FAO and its development partners are working together with countries to prepare Voluntary Guidelines that will provide practical guidance to states, the private sector, civil society, academia, donors and development specialists on the responsible governance of tenure. By setting out principles and internationally accepted standards for responsible practice and associated technical guidance, the Voluntary Guidelines will provide a framework and point of reference that stakeholders can use when developing their own policies and actions.

This document is the first part of a two part manual on local level assessment of land degradation and sustainable land management:
? Part 1 ? Planning and Methodological Approach, Analysis and Reporting
? Part 2 ? Field Methodology and Tools

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), Germany, IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development), Finland, GTZ (Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit), UN-Habitat, World Bank and UNDP, and IPC (International NGO/CSO Planning Committee for Food Sovereignty), Food First International Action Network (FIAN), ILC (International Land Coalition), FIG (International Federation of Surveyors) and other development partners are working together with countries to prepare Voluntary Guidelines that will provide practical guidance to states, civil society, the private se

Throughout the rural world, land provides a primary source of income, food security, cultural

identity and shelter. It also serves as a fundamental asset for the economic empowerment of

the poor and provides a safety net in times of hardship.

Land degradation is a serious problem that crosses national borders, ecological zones and

socio-economic levels. It can be especially devastating for the world’s poorest people living

in dryland areas. The Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands (LADA) project, executed

by FAO with funding from UNEP, GEF and others, assesses the causes and impacts of

land degradation at global, national and local levels in order to detect hot spots and identify

remedial measures. LADA approaches land degradation as a biophysical, social, economic

One out of every three people on earth is in some way affected by land degradation. Latest

estimates indicate that nearly 2 billion ha of land worldwide – an area twice the size of China

– are already seriously degraded, some irreversibly. This includes large areas of cropland,

grassland, woodland and forest areas whose degradation reduces productivity, disrupts vital

ecosystem functions, negatively affects biodiversity and water resources, and increases

vulnerability to climate change.

Paper presented at the meeting "Afforestation and Sustainable Forests as a Means to Combat Desertification", Jerusalem, Israel, 16-19 April 2007

The European Union and FAO are

working more closely than ever

before. Partnership has strengthened

both organizations in achieving their

shared goal of eradicating extreme

poverty and hunger.

Foreign acquisitions of farmland in Africa and elsewhere have become the focus of concern. Many observers consider them a new form of colonialism that threatens

food security of the poor. However, investments could

be good news if the objectives of land purchasers are

reconciled with the investment needs of developing

countries.

The problematic relationship between land tenure, food security and conflict has recently generated a considerable body of research. Land disputes are increasingly recognised as dynamic processes that are generated by (perceived) land tenure insecurity. Conflicts, however, can also lead to intensified struggle for land, especially when politico-military elites seek to consolidate their power base and reward their supporters by extending control over land as part of their war strategies.

The current volume presents the Proceedings of an important meeting entitled "Regional Expert Consultation on Land Degradation, Plant, Animal and Human Nutrition: Inter-relation and Impact". This scientific gathering managed to have a group of soil scientists/plant nutrition specialists, animal nutrition and medical doctors/human nutrition specialists to discuss these inter-related issues.

This article brings together key lessons from the Northern Cape Land Reform Project in which FARM-Africa works with the South African Government to support six poor Northern Cape communities that have benefited from the Government's Land Reform Programme.