Ecofem Tales

  Extractivism refers to the large-scale removal of oil, minerals, timber, and other land-based resources.  It is an economic system that treats nature as a storehouse to be exploited, used up, and left depleted. In extractive systems, resources are uprooted faster than they can regenerate and the Earth is too often left to bear the wounds alone. For ecofeminists, this is not only an environmental concern but a profound social justice issue. Extractivism is deeply linked to patriarchy, colonial histories, dispossession, and the unequal burdens placed on women, Indigenous peoples, and local communities. The same logic that treats the Earth as endlessly exploitable also devalues women’s labour, bodies, and care work. Extractivist practices include: • Large-scale mining (gold, oil, lithium, coal)  • Industrial logging (deforestation faster than natural regrowth)  • Commercial monoculture farming (e.g., palm oil, soy replacing diverse ecosystems)  • Deep-sea...

  Across Africa, women are leading some of the most transformative environmental movements of our time. They are defending forests, protecting water sources, promoting sustainable agriculture, advancing clean energy solutions, and rebuilding communities affected by climate change.  Among these visionary leaders is Dr. Priscilla Achakpa, founder and Global President of the Women Environmental Programme (WEP), whose work has become a powerful example of ecofeminist activism rooted in justice, sustainability, and grassroots empowerment. For decades, Priscilla Achakpa has dedicated her life to addressing the interconnected crises of environmental degradation, gender inequality, energy poverty, and climate injustice in Nigeria and beyond. Through WEP, she has shown that environmental protection cannot be separated from the lived realities of women, especially rural women whose survival depends directly on natural ecosystems. Her work reflects one of ecofeminism’s central truths: th...

In a world often overwhelmed by climate headlines and environmental anxiety, stories of grounded, human-centered leadership matter more than ever. One such story is that of Dr. Eliane Ubalijoro, a scientist, educator, and changemaker whose work across Africa shows that environmental conservation is about protecting land and more about empowering people. Dr. Ubalijoro’s journey began in science, with a background in molecular genetics. But over time, her work expanded beyond the laboratory into communities, policies, and ecosystems. What makes her approach stand out is simple but powerful: she doesn’t separate environmental challenges from social realities. Instead, she sees them as deeply connected. Whether addressing soil degradation, biodiversity loss, or climate resilience, her work consistently centers the idea that solutions must include and uplift the people most affected. Conservation, in her vision, is not imposed; it is co-created. Dr Eliane as the CEO of Center for Internatio...

In a quiet stretch of forest in southern Nigeria, something remarkable happened. A species thought to have been lost to time called the short-tailed roundleaf bat was rediscovered. What makes this story powerful is not about the animal. It’s about the woman who refused to let that rediscovery become a silent footnote. Meet Iroro Tanshi  Africa’s winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2026, often called the “Green Nobel.” Iroro Tanshi is the kind of conservationist who studies wildlife in proximity to it. She shows up boots on the ground, listening to both the forest and the people who live beside it. As a conservation ecologist, her work took her into the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary , where she helped confirm the existence of a rare bat species once feared extinct. This news was only the beginning. She noticed something troubling. It was not about time or predators but it was fire. Human-caused wildfires were creeping into the sanctuary, threatening to erase not just ...

Are you a woman engaged in environmental advocacy? Whether you are an academic researcher, a rural farmer, or a community leader, your story matters! Why share your story? - Inspire others with your journey in protecting the environment. - Highlight the unique challenges and successes of women in sustainability. - Amplify your voice as a changemaker in your field. 📩 Send us an email at ecofemtales@gmail.com to share your story and join a community of women shaping a greener future. Your voice deserves to be heard, let's inspire change together!

  In the world of environmental thought, few voices bridge activism, scholarship, and social justice as effectively as Greta Gaard. An influential ecofeminist writer, educator, and activist, Gaard has spent decades exploring how environmental issues are deeply connected to gender, ethics, and power. Greta Gaard is an American ecofeminist scholar known for her work in literature, environmental justice, and feminist theory. She teaches English and environmental studies, and her writing often examines how systems of oppression such as sexism, racism, and environmental exploitation are interconnected. Her work sits at the intersection of ecology and social justice , helping readers understand that environmental problems are not just scientific or technical issues, but also ethical and political ones. Gaard is one of the leading voices in ecofeminism , a movement that links the domination of nature with the oppression of women and other marginalized groups. She argues that: Enviro...