Gender and Income

Men and women vary in their acquisition and disposal of income which influences what has been termed their "environmental behaviour." However, the assumption that women are only interested in fuelwood trees as they meet their daily survival needs while men prefer commercial species which they can sell for timber is often misleading. Not only is it based on a very narrow definition of women's interests as arising from their domestic roles, it overlooks their asset-creating needs and simply reinforces gender inequalities (Leach 1992: 15). Farm forestry by tribal women on private lands in Panchmahals district, eastern Gujarat, shows a greater demand for quick growing species like eucalyptus, and fruit trees like mango, which provide security in times of drought (Grant 1989).