“Do No Harm” in theory and in practice: Exploring the fine line between benefiting and harming local communities in development
01 July 2022
LANDac International Conference 2022 Session Summary
NA passes Bill for effective conservation and management of natural resources
27 June 2022
The National Assembly (NA) on June 24 adopted the Forest and Nature Conservation Bill of Bhutan 2021 with 38 ‘Yes’, and two “ No” votes and two abstained.
Chairperson of the Environment and Climate Change Committee, Gyem Dorji, said that the Act, which was enacted in 1995, was not amended for more than two decades.
“During these years, the forest department was guided by executive orders and notifications, which were incorporated into rules, regulations, and guidelines,” he said.
Land transformation implemented in Lulong, China's Hebei
28 June 2022
Banner image: Aerial photo taken on June 27, 2022 shows villagers working in terraced fields in Huojiagou Village of Shimen Town in Lulong County, north China's Hebei Province. Recent years Lulong County has implemented the land transformation of barren hills and wild grass land into terraced fields. Farming facilities including field paths and drainage channels have been constructed to improve agricultural production conditions. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The DRC has been described as “a rich country of poor people”. It covers an area of 2,345,410 km². It has a population of some 89 million people and a surface area equivalent to that of Western Europe. It is the largest country by area
In the Mekong Delta, sand mining means lost homes and fortunes
23 June 2022
Known as the rice basket of the country, the delta now sees houses tumbling into rivers and livelihoods lost
When a riverbank subsided and gave way, Tran Van Bi’s house collapsed into a river in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta four years ago. Everything his family had accumulated over 32 years was gone in an instant.
They gave up homes and livelihoods for Bangladesh's longest bridge. How are they doing now?
24 June 2022
Just over a decade ago, Shajahan Bepari made a living by farming paddy and jute on a small scale and selling poultry reared on his 0.15-acre land in Shariatpur's Zajira.
But then, the government came calling as plans for the construction of a hitherto elusive bridge over the Padma gained steam.
Shajahan soon parted with his land and a place to call home for a sum that was one and a half times higher than its market value.
No! In Their Own Words: What indigenous people against the River Club development have to say
26 June 2022
The controversial River Club site in Cape Town, where giant international retailer Amazon plans to build a South African headquarters, has been embroiled in a protracted legal battle – with rival indigenous groups campaigning for and against the development. Here are the voices of indigenous communities against the development.
Huge victory for Kenya’s Ogiek as African Court sets major precedent for indigenous peoples’ land rights
Angola
Angola is the third-largest country in sub-Saharan Africa, with a population of 32 million people. The capital city Luanda has a population of over 8 million people and is the fifth-largest city in Africa. Angola is still struggling to
Cabo Verde: ‘Unprecedented’ food insecurity triggers social and economic emergency
24 June 2022
The island nation of Cabo Verde is facing record levels of food insecurity due to drought, the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine, affecting some 181,000 people, or 32 per cent of the country, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported on Thursday.
Recent hard-won gains in food security and nutrition are at risk, the UN agency said, forcing the government this week to declare a social and economic emergency.