Grain releases data set with over 400 global land grabs grain. Others are more cautious, speaking of largescale land acquisitions, while the world bank notes euphemistically the rising global interest in farmland. Climate change and land grabbing in africa environmental law. Since 2000, foreign governments and corporations have bought or leased over 56 million hectares in africa, an area almost the size of kenya. For example, it shows that almost nine percent of africas total area of arable land has changed owners since 2000. Kenyas tale of land owners and squatters, of political families that own entire counties as rewards for political deals with the departing colonialists remain an open sore during electoral campaigns. Primary and secondary data on land acquisitions in africa is scarce and often of limited reliability. Since 2009, the land matrix, a joint independent landmonitoring initiative of civil society, intergovernmental organizations and research institutes, has collected key information regarding land grabbing. Ethiopia is heavily affected by this and the government is currently.
By some estimates, nearly 35 million hectares of land in 66 countries have been purchased by foreign investors since 2006. Is land policy the solution to land grab in africa. It confirms that africa is the primary target of the land grabs, but it also underlines the. While used broadly throughout history, land grabbing as used in the 21st century primarily refers to largescale land acquisitions following the 200708 world food price crisis. Land grabbing in kenya and mozambique fian international. Nevertheless a picture is emerging of largescale land acquisitions in africa. The limits of international and national legal instruments. Global map of land grabs by country and by sector each country that is shaded represents where a land grab has occurred. According to grain, since 2006, there have been 416 land grabs in 66 countries covering nearly 35 million hectares.
Report from the guardian and data from land matrix, global land project, oakland institute, grain. The procasur corporation in africa in collaboration with the international fund for agricultural development ifad have partnered with the international land coalition, international livestock research institute ilri, the land portal foundation and resource conflict institute reconcile to present the learning initiative. The eff has taken responsibility for most, if not all land grabs that are currently taking place in the province, saying that it is fulfilling it land redistribution programme that is the pillar. To support this process, the land matrix has four regional focal points in africa, asia, eastern europe and latin america which assist with data collection, research, advocacy, networking, and communication, as well as the establishment of national land observatories in selected countries. Grain grain releases data set with over 400 global land. Land grabbing crises in asia and africa are closer than you think. A definition of land grabbing is suggested along with the reasons for the recent surge in land grabbing due to the financial crisis and the boom in agrofuels. In this part, we will outline the motivations and key players driving these investments. Stop africa land grab the global movement to rollback. A parliamentarian response to land grabs july 2122, 2011 pan african parliament, midrand, south africa report from the seminar on foreign investment in agricultural land and water, organized by the pan. Odusola over the past decade, largescale land acquisition in africa has become quite intense. On july 2017, a passage through the fences surrounding a large land leased by vale was blocked by a construction machine digging trenches.
Land grabbing and impacts to smallscale farmers in southeast asia subregion 1. Jan 28, 2016 the impact of land grabbing in ethiopia is manifested through five interconnected factors that the regime has designed to sustain its military, political and economic powers in order to protect its brutal and savage governance system for the next quarter or half a century. That area represents a remarkable two percent of arable land in the world. This article explores the impact of land grabbing in ethiopia and examines the human rights and sustainable development frameworks within which land grabbing takes place. The dominion farms land grab in nigeria farmers in taraba state refuse to give up their lands for massive rice plantation project backed by the g8 centre for environmental education and development an affiliate of the federation of young green. Displacement and dispossession through land grabbing in mozambique. The stories that china was now a land grabber in africa seemed to make sense. A definition of land grabbing is suggested along with the reasons for the recent surge in land grabbing due to. The collection of cases cover nearly 35 million hectares of land in 66 countries, providing a stark snapshot of how agribusiness is expanding across the globe and how it is taking food production out of the hands of farmers and local communities. President approves land grab deal with herakles farms.
The debate over large scale land investments in africa is shifting its focus away from the disastrous impact of land grabs on the social fabric of the communities to the need for african governments to deal with citizens outrage over land expropriation by developing a land policy. South africa sets date for white farmers land grab months after announcing test case to see if expropriation without compensation is legal national assembly voted in favour of the set up of. Malema assures whites land grabbing will be a peaceful. Land grabbing is the contentious issue of largescale land acquisitions. In the 2000s, africa became a grabbers hotspot, following global concerns over food security and fuel supplies. Hunger, food security, and the african land grab ethics.
