Masculinities in Forests

"I first met Carol on the Kribi beach an evening of 1997 and recall the discussion about the role and accountability of logging companies in prostitution in camps. I thought they had none. She disagreed. I have changed my mind since, thanks to many female colleagues and especially Carol. She made me a better man I believe. I enjoyed reading this book and tried to look at my own harp before and after. I hope you will like it. A must-read, especially if you are a proud male forester (like me)." — Robert Nasi, Director General, Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)

"Carol Colfer shows us how masculinities affects us all in a deep, critical and personal reflection that exposes the unconscious assumptions about the distribution of powers and privileges, and appropriate roles, relations and identities of men and women in environment and development contexts around the world. By her example, Colfer challenges her readers to re-examine deeply-held beliefs that are both personal and political." — Maureen G. Reed, Distinguished Professor, School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan

"It is a rare and precious thing for a reader to be able to learn from the rich insights garnered in over a long career as a professional anthropologist working in some of the world’s most important forest landscapes. This important book on masculinities and their relatedness with forests is a gift: a timely reminder that making sense of gender in this way is a crucial step in understanding questions of equity in forest livelihoods and professional lives. Carol Colfer offers a deeply reflexive ethnographic discussion based on her experiences and encounters in rural North America and in Indonesia, in the field and amidst the ‘development set’. Her discussion covers a critical period in the making of both gender relations and forest management – from the 1970s onwards – and she shows the diverse ways masculinities are being lived relationally with forests across turbulent times. There are important points to draw from this book, not least the need to undo generalisations and situate both forests and masculinities in time and place. The author brings her insights back to bear on forest management strategies with practical ways for reflecting on and improving ways of working and living with forests that are tuned in to the various registers of masculinity which could themselves become better attuned to ensuring a healthy planetary future." — Rebecca Elmhirst, Human Geographer, University of Brighton

"Masterful scholarship with a purpose... this book has wide-ranging relevance across many fields, non-anthropologists not only may have something useful to say about it but also need to read it for their own benefit. Bravo for a brave and timely work!" — Michael S. Cummings, Professor (retired), Political Science, University of Colorado, Denver

"I first met Carol on the Kribi beach an evening of 1997 and recall the discussion about the role and accountability of logging companies in prostitution in camps. I thought they had none. She disagreed. I have changed my mind since, thanks to many female colleagues and especially Carol. She made me a better man I believe. I enjoyed reading this book and tried to look at my own harp before and after. I hope you will like it. A must-read, especially if you are a proud male forester (like me)." — Robert Nasi, Director General, Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)

"Carol Colfer shows us how masculinities affects us all in a deep, critical and personal reflection that exposes the unconscious assumptions about the distribution of powers and privileges, and appropriate roles, relations and identities of men and women in environment and development contexts around the world. By her example, Colfer challenges her readers to re-examine deeply-held beliefs that are both personal and political." — Maureen G. Reed, Distinguished Professor, School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan

"It is a rare and precious thing for a reader to be able to learn from the rich insights garnered in over a long career as a professional anthropologist working in some of the world’s most important forest landscapes. This important book on masculinities and their relatedness with forests is a gift: a timely reminder that making sense of gender in this way is a crucial step in understanding questions of equity in forest livelihoods and professional lives. Carol Colfer offers a deeply reflexive ethnographic discussion based on her experiences and encounters in rural North America and in Indonesia, in the field and amidst the ‘development set’. Her discussion covers a critical period in the making of both gender relations and forest management – from the 1970s onwards – and she shows the diverse ways masculinities are being lived relationally with forests across turbulent times. There are important points to draw from this book, not least the need to undo generalisations and situate both forests and masculinities in time and place. The author brings her insights back to bear on forest management strategies with practical ways for reflecting on and improving ways of working and living with forests that are tuned in to the various registers of masculinity which could themselves become better attuned to ensuring a healthy planetary future." — Rebecca Elmhirst, Human Geographer, University of Brighton

"Masterful scholarship with a purpose... this book has wide-ranging relevance across many fields, non-anthropologists not only may have something useful to say about it but also need to read it for their own benefit. Bravo for a brave and timely work!" — Michael S. Cummings, Professor (retired), Political Science, University of Colorado, Denver

"The depth of the book comes from the longitudinal nature of the author's career and the considered retrospective this offers. As a mid-career, northern, feminist, male conservation and development professional, I would encourage others to take advantage of this freely available book. Read it, if even just the succinct chapter summaries (3–6) and the return to field sites detailed in Chapter 7, reflect, and work to challenge our everyday practices to better take diversity, gender and masculinities into account." - Rob Small, Oryx, Volume 55, Issue 6, November 2021, pp. 958

"Colfer’s book will be essential reading for students in the fields of environmental and international development studies who are interested in the topic of gender and masculinities." - Sara Bonilla Anariba, PHD, Pennsylvania State University