HerStory: Leading Change in Forestry

In this episode, Leila Rossa Mouawad, a member of the Mediterranean Youth Task Force, shares her journey as a young forester working at the intersection of environmental sustainability and gender equality. Tune in to explore how youth voices and women’s leadership are shaping more resilient and inclusive forest and agrifood systems in the Mediterranean region. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Hello everyone and welcome to the World Food Forum Podcast. I'm Alexandra, your host, and you're tuning into her story series, where we explore the journeys, challenges, and the impact of young women shaping the future of agri-food systems around the world. Today's episode is all about forests' resilience and the role of women's leadership. I'm really excited to be joined by Leila, a member of the Mediterranean Youth Task Force. This is a youth-led network that brings together students, researchers, young professionals from across the region who are engaged in forestry. It creates a space for young people to connect, share the knowledge, build skills, and importantly, to make sure their voices are heard in decision-making processes that shape the future of Mediterranean forests. Layla is a young forester, researcher, and advocate working at the intersection of environmental sustainability and gender equality. Through her work, including her research on the gender gap in forestry, she brings important insights into what it means to be a young woman in this field today. So in this episode, we will be exploring questions like what inspired someone to pursue forestry? What barriers still exist for women in this sector? And what needs to be changed to make agriculture systems more inclusive, resilient, and reflective of diverse voices. Leila, it's wonderful to have you here with us. Welcome to the podcast.

SPEAKER_01 1:35

Thank you, Alexandria. Lovely being here too. And looking forward to this podcast.

SPEAKER_00 1:41

Perfect. So let's start from the beginning, uh, from the beginning of your journey. Firstly, I would like to ask you if you can shortly introduce yourself, tell us a bit more about you, and tell us also what draw you to forestry and uh environmental studies. Uh, and how did people actually around you responded when they heard that this is the the follow, this is the path that you want to follow?

SPEAKER_01 2:04

Perfect. So basically I'm Leila and I come from Lebanon. I initially studied forestry at the Lebanese University and now work in the environmental field at the Nature Conservation Center of the American University of Beirut. And I happen to have a passion for science communication in all its different forms. Now, coming from Lebanon and growing up in its diverse ecosystems, which unfortunately today are being deliberately destroyed by the war, I have always been drawn to nature from a very young age. And I knew that one day I'll be working with either plants, animals, water, soil, or any natural element without knowing much about former jobs, including forestry. And when the time came for me to choose what to study at university, I first went for agriculture engineering, then got inspired to pursue a master's degree in forestry given my passion. And through the courses I took, uh, projects I contributed to, and conferences I attended, I realized more and more how forestry is deeply connected to heritage, livelihoods, nutrition, well-being, and of course, identity, which are all essential for survival. However, I have to be honest with you, the vast majority of people around me did not fully understand what forestry meant as a career. So they definitely did not encourage me to enter this field, because some associated it with only planting trees or working in nature reserves, which are both very far from what I'm doing today. And this perception comes mainly from the fact that forestry can today be studied in only one among the around 40 universities in the country. So it is still a relatively unknown field.

SPEAKER_00 3:46

Yeah, I think it's uh it's a field that is not seen a traditional path uh for women. So it's really inspiring to see uh young women like you being uh in such a field. And uh early in your journeys, where there were moments that made you actually realize how important women's voice and leadership are actually in shaping agri food systems.

SPEAKER_01 4:09

Yes, definitely. So in Lebanon, especially in rural areas, women play a key role in shaping agri-food systems because traditionally and to date, it is mostly women that hold extensive knowledge and about local plants that we forage from forests, uh, about medicinal species, about food preservation and storage, which we refer to here as mune. And it's one of the long-standing traditional culinary practices. But at the same time, many environmental and agricultural discussions are still dominated by man, unfortunately. So, despite the fact that women's perspectives are not always reflected equally in decision-making processes and formal leadership positions in the agri food sector, the least we can say is that women are the pillars that our food is built on.

SPEAKER_00 5:02

Definitely. And I think it really highlights how powerful uh presentation on women in uh in agri food systems, especially in this field, um, it's not only shaping careers, but the whole sector, right? So, in your research on the gender gap in forestry, what stood out to you uh most from the experiences to the women you spoke to?

SPEAKER_01 5:27

In a natural, what stood out are two main things. First, how in 2025, last year, many women still reported being the only woman in their forestry team or classroom. And this highlights a significant gender disparity due to many barriers which are detailed in the article. Second, the extra work and silent coping strategies that women do in the sector. Responders described working harder to be seen as serious, and some also avoided field work alone for safety reasons. But on a positive end, something else showed up, and it is solidarity. So many women spoke about the importance of mentorship, peer support, and visibility. Even when facing challenges, these women were actively creating networks and supporting one another in the sector.

SPEAKER_00 6:18

Building on this and building on the experience of the women that you were talking about, how do you think women's participation can actually help transform agri-food systems in Mediterranean?