Based on data in table s1 but considering only 24 major grabbed countries as in table 1. For example, it shows that almost nine percent of africa s total area of arable land has changed owners since 2000. Land, with its available water potential, was acquired by a wide range. Since 2008, civil society groups and transnational networks have drawn attention to one discrete source of conflict that is on the rise in the wake of resource scarcity.
The first detailed study of large scale land acquisitions in africa analyses the modalities and likely impacts. The phenomenon of large scale land acquisition has increased in recent years. Pdf on jan 1, 2010, cecilie friis and others published land grab in africa. Rapidly increasing demand for palm oil for food and agrofuels is currently leading to a new wave of largescale planting in africa. The term land grabbing is defined as very largescale land acquisitions, either buying or leasing. According to a 2011 publication by nuwire investor, one hectare 2. In spite of the existing yield gaps, press releases about land grabs, especially chinese land acquisitions in africa, have boomed recently, especially since the sharp increase in international. The worlds population will likely reach nine billion by 2050, and africa could help feed it. Establishing communal land registration in namibia. Nov 05, 2015 in spite of the existing yield gaps, press releases about land grabs, especially chinese land acquisitions in africa, have boomed recently, especially since the sharp increase in international. Subsequently, the brief gives an overview of important land.
Land grabbing is widely assumed to be happening only in the global south, but indepth analysis by a team of researchers shows that land grabbing is also creeping in europe. Feb 23, 2012 grain launches a new data set documenting 416 recent, largescale land grabs by foreign investors for the production of food crops. Jan 26, 2016 according to a 2011 publication by nuwire investor, one hectare 2. They were relocated to distant villages, at times even 40 km away from the markets in moatize, with agricultural land of uneven quality and unreliable access to water. Land grabbing in af rica and the new politics of food introduction africa is for sale is how some characterise it. Land concentration, land grabbing and peoples struggles in europe. There is a current debate regarding the effects of large international investors buying or leasing land in poor countries. While the covid19 pandemic threatens the health of indigenous peoples in brazils amazon, pressure over their traditional lands is increasing as grileiros individuals who illegally seize land sense an opportunity to exploit the crisis. South africa sets date for white farmers land grab daily. South africa sets date for white farmers land grab. The cost of land grabbing in mozambiques tete province. The results discussed below will create a road map for further action across the continent.
What effect does land grabbing have on local people. After all, china has 9 percent of the worlds arable land, 6 percent of its water and over 20 percent of its. Land grabbing is a global issue involving largescale leasing or buying of land in developing countries by trans and multinational corporations, often without proper free, prior and informed consent pfpic of landowners, and through dealings with corrupt governments. This phenomenon is called land grabbing, the new form of colonization of developing countries many of which in africa has reached new heights in. This interactive global map of land grabs created by varun mangla circle of blue is. Grain launches a new data set documenting 416 recent, largescale land grabs by foreign investors for the production of food crops. Introduction and general account on land grabbing this paper is part of a research on land grabbing in southeast asia subregion conducted by local action links local act, thailand. Innovative practices and tools to reduce land use conflicts between.
Jan 28, 2015 the debate over large scale land investments in africa is shifting its focus away from the disastrous impact of land grabs on the social fabric of the communities to the need for african governments to deal with citizens outrage over land expropriation by developing a land policy. Land grabbing in africa and the new politics of food. How the ifc profits from land grabbing in africa april 2017 by inclusive development international in collaboration with. Land grabbing and impacts to small scale farmers in. Sep 26, 20 eff leader julius malema has sought to assure white people that genocide would not be committed if land grabbing did take place in south africa. Implications for land rights and livelihoods in southern africa research update background this project investigates the multiple pressures towards the commercialisation of land in southern africa specifically the leasing, concessions or sale of public and communal lands to foreign. The scale and impact of land grabbing for agrofuels foreword contents and foreword foreword 3 executive summary and recommendations 4 map showing examples of land grabbing 6 1. Grain grain releases data set with over 400 global land grabs. Indeed, these have been part of the reality but there have also been successes, which have thus far gone largely unrecorded. Land grabbing is the term used to describe the acquisition leasing or purchasing of arable lands in developing countries by other countries or public or private companies aiming at food security in their home countries, fuel supplies or as investment. Both will be assessed with a view to their impact on propoor sustainable development. Land grabbing in africa, the new colonialism this is africa.
