Women’s Environmental Governance Roles in Mangrove Ecotourism

¹ Universitas Riau, Department of Goverment, 28293, Pekanbaru, Indonesia
² Doctoral Student, Seoul National University, 08826, Seoul, Republic of Korea

^* Corresponding author: fadhiilatunnisaa@lecturer.unri.ac.id

Abstract

This study examines the intersection of gender, culture, and environmental governance in the management of mangrove ecotourism in Siak, Riau, Indonesia. Melayu women play critical roles as environmental stewards, economic actors, and cultural transmitters through their engagement in mangrove conservation, ecotourism enterprises, and environmental education. Despite their active participation, women’s representation in formal decision-making processes remains limited. Using a mixed-methods approach supported by NVivo 15 qualitative analysis, data were collected from community members, local leaders, and government officials to assess women’s contributions and agency within mangrove governance structures. Grounded in the Feminist Political Ecology framework, findings reveal that women in Siak demonstrate adaptive environmental agency by balancing domestic responsibilities with public leadership and ecological management. Unlike cases in Vietnam and Bangladesh, Siak exhibits more inclusive gender dynamics and stronger integration of women in ecological and economic decision-making. The study underscores that incorporating gender perspectives into environmental governance enhances sustainability, strengthens social resilience, and promotes equitable access to environmental and economic resources in community-based ecotourism.