The first detailed study of large scale land acquisitions in africa analyses the modalities and likely impacts. In its introductory part the report puts these case studies in the context of land grabbing. Africa remains the largest target for land grabs, accounting for 42 percent of global deals with 10 million hectares under contract. That area represents a remarkable two percent of arable land in the world. Mapping the spatial disconnect between global biomass production and. Lifting the veil on the world bank groups lending through financial intermediaries part 4. Land grabbing in af rica and the new politics of food introduction africa is for sale is how some characterise it. What effect does land grabbing have on local people. 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. A parliamentarian response to land grabs making investment work for africa.
Report from the guardian and data from land matrix, global land project, oakland institute, grain. Establishing communal land registration in namibia. Land grabs in africa the issue over the last decade, the amount of land purchased by foreign investors in developing countries has increased dramatically. The term land grabbing is defined as very largescale land acquisitions, either buying or leasing. Africa is a particular focus for this investment explosion because of the perception that there is plenty of cheap land and labour available, as well as a favourable climate, mr. President approves land grab deal with herakles farms. Malema assures whites land grabbing will be a peaceful. 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. The article argues that a human rights approach is fundamental to reconcile the sustainable development imperatives of economic development and environmental protection in the. Since 2009, the land matrix, a joint independent land monitoring initiative of civil society, intergovernmental organizations and research institutes, has collected key information regarding land grabbing. It confirms that africa is the primary target of the land grabs, but it also underlines the.
By some estimates, nearly 35 million hectares of land in 66 countries have been purchased by foreign investors since 2006. 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. Bank information center accountability counsel urgewald oakland institute 3 outsourcing development. Climate change and land grabbing in africa environmental law. After consultation with the african farmers regional platforms, three studies that relate to aaa were. While clearly the continent which is witnessing the larger scale of land grabbing is africa, similar extensive take over of large tracks of land by foreign investors have also been taking place in asia, latin america, and the former soviet countries. Ethiopia is heavily affected by this and the government is currently. 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. Land grabbing, sustainable development and human rights. 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. 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. Land grabbing conflicts in myanmar ecc factbook ecc library. The worlds population will likely reach nine billion by 2050, and africa could help feed it.
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 daily. The current conflict situation following policy reforms regarding land acquisition and distribution rights in 2012, a commission was established by the government under the auspice of the farmers affairs committee. In the 2000s, africa became a grabbers hotspot, following global concerns over food security and fuel supplies. 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.
Land grabbing and impacts to smallscale farmers in southeast asia subregion 1. Jan 26, 2016 according to a 2011 publication by nuwire investor, one hectare 2. The hidden aspects of water grabbing do not just make it a very slippery terrain, but also imply that largescale land acquisitions all around africa actually can be understood as water grabbing. 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. 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. 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. For example, it shows that almost nine percent of africas total area of arable land has changed owners since 2000.
Based on data in table s1 but considering only 24 major grabbed countries as in table 1. How the ifc profits from land grabbing in africa april 2017 by inclusive development international in collaboration with. 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. Grain grain releases data set with over 400 global land.
For the past two years we have been tracking the voracious land grab that is unfolding across much of the twothirds world including africa. This interactive global map of land grabs created by varun mangla circle of blue is. Each country that is shaded represents where a land grab has occurred. European involvement in land grabbing with a particular look at uganda. Largescale land acquisitions are widespread in africa. The stories that china was now a land grabber in africa seemed to make sense. Land grabbing in kenya and mozambique fian international. 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. There will always be a demand for food, and this has led to the rich and big businesses taking control of rural communities. Images of chaos, destruction and violence have dominated the coverage. 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.
Grain releases data set with over 400 global land grabs grain. A growing population has led to agriculture growing as an even bigger business. Global map of land grabs by country and by sector each country that is shaded represents where a land grab has occurred. 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. 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 limits of international and national legal instruments. According to grain, since 2006, there have been 416 land grabs in 66 countries covering nearly 35 million hectares. South africa sets date for white farmers land grab. 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.
