The Forest In Women’s Hands
2023
Series of 5 collages (various sizes), zine (A4)
Based on interviews with 5 woman foresters from Slovenia and connected with global trends related to gender and ecology
Spotlighting women foresters, hunters, and forest owners in Slovenia, The Forest in Women’s Hands examines our relationship to forests through the question of gender. In doing so, it relies on research by the Slovenian Forestry Institute which shows that, in contrast to their male counterparts, female forest owners are more likely to prioritize the ecological and social functions of their forest land over commercial interests.
60% of Slovenia is covered by forest. 75.3% of forest land is privately owned; 20.5% is state-owned; and 4.2% is owned by local communities. Nearly 40% of the private owners are women, which among EU countries puts Slovenia at the very top. Research of Slovenian Forestry Institute shows that, on average, female forest owners have smaller landholdings and own less forested areas than their male counterparts; also, compared to male forest owners, they are more focused on the ecological and social aspects of their forests and less on the economic aspect.
The Forest in Women’s Hands is part of the international project Forest Encounters, co-funded by Creative Europe.
Below: The Forest in Women’s Hands and Mushrooms At The End Of The World, installation view, Gallery of Slovenian Forestry Institure, 2023.
Photographs by: Andrej Peunik