforms like NOW crucial. Mai Doan, COO of Conservation Vietnam and another alumna, learned to protect her energy and delegate tasks. As a mother of two young children and the firstborn in a Vietnamese family, she faces heavy caregiving duties. “We’re all doing our duty, our responsibility for this planet,” she says. Through the network, she found solidarity. “My children have even become more empowered. They often tell me, ‘Mommy, you go save the animals, we’ve got this.’”
Need for Broader Institutional and Societal Changes
While peer networks, mentorship, and leadership coaching help women overcome cultural and societal barriers, experts stress the need for broader changes. Márquez‑García calls for gender‑aware policies—antiharassment protocols, safe reporting mechanisms, and flexible work arrangements. Improving fieldwork conditions is especially important in Southeast Asia, according to Sheherezade, co‑executive director of the Sulawesi Regional Ecological Conservation Initiative (PROGRES) in Indonesia. She says organizations must implement safety protocols to create diverse, inclusive, and equitable fieldwork conditions: “Women can feel very vulnerable in the field. If they don’t feel safe, they want to leave.” She also notes that funders should ensure supported organizations have proper policies; “it shouldn’t just be up to women to change things.” Men have a role as allies—recognizing barriers, fostering inclusive cultures, and flagging poor implementation of gender policies.
The NOW initiative itself faces challenges, including securing long‑term funding to sustain its growing network, though it is partly funded by Mandai Nature, a Singapore‑based conservation organization. Márquez‑García concludes: “Each barrier challenged and overcome is an achievement that enhances positive conservation outcomes. Ultimately, the future of conservation science and practice rests entirely on the ability to dismantle systemic barriers and provide more diverse, inclusive, and equitable spaces.”