Strategic objective K.2. Integrate gender concerns and perspectives in policies and programmes for sustainable development Actions to be taken 256. By Governments: (a) Integrate women, including indigenous women, their perspectives and knowledge, on an equal basis with men, in decision-making regarding sustainable resource management and the development of policies and programmes for sustainable development, including in particular those designed to address and prevent environmental degradation of the land; (b) Evaluate policies and programmes in terms of environmental impact and women’s equal access to and use of natural resources; (c) Ensure adequate research to assess how and to what extent women are particularly susceptible or exposed to environmental degradation and hazards, including, as necessary, research and data collection on specific groups of women, particularly women with low income, indigenous women and women belonging to minorities; (d) Integrate rural women’s traditional knowledge and practices of sustainable resource use and management in the development of environmental management and extension programmes; (e) Integrate the results of gender-sensitive research into mainstream policies with a view to developing sustainable human settlements; (f) Promote knowledge of and sponsor research on the role of women, particularly rural and indigenous women, in food gathering and production, soil conservation, irrigation, watershed management, sanitation, coastal zone and marine resource management, integrated pest management, land-use planning, forest conservation and community forestry, fisheries, natural disaster prevention, and new and renewable sources of energy, focusing particularly on indigenous women’s knowledge and experience; (g) Develop a strategy for change to eliminate all obstacles to women’s full and equal participation in sustainable development and equal access to and control over resources; (h) Promote the education of girls and women of all ages in science, technology, economics and other disciplines relating to the natural environment so that they can make informed choices and offer informed input in determining local economic, scientific and environmental priorities for the management and appropriate use of natural and local resources and ecosystems; (i) Develop programmes to involve female professionals and scientists, as well as technical, administrative and clerical workers, in environmental management, develop training programmes for girls and women in these fields, expand opportunities for the hiring and promotion of women in these fields and implement special measures to advance women’s expertise and participation in these activities; -107-