Biodiversity and associated ecosystem services are crucial for food security and for the livelihoods of people involved in food and agricultural production systems around the world. Women and men use and manage biodiversity resources in different ways, and face specific constraints and opportunities. Their unique knowledge and responsibilities in the sustainable use of biodiversity must be fully recognized to ensure better gender outcomes and resource management.

 The publication Engaging women and men equally in managing biodiversity, provides some guidelines for integrating the gender dimensions in projects, policies and other initiatives of FAO related to biodiversity. The aim is raising gender awareness and providing guidance to FAO staff working in the field of biodiversity to help them to better identify and address the gender and social dimensions in biodiversity management.