IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/lauspo/v169y2026ics0264837726002322.html

Impact of gender equality on forest protection: Role of economic, social, political and energy factors

Author

Listed:
  • Zhu, Xiaojiao
  • Yang, Haochang

Abstract

We empirically examined the impact of gender equality on forest protection using data for 151 countries from 2000 to 2023 via panel estimation. The results supported that gender equality usually associates with more forest protection, which is reliable while we conducted regression by changing estimations, employing measurements of forest protection and gender equality. In addition, this positive impact is weakened by industrial structure, income inequality, governmental spending, while it is stronger among OECD countries. Moreover, the positive impact of gender equality on forest protection is weaker among right-wing governments and countries with political corruption, while it is strengthened by governmental effectiveness, political stability and regulatory quality. Finally, growing disasters such as epidemics and wet mass movement would reduce gender equality’s positive impact on forest protection, while renewable energy consumption would benefit for it. Our conclusions offered several policy implications for governments to promote forest protection.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhu, Xiaojiao & Yang, Haochang, 2026. "Impact of gender equality on forest protection: Role of economic, social, political and energy factors," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:169:y:2026:i:c:s0264837726002322
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2026.108148
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837726002322
    Download Restriction: Full text may be restricted for ScienceDirect subscribers
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.landusepol.2026.108148?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Christina Ergas & Patrick Trent Greiner & Julius Alexander McGee & Matthew Thomas Clement, 2021. "Does Gender Climate Influence Climate Change? The Multidimensionality of Gender Equality and Its Countervailing Effects on the Carbon Intensity of Well-Being," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-23, April.
    2. Esther Duflo, 2012. "Women Empowerment and Economic Development," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 50(4), pages 1051-1079, December.
    3. M. Benlemlih & C. Assaf & I. El Ouadghiri, 2022. "Do Political and Social Factors Affect Carbon Emissions? Evidence from International Data," Post-Print hal-04444817, HAL.
    4. Atif, Muhammad & Hossain, Mohammed & Alam, Md Samsul & Goergen, Marc, 2021. "Does board gender diversity affect renewable energy consumption?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    5. Gozgor, Giray & Li, Jing & Saleem, Irfan & Shinwari, Riazullah, 2025. "The impact of women's political empowerment on renewable energy demand: Evidence from OECD countries," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    6. Agarwal, Bina, 2009. "Gender and forest conservation: The impact of women's participation in community forest governance," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(11), pages 2785-2799, September.
    7. Diana Sanchez-Olmedo & Paula Ortiz-Yepez & Marco Faytong-Haro, 2025. "Bridging the Gap: The Impact of Gender Equality on CO 2 Emissions Across Countries," World, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-21, February.
    8. Mohamed H. Elmagrhi & Collins G. Ntim & Ahmed A. Elamer & Qingjing Zhang, 2019. "A study of environmental policies and regulations, governance structures, and environmental performance: The role of female directors," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 206-220, January.
    9. Simplice A. Asongu & Omang O. Messono & Keyanfe T. J. Guttemberg, 2022. "Women political empowerment and vulnerability to climate change: evidence from 169 countries," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 174(3), pages 1-26, October.
    10. Hodges, Donald G. & Chapagain, Binod & Watcharaanantapong, Pattarawan & Poudyal, Neelam C. & Kline, Keith L. & Dale, Virginia H., 2019. "Opportunities and attitudes of private forest landowners in supplying woody biomass for renewable energy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1-1.
    11. Jacqueline D. Lau & Danika Kleiber & Sarah Lawless & Philippa J. Cohen, 2021. "Gender equality in climate policy and practice hindered by assumptions," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 11(3), pages 186-192, March.
    12. Miao-Miao Cai & Quan-Jing Wang & Xue Liu, 2025. "The Impact of Aging Populations on Forest Protection: Evidence from 158 Countries," Journal of Forest Economics, now publishers, vol. 40(1-2), pages 81-112, June.
    13. Frank Ankomah & Kyereh Boateng & Winston Asante & Michael Ansong, 2022. "Implementation gaps in forest management prescriptions and noncompliance in forest regulations in Ghana: Case study of four forest reserves," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(7), pages 9355-9379, July.
    14. Li Zheng & Shah Zaman & Qamar Uz Zaman & Yuhuan Zhao & Shahid Iqbal, 2025. "Environmental Performance and SDGs: How Do Income Disparity, Urbanization, Resource Consumption, and Female Employers Affect the Ecological Footprint in Emerging Economies?," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(3), pages 3681-3700, June.
