Abstract ID: 3.10623 | Accepted as Talk | Requested as: Talk | TBA | TBA

Mountain regions have unique climate vulnerabilities (e.g. drought, landslides), making the role of female farmers even more critical in promoting sustainable agricultural practices and climate change adaptation. The support and impact of female farmers in these challenging areas will be essential as they gain more influence in the agricultural landscape. Despite their significant contributions, female farmers in mountain regions are often underrepresented in policy strategies and community participation. In this paper we identify the challenges and opportunities of gender-transformative adaptation strategies for mountainous regions of Austria, Switzerland, and California. Qualitative data from 43 interviews with female farmers in livestock farming illustrates that despite the similarities in terms of topography and agricultural sector there are differences across the countries in terms of resource allocation, agency and achievements. Gender-transformative change may interpreted as a process, that is shaped by culture and needs context-specific interpretation on facilitating or impeding factors at the individual, farm/ household and community level. The main barriers are rooted in well-known gender disparities such as traditional gender norms, unequal decision-making power, and lack of access to resources like land and time at the individual level. The conclusion drawn from our findings suggest that the empowerment of female farmers in mountainous regions and the integration of gender-transformative policies are essential for a climate-adapted and sustainable agricultural future in these climate-vulnerable environments.