SPEAKER_01 6:30

So basically, women bring critical knowledge and unique perspectives that are essential for building resilient agri-food systems, especially in the Mediterranean, where communities are already facing climate change, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, economic instability, and in many cases, like Lebanon, geopolitical tension and wars. So, as mentioned earlier, women are closely connected to food production, food processing, and traditional ecological knowledge. And their participation can fully strengthen more community-centered and local adaptation approaches. But beyond representation, it is also about influence. When women participate meaningfully in research, in policy, leadership, and local governance, decisions tend to become more inclusive and more responsive to the real community needs.

SPEAKER_00 7:21

You also work in environmental communication and outreach. So do you see similar gender gaps also there?

SPEAKER_01 7:31

I believe you also know about this, Alexandra, and you face it in your work, but unfortunately, yes. But this gender gap is visible in a different shape. So in communication and advocacy, women are often very active and visibly engaged in implementation, outreach, and education. But unfortunately, leadership and decision-making roles often still remain unevenly distributed. Now, of course, there are success stories. I have seen many inspiring women using storytelling, visual communication, and digital media innovatively. For example, in FAO's Regional Force Communicators Network, the global coordinator, Maria de Cristofaro, is a woman. So is Patricia Sfer, the coordinator of the Mediterranean Network. So these two outstanding women are figures I personally look up to as they have been able to change systems and break stereotypes.

SPEAKER_00 8:27

Well, that's uh it's it's important to hear that they are there are still uh success stories where uh women are actually taking the leadership uh in communication and not only in communication but also in a decision-making uh processes, and it's uh inspiring all of us young women, right, to believe that women are the one uh actually leading the transformation.

SPEAKER_01 8:52

Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 8:53

As you said, this sector comes, of course, with many with many challenges. Uh so what keeps you motivated? What still brings you this um uh motivation to keep going and uh pursue your career? And uh, as you said, of course, aside seeing from all the success stories uh around you, what is uh what is something additional that keeps you motivated?

SPEAKER_01 9:17

I believe I'm gonna focus still on the success stories because it really is what keeps me going, especially when it comes to the small wins that are already out there. So, against all odds, there are many inspiring women that I encountered, worked with, or heard stories about. And these are all women that made and continue to make an impact in the sector. But another thing that motivates me is the fact that any action that we do today will either motivate or demotivate younger girls to join the forestry or agri-food sectors. So it really is a big responsibility and driver to do the best that we can.

SPEAKER_00 9:56

From your perspective, what are some of the biggest opportunities and let's say also biggest barriers for young women in the Mediterranean?

SPEAKER_01 10:03

Ugh, no, both opportunities and barriers are many, but to list the most relevant, in my opinion, I can say that one key opportunity is the growing global recognition of gender, particularly in climate policies, discussions, and programs. So theoretically, there is already a certain framework in place that can facilitate gender inclusion in forestry and agri-food sectors. But at the same time, multiple barriers still exist. And these include limited access to leadership positions, unequal funding opportunities, social expectations, and in some contexts, safety or mobility constraints related to field work.

SPEAKER_00 10:43

And looking, let's say, the old pros and cons from being uh a woman in this sector, what gives you hope when you look at the next generations of young women in this field?

SPEAKER_01 10:55

Well, um, what gives me hope honestly is how vocal this generation is. Young women today are combining their digital skills with activism and advocacy for gender equality in ways that were less common before. They speak more openly and much louder about inclusion, equity, and justice. And so they challenge patriarchy and stereotypes. And what gives me even more hope is that these women are not standing alone. There is a growing network of young women supporting each other, collaborating across borders, and bringing fresh perspectives into environmental work.

SPEAKER_00 11:32

And what kinds of support or networks would help a young woman feel, let's say, more represented and heard?

SPEAKER_01 11:40

Now, mentorship is extremely important, especially mentorship that is long-term and practical, not just limited to inspiration, because we talked a lot about success stories. But women, especially young women, benefit from seeing and learning tips from role models who overcame similar challenges. And also regional networks are also very valuable because Mediterranean countries share many environmental and social realities. So creating new spaces for collaboration or leveraging existing ones can help amplify women's voices, facilitate exchange, and ensure visibility. And most importantly, visible accountability. And by this I mean that national authorities that govern the forestry or agri-food sectors need to collect and publish gender disaggregated data on leadership, fieldwork assignments, and funding, because in my research I could not find much national data. And this is essential to help us assess where we are, where we stand, and plan actions accordingly.

SPEAKER_00 12:47

What would you say to young women who are interested in forestry or sustainability, but aren't really sure if there is a space, if that's the space for them? Is there any message that you would like to tell them?

SPEAKER_01 13:01

I would tell them that there is definitely space for them. And I really don't want to sound cliche, but if you feel that there is no place for you to fit in, go ahead and create that space yourself. If you care about ecosystems, about trees, animals, soil, water, and the people who depend on them, there is not only space for you, there is a need for you. Your perspectives, your voice, your expertise, whether it is related to science, to communication, to local knowledge, art, policy, or social work, these are not a plus. These are essential. So go ahead, start where you are, find allies and a supportive community, document and disseminate your work, and sooner or later you will surely get a seat at the table.