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The report examines the Watershared model, which uses local negotiations and non-economic incentives to encourage upstream landowners to protect forests for the benefit of downstream water users. Unlike national PES schemes, Watershared relies on social norms and local consensus, allowing participation from those without formal land titles and reducing bureaucratic overhead. In Bolivia, the model expanded from six farmers in 2003 to 4,500 families conserving 210,000 hectares by 2016. The approach is presented as a tool for climate compatible development, integrating mitigation through forest protection and adaptation through secured water supplies.

The document outlines the severe risks faced by environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs), particularly indigenous people and women in the Americas and Cambodia. It identifies the root causes of these threats as the prioritization of profit from resource extraction and large-scale development over community rights and environmental health. The authors argue that a legally binding regional agreement based on Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration is essential to guarantee access to information, public participation, and justice in Latin America and the Caribbean to protect EHRDs and hold both State and corporate actors accountable.

The proposal seeks USD 20,546,756 in grant financing to implement Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) across 10,000 hectares in The Gambia. The project aims to restore degraded forests, savannas, and agricultural landscapes to increase the supply of climate-resilient natural resources and establish community-managed businesses. It targets 11,550 direct beneficiaries, with a focus on women, and intends to integrate EbA into national policies and local land-use planning to catalyze a paradigm shift toward a green economy.

The document is an open letter from several international organisations urging President Varela of Panama to stop test flooding at the Barro Blanco Hydroelectric Power Plant. The authors argue that the flooding threatens the safety and sacred lands of Ngäbe communities, specifically Kiad, Nuevo Palomar, and Quebrada Caña, and violates international human rights law regarding free, prior and informed consent.

The document analyzes the 2012 and 2013 riots in Mtwara, Tanzania, arguing that violent mobilization was fueled by 'dashed expectations' and perceptions of unfair treatment by the government. While the Mtwara and Lindi regions have been objectively marginalized since independence, the study finds that the feeling of being 'robbed' and the decision to pipe gas to Dar es Salaam were primary drivers of unrest. The authors suggest that providing basic public goods and realistic information via local radio can mitigate conflict risks in other emerging petro-states in Africa.

The document examines the systemic marginalisation of African communities affected by mining, highlighting the gap between official policy and the reality of environmental degradation, forced relocation, and health hazards. It details specific tools for empowerment, such as community protocols in Kenya and Zimbabwe, paralegal interventions in Sierra Leone, and strategic litigation regarding silicosis in South Africa. The text emphasizes the disproportionate burden on women and the necessity of moving beyond narrow legal definitions of 'indigenous peoples' to protect all customary landholders through the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).

The document examines the complexities of land tenure in Africa, highlighting the tension between customary and statutory systems. It argues that while formal titling is a long-term goal, the immediate priority should be adapting informal systems to provide legal security, improving state administrative capacity, and addressing gender-based barriers to land ownership to foster economic development and reduce conflict.

Friends of the Earth International issued a statement on International Women's Day 2016 to protest the murder of Berta Cáceres, an indigenous Lenca leader and environmental justice activist in Honduras. The organization denounces the Honduran government for aiding transnational corporations in the appropriation of community territories and for the persecution of peaceful dissent. The statement links environmental justice to the end of violence against women and calls for an independent investigation into Cáceres' assassination, an end to impunity, and a stop to paramilitary activities in Honduras.

Friends of the Earth International issues a statement on International Women's Day 2016 to protest the murder of Berta Cáceres in Honduras. The organization denounces the Honduran government for its role in facilitating the appropriation of common goods by transnational corporations and for the repression of peaceful opposition. The statement links environmental justice to the end of violence against women, arguing that both nature and women's labor are exploited within a patriarchal, capitalist, and racist system. It calls for an independent international investigation into Cáceres' death and an end to the persecution of indigenous rights defenders.

The report identifies that women in northern Namibia face higher vulnerability to climate change due to socially constructed gender roles, limited access to productive resources, and cultural norms that restrict their decision-making power. It highlights significant disparities in land and livestock ownership, where cattle are viewed as 'man's property', and notes that female-headed households experience higher rates of extreme poverty and food insecurity. The assessment argues that climate change is not gender-neutral, as women's roles in water collection and subsistence farming increase their exposure to risks, while their lack of technical skills and limited mobility hinder their adaptive capacity compared to men.

