This summer, while Rhodes experienced devastating wildfires and witnessed the destruction of its precious trees and delicate ecosystems, just a few miles away in Turkey, ancient forests were also being cut down for the sake of profit and more coal. However, the local women proved to be a formidable force against the energy company involved.
Akbelen, located in the province of Muğla, is a 730-hectare woodland that serves as a natural habitat for a diverse range of plant and animal species. YK Energy, a private energy company, sought to expand an open-pit lignite mine to supply a thermal power plant, thus posing a threat to this beautiful location. Lignite, or brown coal, emits more CO2 than black coal, making it particularly harmful. For the past four years, villagers and environmental activists have organized vigils to protect the forest, but the company has proceeded with its plans regardless.
Tensions reached their peak this summer when chainsaw teams began cutting down trees, and those who resisted were met with harsh treatment by the gendarmerie. The scenes that unfolded were surreal, with armored vehicles, water cannons, and tear gas being used against the protesters. At least 40 people were arrested. The exact number of trees destroyed so far is difficult to determine due to a lack of transparency, but it is estimated to be over 65,000, which accounts for at least 60% of the forest.
Local villagers, particularly women, have led the resistance in Akbelen, garnering support from various segments of Turkish society. These traditional matriarchs are not typically politically motivated individuals, but they have emerged as powerful figures in their determination to protect the trees and secure a better future for their children and grandchildren. Videos capturing their acts of defiance have circulated widely on Turkish social media, showcasing their unwavering commitment. One woman expressed her deep connection with the trees, saying, “Every time a tree has been cut, I felt like I lost a limb.”
The dedication of these matriarchs, along with the solidarity and sisterhood between rural and urban women, serves as a profound inspiration. Deniz Gümüşel, a senior consultant on environmental and climate policy, even shared photographs of her bruised arms in a feminist gesture symbolizing “We can do it.” What is happening in Akbelen reflects a larger global trend, with women leading the resistance as the climate crisis escalates and greedy corporations and authoritarian regimes continue to exploit biodiversity and natural habitats.
This phenomenon of traditional village women defending trees is not new. In the 1730s, Amrita Devi, a fearless woman from Rajasthan’s Bishnoi community, led a resistance against the destruction of khejri trees, resulting in the death of 363 people. Her bravery has left a lasting impact in India and beyond. In the 1970s, the Chipko movement in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, led mainly by rural women, practiced nonviolence while facing violence themselves. In 2021, a similar movement emerged, with hundreds of women in the northern Indian state protecting trees with their bodies, reminiscent of the women of Akbelen.
Women all around the world are at the forefront of campaigns to protect ancient forests. In Uganda, local women have launched inspiring movements to combat rampant deforestation caused by commercial logging and charcoal burning. In Ecuador, women lead collective efforts to preserve mangrove forests. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, indigenous and rural women in North Sumatra vehemently oppose habitat destruction by mining companies and plantations. Prominent Indonesian campaigner Aleta Baun, known as Mama Aleta, has organized protests alongside 150 other women and has even been awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize.
In Brazil, the babassu nut breakers movement, led by women, strives to minimize the damage caused by deforestation and empower communities. In Kenya, the late Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement and viewed trees as symbols of the democratic struggle and as crucial elements in combating poverty and systemic inequality.
These traditional matriarch-led campaigns have now been embraced by younger generations. Youth climate activists like Leah Namugerwa in Uganda and Fatou Jeng in the Gambia have taken up the cause, initiating tree-planting campaigns. In Senegal, the “For every newborn, one tree” project was launched, advocating for reforestation while also highlighting the interconnectedness between humans and nature. Similarly, in the UK, 70 women in Bristol held a ceremony where they “married” trees to raise awareness about their significance and shield them from chainsaws, inspired by the Chipko women.
The prevalence of women in the global resistance against deforestation is not a coincidence. Studies reveal that women and girls are disproportionately affected by the consequences of climate destruction, water scarcity, and food insecurity. Indigenous, rural, and fishing communities, in particular, face heightened vulnerabilities, yet their voices often go unheard. Around 80% of those displaced by the climate crisis are women, and during times of conflict and displacement, violence against women tends to escalate.
Unfortunately, women fighting to protect lands and water sources often encounter force and brutality. Between 2016 and 2019, nearly 1,700 acts of violence against women human rights defenders were recorded in Central America and Mexico alone. In Honduras, environmental activist and Indigenous leader Berta Cáceres was tragically murdered in her own home. In her final interview, she emphasized that energy is not merely a technical issue but a political one encompassing life, territories, sovereignty, and the right to community self-determination.
Women bear a heavier burden during environmental catastrophes. They are the pillars of communities, carrying water, preserving memories, and storytelling. From student activists in urban areas to traditional matriarchs in rural societies, women will play a central role in the ongoing fight against the climate crisis and the protection of lands and water resources. They face inequality, injustice, and violence, yet they also hold the keys to solidarity, resistance, and hope.
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