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The document analyzes the Brazilian Forest Code through the lens of property rights theory, arguing that the gap between formal laws (de jure) and actual practice (de facto) creates uncertainty that hinders environmental protection. It traces the historical path dependence of Brazilian land ownership, which resulted in extreme concentration of wealth and power. The author links insecure property rights to several 'pathologies,' including land conflicts, the absence of tenancy markets, and increased deforestation in the Amazon. The paper concludes that for the Forest Code to succeed, the government must provide credible signals to converge de facto and de jure rights and reduce transaction costs for compliance.

The document examines the Vegetable Oil Development project (VODP) in Uganda, a partnership involving the Government of Uganda, IFAD, Wilmar International, and Bidco. It reports that the project has led to the displacement of local communities, the destruction of approximately 3,600 hectares of forest, and increased food insecurity. The report highlights violations of national land and environmental laws, the lack of required Environmental Impact Assessments, and the fact that production targets far exceed domestic needs, suggesting a focus on exports over local food security.

Wilmar International, a major global palm oil producer, is accused of systemic environmental and human rights violations despite its stated CSR strategy. The document details specific land-grabbing and deforestation cases in Indonesia, Nigeria, and Uganda, and lists the major banks and pension funds providing financial support. It highlights the gap between the ESG policies of these financiers and the reported actions of Wilmar, noting that the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global divested from the company in 2012 due to sustainability concerns.

The document details the activities of Vietnamese rubber companies HAGL and VRG in Cambodia and Laos, alleging systemic land grabbing, illegal deforestation, and human rights abuses. It highlights the role of international financiers, including Deutsche Bank and the IFC, in supporting these operations and calls for urgent government and financial interventions to stop illegal concessions and hold the companies accountable.

The Mining Zone Peoples’ Solidarity Group has petitioned the Indian government to stop iron ore mining in the Khandadhar mountain range in Odisha. The group argues that mining by companies such as POSCO and Kalinga Commercial Corporation Limited (KCCL) is causing severe environmental damage, including the pollution of the Khandadhara waterfall and the destruction of vital elephant corridors. The petition highlights the threat to the Pauri Bhuiyan, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group, asserting that mining activities and forced displacement constitute 'ethnocide' and violate the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The report examines the increasing pressure on Indonesia's land resources due to national development plans and palm oil expansion. It proposes the use of Natural Capital Assessment (NCA)—a process of mapping social, biophysical, and economic data—to identify land suitable for production while protecting critical ecosystems. The document outlines NCA principles based on the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, reviews various technical mapping tools, and provides case studies from Kalimantan and Trinidad & Tobago to illustrate the necessity of combining technical data with political commitment to achieve sustainable land-use changes.

The briefing explores how natural capital assessment (NCA) can help Indonesia resolve tensions between short-term economic gains and long-term environmental and social health. It highlights a 'window of opportunity' created by legal developments, such as Law No. 32/2009 and Constitutional Court ruling MK45, and the need for low-carbon development. The text details the principles of NCA—relevance, credibility, and legitimacy—and reviews technical tools like WRI's Suitability Mapper, which identified 3.3 million hectares of potentially suitable degraded land for oil palm in Central Kalimantan. It concludes that technical data alone is insufficient without the political will and commitment of local decision-makers to integrate these findings into spatial planning.

The document provides a comprehensive overview of energy subsidies in Thailand, detailing the mechanisms used to subsidize LPG, NGV, diesel, electricity, and biofuels. It argues that while these subsidies aim to ensure affordability, they often disproportionately benefit higher-income groups, encourage wasteful consumption, and create fiscal strain on the government and state-owned enterprises. The guide outlines the negative impacts of these subsidies, such as fuel smuggling and environmental degradation, and suggests reform strategies based on international experience, emphasizing the need for market-based pricing and targeted social assistance.

The document details a participatory vulnerability assessment conducted between 2011 and 2012 in the Tri-National de la Sangha (TNS) landscape of Cameroon. It identifies that local populations face increasing vulnerability due to erratic rainfall patterns and shifting seasons, which primarily impact agricultural production and food security. While livelihood diversification and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) provide essential safety nets, the report highlights a weakness in collective action for social infrastructure. To strengthen adaptive capacity, the authors suggest improving NTFP commercialisation, introducing alternative livelihoods like apiculture, enhancing agricultural yields to reduce forest pressure, and implementing participatory monitoring of deforestation.