Nigel Sizer reviews five years leading WRI's forest program, highlighting the creation of Global Forest Watch and the Global Restoration Initiative. He notes the role of technology in monitoring deforestation and the commitment of private sector companies to deforestation-free supply chains. Looking forward, he identifies the need for scalable solutions, improved certification standards, and expanded land rights for indigenous communities and poor farmers.

The report examines how migration into the Misotshi–Kabogo ecosystem in the eastern DRC, driven by conflict and economic opportunity, is causing significant deforestation and biodiversity loss. It recommends the formal establishment of Ngamikka National Park with a zoned approach to balance conservation with local livelihood needs.

The guide outlines a framework for negotiating farmland and water investment contracts, emphasizing the primacy of domestic law over contracts and international treaties. It provides a comprehensive preparation checklist and a model contract containing clauses on land rights, environmental and social impact assessments, financial obligations, and community development agreements. The document warns against 'stabilization clauses' and advocates for transparency and rigorous investor screening to mitigate the high failure rate of large-scale agricultural projects.

The document examines the complex hybrid of customary and statutory landholding systems across Africa, utilizing data from the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It highlights that while weak property rights hinder economic growth and agricultural productivity, the administrative costs and institutional limitations of full formal titling make it an impractical immediate solution. Instead, the author proposes a gradual approach: strengthening informal tenure security, improving state administrative capacity through computerization, and investing in rural infrastructure to boost land value and productivity.

The fact sheet highlights the systemic instability of rural property rights in Brazil, noting that the country ranks 76th out of 129 countries in property rights security. It links this uncertainty to increased deforestation, as clearing forest is used to prove land productivity to avoid expropriation. The document also connects land disputes to violence, citing 770 land-related homicides between 1994 and 2015 and Brazil's position as a global leader in murders of environmental and land rights activists. Institutional failures contributing to the problem include a lack of georeferencing before 2004, poor integration between the 11 federal agencies managing property rights, and the prevalence of 'grilagem' (land grabbing), with suspected grilagem affecting 23% of the state of Pará.

The document explains the mechanisms of Brazil's 2012 Forest Code, specifically the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) and the Environmental Compliance Program (PRA). It argues that while the law provides tools for monitoring and restoration, effective implementation requires the active engagement of the private sector, financial institutions, and government agencies to move beyond mere legality toward zero net deforestation and degradation.

The document criticizes the trend of transforming the VGGT from a human rights-based framework into a corporate tool for risk management and 'greenwashing'. It argues that guides produced by entities like USAID and the G7 New Alliance shift state responsibilities to the private sector, legitimize land grabbing, and falsely equate the power of corporations with that of local communities. The signatories call for states to implement the VGGT in line with human rights obligations, establish a robust monitoring mechanism within the Committee on World Food Security (CSA), and adopt a legally binding instrument for corporations regarding human rights.

The statement criticizes recent guides developed by agencies like USAID and the Interlaken Group that frame the VGGT as a tool for corporate risk management and corporate social responsibility. The authors argue that this 'multi-stakeholder' approach wrongly transfers state duties—such as identifying tenure rights and resolving conflicts—to private investors, thereby legitimizing land grabs and ignoring power asymmetries. They call for states to enact laws regulating transnational corporations, ensure free prior and informed consent, and establish a robust monitoring mechanism within the UN Committee on World Food Security.

The document examines the risks of using agricultural soil carbon sequestration as carbon offsets. It highlights technical failures in measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV), the non-permanence of biological carbon compared to fossil carbon, and social risks such as land grabbing and the marginalization of small-scale farmers. The author argues that 'Climate Smart Agriculture' often serves as greenwashing for agribusiness corporations. Instead of carbon markets, the report recommends using National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) to prioritize food security, tenure rights, and sustainable rural livelihoods.

A coal mining concession in Kenya's Mui Basin, awarded to Chinese companies, threatens the livelihoods of approximately 100,000 people in Kitui County through large-scale evictions and environmental risks. The project disproportionately affects women, who face health risks from water pollution and limited decision-making power over land. Despite a 2015 court ruling in favor of the government, the court mandated greater community consultation and participation regarding compensation and resettlement.