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This international statement, issued by Friends of the Earth International and various social movements, criticizes the emergence of corporate-focused guides that reinterpret the 2012 Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT). The authors argue that these guides shift the focus from human rights to business risk management, inappropriately transfer state responsibilities to private investors, and promote a false equivalence between corporations and marginalized communities.

This international statement, published by Friends of the Earth International and signed by various social movements and civil society organizations, criticizes the emergence of operational guides that adapt the UN's Voluntary Guidelines for the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT) for the benefit of private investors and corporations. The authors argue that these guides shift the focus from human rights to commercial risk management, inappropriately transfer state governance responsibilities to private actors, and promote a false parity between corporations and marginalized communities.

This international statement, published by Friends of the Earth International and signed by numerous social movements and NGOs, criticizes the emergence of corporate-focused guides for implementing the UN's Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT). The authors argue that these guides shift the focus from human rights and the needs of marginalized communities to the business interests and risk management of private investors, effectively facilitating 'corporate capture' of natural resources.

This technical annex assesses progress toward Goal 10 of the New York Declaration on Forests, which focuses on strengthening forest governance, transparency, the rule of law, and the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs). The report utilizes three primary indicators: the strength of institutions and policies in producer and consumer countries, the prevalence of illegal logging and related violence, and the formal recognition of land and forest rights for IPLCs.

This report summarizes a February 2015 midterm review meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, regarding an international project led by Natural Justice and the Heinrich Böll Foundation. The project, which began in July 2013, examines the development and use of biocultural community protocols (BCPs) to help Indigenous peoples and local communities safeguard their rights and interests when engaging with extractive industries and infrastructure development.

This report, published by Natural Justice and Namati, synthesizes strategies and lessons from a 2013 symposium of 20 expert advocates working to protect community lands and natural resources across Africa. It provides a practitioner-focused guide to confronting threats such as state-driven mega-projects, large-scale land concessions, and exclusionary conservation. The document emphasizes the importance of community self-definition, the use of biocultural community protocols, and the necessity of multi-pronged advocacy strategies that combine legal education, community mobilization, and strategic engagement with government and media.

This case study examines the restoration of 500,000 hectares of woodland in the Shinyanga region of Tanzania between 1986 and 2004. The restoration was achieved through the HASHI program, which revived the traditional Sukuma practice of 'ngitili' (enclosures) to combat desertification caused by large-scale cash-crop cultivation and inappropriate land use.

This report by Natural Justice provides a comprehensive review of Mozambique's legal and policy frameworks regarding the rights of local communities and indigenous peoples to land and natural resources. It examines the tension between progressive laws, such as the 1997 Land Law, and a trend toward 're-concentration' of power by the State to facilitate large-scale extractive and agricultural investments. The document highlights systemic failures in community consultation, the marginalization of community-based natural resource management (CBNRM), and the impact of resettlement projects in the mining sector.

This case study examines Mexico's development of a National Safeguards System (SNS) and a Safeguards Information System (SIS) for REDD+, highlighting the tension between national implementation and the need for clearer international guidance from the UNFCCC and the World Bank.

This guide, published by Friends of the Earth International, warns forest communities about the risks associated with REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) and other forest conservation projects. It argues that these market-based mechanisms often lead to 'deterritorialization,' loss of cultural identity, and the erosion of community sovereignty through restrictive, long-term contracts.

This prevention manual by Friends of the Earth International warns forest communities against signing REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) and other forest conservation contracts. The guide argues that these market-based mechanisms often lead to 'deterritorialization,' loss of cultural identity, and the surrender of sovereignty to external corporations through deceptive contracts that restrict traditional land use for decades.

This precautionary guide by Friends of the Earth International warns forest communities against signing REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) and other forest conservation contracts. It argues that these market-based schemes often lead to deterritorialization, loss of sovereignty, and the erosion of traditional cultures by imposing restrictive conditions on land use and granting disproportionate power to external companies.

This guide, published by Natural Justice in May 2014, provides an introduction to the social and environmental safeguards and standards associated with REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). It is designed for forest-dependent communities and facilitators to help them understand international frameworks, identify their rights and responsibilities, and engage in national safeguard development processes to mitigate risks such as land dispossession and ensure equitable benefit sharing.

This 2014 submission from a coalition of civil society organizations provides critical feedback to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) on its proposed accreditation system, fiduciary standards, and environmental, social, and gender safeguards. The authors argue that the current framework relies too heavily on the IFC Performance Standards, which they claim do not represent international best practice, and that safeguards lack the detail and mandatory rigor applied to fiduciary standards. The submission advocates for a "do no harm" approach, the adoption of an exclusion list for high-risk activities, and a differentiated accreditation process based on the risk level of proposed projects.

This guide provides a ten-step framework for parliamentarians, government officials, and local communities to negotiate agricultural investment contracts with foreign investors from a sustainable development perspective. It emphasizes the importance of preparatory data, independent feasibility studies, and legally binding environmental and social obligations to avoid the negative impacts often associated with large-scale land acquisitions.

This report provides a legal and institutional analysis of Indigenous Peoples' and Local Communities Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCAs) in Kenya. It examines the intersection of national legislation, international law, and customary practices across various ecosystems, including pastoralist rangelands, forests, and coastal marine areas. The document highlights the transition from 'trust land' to 'community land' under the 2010 Constitution as a pivotal reform for securing collective tenure and supporting community-led conservation efforts.

This report analyzes the legal and institutional framework of Indigenous Peoples’ and Community Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCAs) in Senegal. It details the transition from state-led conservation to decentralized governance, the role of Communal Natural Reserves (RNCs) and sacred sites, and the challenges regarding formal recognition and sustainability of community-led conservation efforts.

This report analyzes the legal and institutional frameworks in Canada as they relate to Indigenous Peoples' Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCAs). It examines the tension between Canadian state law—characterized by a history of colonialism and assimilation—and the inherent rights of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples to govern their traditional lands and resources.

This report analyzes the legal and institutional frameworks governing Indigenous Territories and Community-Conserved Areas (ICCAs) in Malaysia, with a primary focus on Sabah. It examines the tension between traditional customary land rights (adat) and state-led economic development, particularly the expansion of oil palm plantations and logging. The document details the potential for integrating community-led conservation into formal protected area networks and reviews landmark court cases in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak that have shaped the recognition of native title.

This report analyzes the legal and institutional frameworks governing Indigenous Peoples’ and Local Communities Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCAs) in the Philippines. It examines the tension between the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997 and other state laws, such as the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992, highlighting how the 'Regalian Doctrine' often undermines community land rights and local governance.