The assessment identifies that the village of Atom is highly vulnerable due to a combination of unpredictable rainfall, forest degradation, and a lack of alternative livelihoods. While traditional shifting cultivation provides some flexibility, the loss of labor due to urban migration and restrictions on hunting in protected areas have weakened local resilience. The document recommends implementing climate-smart agriculture and improving market linkages to enhance food security and adaptive capacity.

The document examines the link between charcoal use for cooking and heating in Lusaka, Zambia, and the resulting climate risks, including loss of shade trees and increased water runoff. It suggests that reducing charcoal dependence through locally produced improved cookstoves, solar water heating, and electricity tariff restructuring for the poor can mitigate these risks and improve community adaptation to climate change.

Odey Oyama, director of the Nigerian Rainforest Resource Development Centre (RRDC), is facing life threats and has been placed on a government watch list after opposing a 50,000 hectare palm oil plantation established by Wilmar International in Cross-River State, Nigeria. The RRDC alleges that Wilmar claimed land belonging to local farmers and protected forests, and began planting without local consent or a proper Environmental Impact Assessment. The RRDC is preparing a lawsuit against the company and the government for failure to comply with Nigerian laws.

The study finds that Resolution 3.545, which conditioned rural credit on environmental compliance, significantly reduced deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon Biome. By restricting access to subsidized credit, the policy prevented the clearing of over 2,700 km2 of forest between 2009 and 2011, primarily affecting livestock-oriented regions where producers are more credit-constrained.

The document assesses how Resolution 3,545, which conditioned rural credit on environmental compliance, reduced deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. It finds that the policy led to a significant reduction in credit, particularly for cattle ranching, which in turn prevented over 2,700 km2 of forest clearing. The study highlights that cattle ranchers are more credit-constrained than crop farmers, suggesting that financial resource availability directly influences deforestation rates in the region.

The study finds that Resolution 3.545, which required proof of environmental compliance for rural credit, significantly reduced deforestation in the Amazon Biome. The policy prevented the loss of over 2,700 km² of forest by restricting approximately R$ 2.9 billion in credit. This effect was most pronounced in cattle-ranching municipalities, suggesting that livestock producers are more credit-constrained and dependent on subsidized loans to expand production into forested areas compared to agricultural producers.

The study finds that Resolution 3.545, which conditioned rural credit on environmental compliance, effectively reduced deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon by restricting funds, particularly for large-scale cattle ranching. Between 2008 and 2011, the policy led to a reduction of approximately 2.9 billion BRL in rural credit, preventing the clearing of over 2,700 km² of forest. The impact was most significant in cattle-dominated municipalities, suggesting that ranchers are more credit-constrained and dependent on subsidized loans for land expansion than crop farmers.

The report examines the re-emergence of malaria in the western Kenyan highlands, driven by a combination of rising temperatures, rainfall patterns, and socio-economic factors. It finds that the population's vulnerability is very high due to low immunity, high poverty, and limited adaptive capacity at the local level. The document recommends strengthening the health system, improving early-warning systems for epidemics, and enhancing cross-sectoral collaboration between health, climate, and disaster management agencies.

The document analyzes the rise of atmospheric CO2, which reached a record high of over 400 ppm in May 2013, and discusses the resulting climate impacts and the necessity of immediate mitigation to avoid dangerous warming.

The report details a land grabbing crisis in Cambodia and Laos driven by Vietnamese companies Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) and the Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG). These companies are accused of bypassing legal land limits through shell companies, clearing intact forests, and displacing indigenous communities without adequate compensation. The document highlights the role of international financiers, specifically Deutsche Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), in bankrolling these operations despite their public commitments to sustainability. It concludes that the lack of binding international frameworks allows such companies to operate with impunity, facilitated by corrupt political elites in the host countries.

The report details a workshop in Addis Ababa focused on the nexus of climate change adaptation and peacebuilding in Africa. It emphasizes that climate change exacerbates resource scarcity and conflict, necessitating 'conflict-sensitive' adaptation planning. The proceedings cover the application of the 'Do No Harm' (DNH) framework, the USAID Climate Change and Conflict Annex, and the role of population dynamics—particularly youth bulges and rapid urbanisation—in increasing vulnerability. Through a site visit to Sululta, Ethiopia, the report highlights the gap between conceptual tools and practical implementation. It concludes with recommendations to integrate conflict assessments into National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and to sustain a multidisciplinary community of practice to influence policymakers and donors.