Empowering women-led grassroots groups in Aceh Province, Indonesia

Women in Aceh, Indonesia, are reshaping grassroots environmental activism by stepping into leadership roles traditionally dominated by men. In the face of ongoing ecological threats and social barriers, two community-based groups, LPHD Damaran Baru and United Women Beutong (PBB), demonstrate how women are driving forest conservation through advocacy, restoration, and institutional innovation. Supported by the local organisation HAkA, these groups have pioneered approaches that combine customary knowledge, legal literacy, and inclusive governance. The experiences from both groups reveal key methods for strengthening women-led environmental movements: fostering grassroots institutional development, engaging men as allies in both practice and decision-making, and crafting public narratives that balance visibility with community cohesion. While recognition can empower, it can also disrupt internal dynamics if not community-led. Lessons from LPHD Damaran Baru’s early successes and challenges have informed more adaptive and inclusive strategies in the formation of PBB. Together, these case studies offer practical insights into building resilient, gender-inclusive conservation movements in socially complex landscapes.