Female Indian Legislators Boost Forest Cover in Reserved
A study finds electing a female MLA increased annual forest-cover growth by about six percentage points in constituencies reserved for Scheduled Castes and
Electing a female state legislator in India increased annual forest-cover growth by about six percentage points in constituencies reserved for historically marginalised communities. This finding comes from a study published early this year in the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, which examined the causal impact of female elected representatives on forest conservation.
The research, titled Female legislators and forest conservation in India, used a regression discontinuity design. It compared forest-cover growth in constituencies where a female politician narrowly won against a male opponent in "close" mixed-gender electoral races. The authors argue that in extremely tight elections, the outcome is shaped by small, contingent factors rather than systematic differences between areas. This allows for a credible estimate of the effect of the legislator's gender.
Data and Methodology
The researchers combined several datasets from 2000 to 2014. These included satellite-derived forest-cover data, state assembly election results, the gender of winning candidates, and information on whether a constituency was reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) or Scheduled Tribes (STs). By analysing this information, they identified a clear pattern linking female leadership to faster forest growth in reserved constituencies.
Potential Explanations for the Link
The study explores several possible reasons for this outcome through existing literature. It suggests women, who are often disproportionately affected by climate change impacts, may have greater concern for environmental protection. Women from marginalised communities may possess a heightened awareness of climate vulnerability.
Also, SC/ST-reserved constituencies already have specific legal and institutional provisions relating to forest rights and environmental governance. Female representation appears to interact with these existing structures in ways that favour conservation. "Individuals from marginalised communities often face the additional constraint of limited resources to adapt to environmental degradation and climate shocks," the authors note. They suggest female politicians from these communities may be particularly aware of the challenges faced by women and girls, translating into a stronger emphasis on environmental conservation.
The Role of Age
Age could also be a factor. The female legislators studied tended to be younger than their male counterparts. The positive effect on forest cover over an electoral term was particularly apparent among these younger women legislators. The study concludes that the gender of elected representatives can indeed influence forest-cover growth.
