Grassroots environmental movements led by marginalised women have played a transformative role in shaping ecological resistance across the world. This study undertakes a comparative analysis of four such movements: the Chipko Movement in India, the Green Belt Movement in Kenya, the TIPNIS Indigenous Women’s Mobilisation in Bolivia, and the Didipio Anti-Mining Movement in the Philippines. Using intersectional and ecofeminist perspectives, the research examines the leadership strategies, mobilisation patterns, and collective actions undertaken by women situated at the intersections of gender, class, caste, ethnicity, indigeneity, and rural marginalisation.

The analysis highlights how women’s everyday interactions with forests, land, and natural resources have historically positioned them as frontline defenders against extractive development, deforestation, and environmental degradation. Across regions, women’s activism emerges not only as a defence of ecological landscapes but also as a pursuit of autonomy, cultural continuity, and socio-economic justice. The study further evaluates the varied impacts of these movements—ranging from community empowerment and reforestation initiatives to temporary policy victories and shifts in environmental governance. Despite differing political contexts, the movements share common challenges, including state repression, resource scarcity, gendered exclusions, and structural inequalities. 

 By comparing these four movements, the research identifies cross-cultural patterns of resistance and the unique ways in which marginalised women frame environmental justice through lived experiences. The findings underscore the significance of “grassroots green feminism” as a conceptual lens for understanding how women’s collective environmental action shapes both ecological protection and social transformation. This comparative inquiry contributes to broader discussions on inclusive environmental policymaking and the critical role of women’s leadership in global ecological movements.