    15. Wang, Quan-Jing & Sun, Yi-Hong, 2022. "The impact of governmental ideology on forest preservation: Evidence from cross-country data," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    16. Berniell, Inés & Marchionni, Mariana & Pedrazzi, Julián & Viollaz, Mariana, 2026. "Women political leaders as agents of environmental change," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    17. Xiaoping He & Shuo Jiang, 2019. "Does gender diversity matter for green innovation?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(7), pages 1341-1356, November.
    18. Shinbrot, Xoco A. & Wilkins, Kate & Gretzel, Ulrike & Bowser, Gillian, 2019. "Unlocking women’s sustainability leadership potential: Perceptions of contributions and challenges for women in sustainable development," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 120-132.
    19. Mohammed Benlemlih & Cynthia Assaf & Imane El Ouadghiri, 2022. "Do political and social factors affect carbon emissions? Evidence from international data," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(52), pages 6022-6035, November.
    20. Kwaku Addai & Berna Serener & Dervis Kirikkaleli, 2023. "Environmental Sustainability and Regulatory Quality in Emerging Economies: Empirical Evidence from Eastern European Region," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 14(3), pages 3290-3326, September.
    21. Manolis, E.N. & Zagas, T.D. & Karetsos, G.K. & Poravou, C.A., 2019. "Ecological restrictions in forest biomass extraction for a sustainable renewable energy production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 290-297.
    22. Rebecca Pearse, 2017. "Gender and climate change," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 8(2), March.
    23. Anjal Prakash & Edmond Totin & Georgina Kemp & Rachel Bezner Kerr & Debra Roberts, 2025. "Bridging the gap: Promoting gender equity in climate change adaptation in the global south," PLOS Climate, Public Library of Science, vol. 4(6), pages 1-7, June.
    24. Wang, Quan-Jing & Peng, Xin-Yu & Wang, Hai-Jie & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2023. "The diversity impact of democracy on forest protection: Global evidence," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    25. Bindu Shrestha & Sudarshan R. Tiwari & Sushil B. Bajracharya & Martina M. Keitsch & Hom B. Rijal, 2021. "Review on the Importance of Gender Perspective in Household Energy-Saving Behavior and Energy Transition for Sustainability," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-18, November.
    26. Khwaja Naveed & Fahad Khalid & Cosmina Lelia Voinea, 2023. "Board gender diversity and corporate green innovation: An industry‐level institutional perspective," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 755-772, March.
    27. Raphael Portmann & Urs Beyerle & Edouard Davin & Erich M. Fischer & Steven Hertog & Sebastian Schemm, 2022. "Global forestation and deforestation affect remote climate via adjusted atmosphere and ocean circulation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    28. G, Balaji & Sharma, Gagandeep & R, Sai Shiva Jayanth, 2022. "Forest cover in India: A victim of technicalities," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    29. Arts, Bas & Brockhaus, Maria & Giessen, Lukas & McDermott, Constance L., 2024. "The performance of global forest governance: Three contrasting perspectives," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    30. Mohammed Bouaddi & Mohamed A. K. Basuony & Neveen Noureldin, 2023. "The Heterogenous Effects of Carbon Emissions and Board Gender Diversity on a Firm’s Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-20, October.
    31. Nousiainen, Daniela & Mola-Yudego, Blas, 2022. "Characteristics and emerging patterns of forest conflicts in Europe - What can they tell us?," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    32. Zhang, Kerong & Song, Conghe & Zhang, Yulong & Zhang, Quanfa, 2017. "Natural disasters and economic development drive forest dynamics and transition in China," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 56-64.
    33. Alex O. Acheampong & Eric Evans Osei Opoku & Niharika Rustagi, 2024. "Gender quota, women in politics, and gender parity in education," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(3), pages 1223-1260, November.
    34. Giuliana Birindelli & Antonia Patrizia Iannuzzi & Marco Savioli, 2019. "The impact of women leaders on environmental performance: Evidence on gender diversity in banks," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(6), pages 1485-1499, November.
    35. Mohammed Hichame Benbitour & Samah Jradi & John Ruggiero, 2024. "Decoding Worldwide Efficiency: Linking Government Spending, Corruption, Gender Inequality, and Renewable Energy Practices," Post-Print hal-04852224, HAL.
    36. Thomas, J. & Brunette, M. & Leblois, A., 2022. "The determinants of adapting forest management practices to climate change: Lessons from a survey of French private forest owners," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    37. Bush, Sarah Sunn & Clayton, Amanda, 2023. "Facing Change: Gender and Climate Change Attitudes Worldwide," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 117(2), pages 591-608, May.
