Meet three African women at the forefront of environmental conservation

Across Africa, women are taking the lead in environmental conservation, demonstrating how inclusive and sustainable approaches can address the challenges facing their communities. In Madagascar and Rwanda, three remarkable women are at the heart of efforts to protect nature, responding to pressing environmental threats with innovative solutions.

Voahary Rakotovelomanantsoa 

In Madagascar’s southern region of Anôsy, Governor Voahary Rakotovelomanantsoa is driving change.

Her name means "nature," and her life’s work reflects a commitment to protecting both ecosystems and the communities she represents.

"Women understand the daily challenges of life here," Voahary said. "Every day, 22 tons of wood are used for cooking. By adopting alternative energy solutions, women can lead efforts to reduce deforestation while improving household sustainability."

Under her leadership and vision, conservation initiatives now align with gender equality goals, showcasing how empowering women can strengthen environmental stewardship.

The Implementing Alliance for Zero Extinction Site Conservation and Preventing Global Extinctions project, a GEF-funded initiative, is running in Voahary’s region. The project is a joint initiative of biodiversity conservation organizations from around the world to prevent extinctions by identifying and safeguarding key sites, which are the last remaining refuges of one or more Endangered or Critically Endangered species. 

Voahary, who was the first woman elected to her role, believes deeply in the transformative power of politics and local empowerment to save the forest, and with it, to save the people. 

Tiana Andriamanana  

Madagascar, known for its unique biodiversity, faces severe deforestation. An average annual deforestation rate of 1.5% has left more than half of the country grappling with land degradation, with 70,000 square kilometers urgently needing restoration, according to a Global Forest Watch report. Contributing factors like illegal logging, agricultural expansion, and fires have not only damaged ecosystems but increased the country’s vulnerability to flooding, landslides, and other risks, including devastating fires.

Tiana Andriamanana, Director of Fanamby—a non-governmental organization bringing together a group of Malagasy scientists and conservationists—is tackling these challenges head on. “Traditional expectations and cultural values have limited the involvement of local communities, especially women, in STEM [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics], and leadership roles,” Andriamanana said. "Yet, their participation is essential for creating sustainable and inclusive solutions.”

Through projects supported by Fanamby, local communities are gaining access to tools like Global Forest Watch to monitor and mitigate forest loss. This technology is critical, as recent data shows Madagascar lost 303,000 hectares of natural forest in 2023, emitting 160 metric tons of carbon dioxide. Global Forest Watch is a GEF-supported initiative that provides data, technology, and tools for park rangers to monitor fires and give early warnings from a simple device or mobile phone. 

Jolie Mukiza  

In Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, conservation successes are globally known. Community-based approaches to protecting mountain gorillas have transformed the region, where revenue from gorilla tourism is reinvested into local communities, who in turn have shown deep commitment to supporting wildlife protection.

At the forefront of these efforts is Jolie Mukiza, a conservation guide who dedicated her life to preserving this progress. "We need more resources to support environmental protection, and more women involved in conservation careers," she said. Mukiza is not only protecting gorillas but also inspiring women across Rwanda to take on leadership roles in environmental stewardship. Her job and commitment to nature is also inspiring her kids and family. It provides a living and a way to protect their beloved gorillas. As a guide to visitors, she conducts educational tours to the public to know, learn, and get involved in the protection of these endangered animals. 

These women’s stories highlight how addressing the root causes of biodiversity loss requires diverse perspectives, among which the perspective of women, their reality, and their way of understanding and relating to the planet and nature, enriches the collective contribution from which humanity sets out to save its own existence. Their leadership proves that empowering women is not just about equality—it is essential for sustainable environmental solutions.