The joint East Asia Pacific (EAP) and South Asia (SAR) Regional Workshop highlighted the importance of strengthening land tenure to achieve a sustainable and inclusive future. The event was part of the broader theme “Breaking Barriers: Access to Land and Poverty Reduction and Climate Resilience,” focusing on regional experiences and innovations in land management.

The session explored the challenges at the intersection of customary and statutory land governance in the context of climate change, emphasizing perspectives from diverse regions. Discussions highlighted the complexities of managing land resources under dual systems, where traditional authorities and formal legal frameworks often coexist and sometimes conflict. Participants shared experiences from both Anglophone and Francophone contexts, with a focus on how traditional knowledge and formal regulations can be reconciled to address climate change impacts.

The session examined the intricate challenges that arise when customary and statutory land governance systems intersect, particularly under the pressures of climate change. Insights from multiple regions illuminated the complexities involved in managing land resources where traditional authorities and legal frameworks coexist, occasionally leading to conflicts. Participants contributed perspectives from both Anglophone and Francophone regions, highlighting the delicate balance between traditional knowledge systems and formal regulations.

The session examined the vital connection between land rights and intergenerational dynamics, focusing on the role of youth within Indigenous Peoples and local communities across Asia, Africa, and Latin America in climate action. Participants explored how limited access to land and resources, as well as restricted participation in agriculture, impacts young people's involvement in rural areas. These challenges have driven youth migration to urban centers and contributed to an aging rural population, threatening local agriculture, food security, and traditional climate practices.

The session examined innovative approaches to empower rural and Indigenous women through secure land rights, emphasizing the vital role of women in climate mitigation and adaptation. It highlighted the persistent barriers that women face in land ownership and control, which impact their economic security, adaptation capacity, and participation in decision-making processes related to land and climate.

The session examined the dynamics of Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) markets, with a focus on integrating community perspectives into the voluntary carbon market (VCM), particularly in the context of REDD+ initiatives. Recent years have seen a surge in PES, driven by net-zero goals and market opportunities, but concerns have emerged over carbon colonialism, as millions of hectares in the Global South, often inhabited by Indigenous Peoples and local communities, become targets for carbon sequestration due to low costs and insecure tenure.

The session centered on safeguarding tenure rights across land, forests, and fisheries, emphasizing their importance in ensuring equitable access to resources amid climate change. The discussion was anchored by an analysis of the Voluntary Guidelines on Land, Forests, and Fisheries Tenure, illustrating how a tenure-based approach can enhance resource access and resilience for vulnerable communities.

The session focused on the relationship between land tenure security and community-driven conservation as vital elements in the fight against climate change. The initial presentation reviewed the state of evidence on nature-based interventions, emphasizing their role in climate resilience and mitigation. A key topic was the significance of secure local and Indigenous land tenure for sustainable environmental management, underlining how community control over resources fosters long-term conservation.

The session explored innovative investment models aimed at transforming agrifood systems by prioritizing both land and people, with a focus on sustainable and equitable practices. Highlighting two key projects—Transformative Land Investments (TLI) and Mekong Region Land Governance (MRLG)—the discussion showcased their efforts to drive global change by integrating responsible investment with agendas around land tenure, climate resilience, and sustainable food systems.

The session focused on the critical role of inclusive and transparent land governance in fostering climate resilience, particularly in the context of Africa’s ongoing struggles with the impacts of climate change. Recognizing land as a foundational element for economic, environmental, and social stability, the discussion centered on the need for people-centered land governance and secure tenure to support community adaptation to climate challenges.

The session explored the intersection of Indigenous Peoples' and Local Communities' tenure rights, livelihoods, and conservation, emphasizing the importance of rights-based approaches (RBAs) in achieving sustainable development and conservation outcomes. The discussion began with a global review by CIFOR-ICRAF on the implementation of RBAs in development and climate action projects, identifying critical success factors and challenges, alongside a set of recommendations for improving project design and execution.

The session examined the integration of Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to enhance resilience in communities vulnerable to climate-related challenges such as floods and droughts. The discussion opened with welcoming remarks that set the stage for understanding the interconnected nature of CCA and DRR in the context of increasing climate variability.