    38. Fridén, Alexia & D'Amato, Dalia & Ekström, Hanna & Iliev, Bogomil & Nebasifu, Ayonghe & May, Wilhelm & Thomsen, Marianne & Droste, Nils, 2024. "Mapping two centuries of forest governance in Nordic countries: An open access database," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wang, Quan-Jing & Peng, Xin-Yu & Wang, Hai-Jie & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2023. "The diversity impact of democracy on forest protection: Global evidence," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    2. R. M. Ammar Zahid & Umer Sahil Maqsood & Shoaib Irshad & Muhammad Kaleem Khan, 2025. "The role of women on board in combatting greenwashing: A new perspective on environmental performance," Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(1), pages 121-136, January.
    3. Rios, Vicente & Barba, Izaskun & Gianmoena, Lisa & Pascual, Pedro, 2024. "Clearing the smog ceiling: The impact of women’s political empowerment on air quality in European regions," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    4. Wang, Quan-Jing & Sharma, Susan Sunila & Ni, Guo-Hua & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "Governance, energy utilization and environmental protection: Role of extreme events," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    5. Vidya Mahadevan & Sowmya Subramaniam, 2026. "Environmental innovation disclosures- Understanding the role of board attributes and environmental teams," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 23(3), pages 936-953, September.
    6. Saleh F. A. Khatib & Dewi Fariha Abdullah & Ahmed A. Elamer & Raed Abueid, 2021. "Nudging toward diversity in the boardroom: A systematic literature review of board diversity of financial institutions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 985-1002, February.
    7. Shangze Dai & Yi Dai & Haichao Yu, 2026. "The effect of gender gap in labor market participation on carbon emission efficiency: State-level empirical evidence from the US," Energy & Environment, , vol. 37(4), pages 2078-2104, June.
    8. Claudio Nuber & Patrick Velte, 2021. "Board gender diversity and carbon emissions: European evidence on curvilinear relationships and critical mass," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 1958-1992, May.
    9. Cosma, Simona & Galletta, Simona & Mazzù, Sebastiano & Rimo, Giuseppe, 2024. "Banks' fossil fuel divestment and corporate governance: The role of board gender diversity," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    10. Shaista Wasiuzzaman & Effiezal Aswadi Abdul Wahab, 2025. "Board gender diversity and environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure: assessing the moderating role of country-level accountability and governance," Pacific Accounting Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 37(3), pages 420-454, May.
    11. Jun‐Zhuo Wang & Gen‐Fu Feng & Zhu‐Jia Yin & Chun‐Ping Chang, 2025. "Does women's political participation promote green innovation? Global evidence," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(2), pages 1847-1862, March.
    12. Beloskar, Ved Dilip & Haldar, Arunima & Gupta, Anupama, 2024. "Gender equality and women’s empowerment: A bibliometric review of the literature on SDG 5 through the management lens," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    13. Ishwar Khatri, 2023. "Board gender diversity and sustainability performance: Nordic evidence," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(3), pages 1495-1507, May.
    14. Deniz Erenel & Halil Peçe & İlhan Bilici, 2026. "Does Women’s Political Participation Matter in Carbon Emissions Reduction? A Panel Data Analysis of BRICS-TM," SAGE Open, , vol. 16(1), pages 21582440251, January.
    15. Katila, Pia & Svels, Kristina & Tzemi, Domna, 2025. "Gender equality in Nordic forest research – A literature review," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    16. Li, Yu & Zhu, Yi & Tan, Weijie & Qi, Tiange & Huang, Yongjian, 2024. "Female executive and energy consumption intensity: The role of green innovation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    17. Jérôme Caby & Clotilde Coron, 2022. "The Effect of Top Management Team Gender Diversity on Climate Change Management: An International Study," Post-Print hal-03530985, HAL.
    18. Nurlan Orazalin & Mady Baydauletov, 2020. "Corporate social responsibility strategy and corporate environmental and social performance: The moderating role of board gender diversity," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(4), pages 1664-1676, July.
    19. Filip Hampl & Dagmar Vágnerová Linnertová, 2025. "How the interaction between board gender diversity and ESG shapes dividend policy," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(2), pages 2472-2490, March.
    20. Therese E. Zogo & Simplice A. Asongu & Vanessa S. Tchamyou & Joseph Nnanna, 2025. "Women Political Empowerment and Coup d'etat in Africa, 1980–2020," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 37(3), September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • P48 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Legal Institutions; Property Rights; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Regional Studies
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:169:y:2026:i:c:s0264837726002322. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Joice Jiang (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/land-use-policy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.