ABSTRACT
The recognition of women as repository of indigenous knowledge, added a new dimension to the debate and the women’s role in the protection of environment, were highlighted. Thus, begins the journey of women, environment and development linkages that continues today as gender, environment and sustainable development. The context and meaning of development have been changing with time having significant outcomes for different nations and different categories of people. Efforts towards inclusion of gender and environment in conjunction with development are of recent origin. In the international discourse, the gender, environment and development linkage is a phenomenon of mid 1980s. In 1980s, a more holistic perspective called ‘gender and development’ emerged which, going beyond women, took into consideration the social construction of gender and the roles played by men and women. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