The subject of transnational land acquisitions, infamously referred to as land grabbing, has increasingly become an important policy concern in africa. More than 4,000 reports of land grabs from farmers were recorded in 2012, indicating the scope of land grabbing in myanmar. 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. Displacement and dispossession through land grabbing in. Grain launches a new data set documenting 416 recent, largescale land grabs by foreign investors for the production of food crops.
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. Pdf on jan 1, 2010, cecilie friis and others published land grab in africa. Land grab israels settlement policy in the west bank the peace process between israel and the palestinians did not lead to the dismantling of even one settlement, and the settlements even grew substantially in area and population during this period. Located in southwest cameroon, the herakles plantations would cover most of the land linking five important protected areas, including korup national park. The paper examine land grabbing in sudan, and its implication on small farmers and food security. Land grabbing in africa, the new colonialism this is africa. This phenomenon is called land grabbing, the new form of colonization of developing countries many of which in africa has reached new heights in. Primary and secondary data on land acquisitions in africa is scarce and often of limited reliability. There is a current debate regarding the effects of large international investors buying or leasing land in poor countries. On july 2017, a passage through the fences surrounding a large land leased by vale was blocked by a construction machine digging trenches. 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. Odusola over the past decade, largescale land acquisition in africa. Grain grain releases data set with over 400 global land grabs. 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.
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. Indeed, these have been part of the reality but there have also been successes, which have thus far gone largely unrecorded. A definition of land grabbing is suggested along with the reasons for the recent surge in land grabbing due to. Land grabbing and impacts to small scale farmers in. Land grabbing is c learly linked to the longterm insecurity of land rights in africa indeed this is the pri me reason that many deals have been abl e to go ahead in the first place, without. 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, with its available water potential, was acquired by a wide range. 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. 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. The results discussed below will create a road map for further action across the continent. Stop africa land grab the global movement to rollback. Land grabbing in africa and the new politics of food.
Odusola over the past decade, largescale land acquisition in africa has become quite intense. 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. 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. 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 concentration, land grabbing and peoples struggles in europe. The phenomenon of large scale land acquisition has increased in recent years. Rapidly increasing demand for palm oil for food and agrofuels is currently leading to a new wave of largescale planting in africa. Assessing the volume of foreign land interests in africa 7.
The cost of land grabbing in mozambiques tete province. In october 2008, grain published a report called seized. Innovative practices and tools to reduce land use conflicts between. Land grabbing is the contentious issue of largescale land acquisitions. According to a 2011 publication by nuwire investor, one hectare 2. 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. 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. What do we know about the chinese land grab in africa. For example, it shows that almost nine percent of africa s total area of arable land has changed owners since 2000.
Subsequently, the brief gives an overview of important land. In this part, we will outline the motivations and key players driving these investments. 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. 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. Hunger, food security, and the african land grab ethics. 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. 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. Is land policy the solution to land grab in africa. Others are more cautious, speaking of largescale land acquisitions, while the world bank notes euphemistically the rising global interest in farmland. A land grab is defined by grain as a largescale land purchase or lease made by foreign investors.
Both will be assessed with a view to their impact on propoor sustainable development. This website is an open tool for collecting and visualising information about largescale land acquisitions at global, regional and national level. 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. Since 2000, foreign governments and corporations have bought or leased over 56 million hectares in africa, an area almost the size of kenya. Displacement and dispossession through land grabbing in mozambique. After all, china has 9 percent of the worlds arable land, 6 percent of its water and over 20 percent of its. 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. 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. Feb 23, 2012 grain launches a new data set documenting 416 recent, largescale land grabs by foreign investors for the production of food crops. Pdf the popular term land grabbing, while effective as activist. The scale and impact of land grabbing for agrofuels. 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. Land grabbing crises in asia and africa are closer than you think. According to the pnas study, the land grabbing phenomenon has already claimed some 203 million acres, or about.
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