The conclusions and lessons learned in the project contribute to the progress of the entire county and I hope that the work done can inspire others, in the forest sector but also in other areas. We need more gender equality in many industries. -- County Governor Berit Högman, chair of the project
This pilot project, led by the County Administrative Board of Västernorrland, harnesses a collaboration spanning education, science, forest ownership federations, governmental authorities and the business realm. The heart of this initiative lies in its commitment to embedding gender equality deeply within the Swedish forestry sector. By challenging and reshaping traditional gender norms, the project aims to catalyse a shift towards a competitive, sustainable and just industry.
This ambition is underpinned by Sweden’s long-standing commitment to gender mainstreaming and the recognition of the forestry sector’s role in sustainable growth and the bioeconomy. It is rooted in various national and regional strategies and action plans aiming to create a more gender equal forestry sector.
Key activities include the following.
- Sector-wide gender mainstreaming. This involves establishing shared gender equality goals and metrics across participating organisations.
- Training and workshops. These focus on understanding and dismantling masculinity norms and enhancing gender-sensitive practices within forestry organisations and beyond.
- Research and collaborative efforts. Efforts leverage insights from task force committees and research to inform and guide gender equality efforts.
The initiative has heightened the discourse on gender equality within the Swedish national forestry sector and influenced leading forestry companies to broaden their gender equality efforts and include equality goals in organisational steering documents and procurement. It shifted the focus from merely increasing women’s recruitment to addressing leadership and organisational culture for a broader impact.