Jun 25, 2010 the subject of transnational land acquisitions, infamously referred to as land grabbing, has increasingly become an important policy concern in africa as acquisitions have grown in scale and number. This region is part of the guinean forests of west africa, identified as a biodiversity hotspot one of the worlds top 25 critical areas for biodiversity conservation. More than 4,000 reports of land grabs from farmers were recorded in 2012, indicating the scope of land grabbing in myanmar. Eight years after releasing its first report on land grabbing, which put the issue on the international agenda, grain publishes a new dataset documenting nearly 500 cases of land grabbing around the world. A growing population has led to agriculture growing as an even bigger business. Largescale land acquisitions are widespread in africa. Images of chaos, destruction and violence have dominated the coverage. Specific home and hostcountry policies, cheap land, the lack of a legal infrastructure, investment opportunities and the promise of quick profit returns are the driving factors behind land acquisitions throughout africa, argues nikolaj nielsen in this weeks pambazuka news. A report issued jointly by the groups polaris and the oakland institute entitled land grab leaves africa thirsty, warns that if all the 40 million hectares of land that were acquired on the continent in 2009 come under cultivation, a staggering volume of water would be required for irrigation. Lifting the veil on the world bank groups lending through financial intermediaries part 4. Pdf the popular term land grabbing, while effective as activist. A land grab is defined by grain as a largescale land purchase or lease made by foreign investors. A parliamentarian response to land grabs making investment work for africa. Online public database on land deals the land matrix is a global and independent land monitoring initiative that promotes transparency and accountability in decisions over land investments.
Assessing the volume of foreign land interests in africa 7. What do we know about the chinese land grab in africa. In october 2008, grain published a report called seized. Oct 07, 2010 the world bank report on large scale land acquisitions recently revealed dramatic increase of investor interest in agricultural land since the 2008 food price spike, with reported farmland deals. The scale and impact of land grabbing for agrofuels. Nearly threequarters of the projects have now begun production on some of the land. The effects of colonial era land grabbing are not only visible in south africa. This website is an open tool for collecting and visualising information about largescale land acquisitions at global, regional and national level.
The subject of transnational land acquisitions, infamously referred to as land grabbing, has increasingly become an important policy concern in africa. According to the pnas study, the land grabbing phenomenon has already claimed some 203 million acres, or about. Africa remains the largest target for land grabs, accounting for 42 percent of global deals with 10 million hectares under contract. Displacement and dispossession through land grabbing in. In its introductory part the report puts these case studies in the context of land grabbing. After consultation with the african farmers regional platforms, three studies that relate to aaa were. Land grabbing conflicts in myanmar ecc factbook ecc library. In order to properly assess what policies are intentionally or unintentionally fostering land grabbing, it is necessary to look into other policy fields interacting with land grabbing such as land policies, investment protection regimes, and trade policies.
The article argues that a human rights approach is fundamental to reconcile the sustainable development imperatives of economic development and environmental protection in the. To eliminate tenure insecurity in the communal areas, the government of namibia had introduced the registration of land rights in the communal areas through the communal land reform act, act no. Over the past several years, grain staff and allies in different regions have been tracking media and other information sources on a daily basis and posting reports on land grab developments. Located in southwest cameroon, the herakles plantations would cover most of the land linking five important protected areas, including korup national park. Land grabs in africa the issue over the last decade, the amount of land purchased by foreign investors in developing countries has increased dramatically. Mapping the spatial disconnect between global biomass production and. Odusola over the past decade, largescale land acquisition in africa.
The data set is available in html below and in xls and pdf formats. Holes in international law mean we have very little way of ensuring that our supply chains and savings dont link us to land that has been illegally or violently taken. The study highlights the possible opportunities investments, rising agricultural productivity and rural incomes, if things are managed well and warns about the risks uncompensated loss of land rights for the rural poor if contracts are not properly negotiated and enforced. Dec 09, 2018 south africa sets date for white farmers land grab months after announcing test case to see if expropriation without compensation is legal national assembly voted in favour of the set up of. Land grabbing, sustainable development and human rights.
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