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This guide details the methodology used by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to assess how member states of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) implement the IGF Mining Policy Framework (MPF). The process identifies strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in national mining policies to inform capacity-building and monitor progress.

This guide provides a 10-step framework for parliamentarians, officials, and local communities to negotiate investment contracts for agricultural land and water with foreign investors, focusing on sustainable development and the protection of local rights.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that traditional natural resource management has failed and that African nations should adopt Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes and economic valuation to protect their natural assets, which are critical for poverty reduction and livelihoods.

This report, authored by the Association of Indigenous Village Leaders in Suriname (VIDS), analyzes the legal and institutional frameworks in Suriname regarding Indigenous Peoples' and Local Communities' Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCAs). It concludes that the state fails to legally recognize indigenous and tribal peoples as collectivities or acknowledge their collective rights to traditional lands and resources. This legal vacuum, combined with discriminatory legislation and the prioritization of 'public interest' for state-issued concessions, severely undermines the ability of these communities to govern their territories and conserve biodiversity. The report highlights a significant gap between international human rights standards—including a landmark judgment by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in the Saramaka case—and national implementation.

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.

This report analyzes the legal and institutional framework surrounding Territories and Areas Conserved by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (ICCAs) in Taiwan. It examines the tension between traditional indigenous stewardship and a centralized state management system, highlighting the lack of explicit legal recognition for ICCAs despite recent legislative steps like the Basic Act of Indigenous Peoples.

The Regulations for the Proper Administration of Nature Reserves, published on 8 February 2012 under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003, establish a legal framework for the management, conservation, and use of nature reserves in South Africa. The document outlines the powers of management authorities, rules for public access, restrictions on biological resource use, and penalties for non-compliance.

The Climate and Development Research Review is an executive summary of a meta-synthesis of 572 research papers published between January 2010 and August 2011. It identifies four primary themes in climate-compatible development: decision-making under uncertainty, natural resource management, climate finance, and the low-carbon transition. The document emphasizes the need for adaptive, people-centered policies grounded in local realities to avoid 'maladaptation' and the necessity of systemic public policy changes to achieve a low-carbon transition.

Biocultural Community Protocols: A Toolkit for Community Facilitators is a comprehensive guide published by Natural Justice in 2012. It provides Indigenous peoples and local communities with a framework to document their customary laws, values, and decision-making processes into 'biocultural community protocols'. These instruments are designed to help communities secure their rights and territories, manage interactions with external actors (such as governments, researchers, and companies), and advocate for the stewardship of their collective biocultural heritage.

This research paper examines the marginalisation of the environmental sector in Uganda, highlighting the disconnect between the economic reliance of the rural population on natural resources and the lack of budgetary support for their preservation. It details the rapid loss of forests and wetlands, the drivers of deforestation, and the resulting social conflicts arising from 'degazetting' protected lands for industrial and agricultural use.

This guide, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in 2011, provides a framework for conservation professionals and NGOs to integrate conflict sensitivity into their work. It outlines how conservation activities can inadvertently trigger or exacerbate conflicts, how they are affected by violent conflict, and how they can be leveraged to support peacebuilding. The manual offers a three-step process for organizational adoption and a practical methodology for analyzing and responding to conflicts in the field.

This report presents the proceedings of a workshop held on June 1–2, 2010, at the Stockholm Resilience Centre. The event brought together approximately 35 scholars to explore the role of social learning in environmental change, governance, and sustainability, focusing on its application across diverse contexts such as natural resource management, climate change adaptation, and formal education.

This field report details a December 2006 workshop designed to pilot the 'Conflict Sensitivity in Conservation (CSC) Manual' using conflict scenarios from Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) in Uganda. The report documents the application of conflict analysis tools—including conflict trees, conflict mapping, and stakeholder analysis—to identify and prioritise natural resource-based conflicts, their root causes, and potential entry points for intervention by conservation and development organisations.

The Conflict-Sensitive Conservation Practitioners’ Manual, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in 2009, provides a framework for conservation NGOs and protected area authorities to integrate conflict sensitivity into their operations. The guide aims to help practitioners minimize the risk of inadvertently exacerbating conflicts and maximize opportunities for peacebuilding, particularly in conflict zones where natural resources can be both a source of tension and a foundation for stability.

This practitioner's guide, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), provides a framework for integrating conflict sensitivity into conservation activities. It aims to help NGOs and protected area managers minimize the risk of inadvertently exacerbating conflicts and maximize opportunities for peacebuilding, particularly in volatile regions where natural resource management often intersects with social and political tensions.

These regulations, published under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003, establish the administrative and operational framework for special nature reserves, national parks, and world heritage sites. They detail prohibitions on biodiversity disturbance, rules for biological resource use, access controls, commercial activity restrictions, and the establishment of advisory committees and management plans.

This briefing by Friends of the Earth International argues that the World Trade Organization's (WTO) 'non-agricultural market access' (NAMA) negotiations pose significant risks to the global environment and the economic development of developing nations by promoting the liberalisation of natural resources and the removal of non-tariff barriers.

This research paper, authored by Rachel Goldwyn and Jason Switzer, critiques existing impact assessment tools used by the extractive industry—specifically Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Social Impact Assessments (SIA), and political risk analysis—from a conflict-sensitive perspective. It argues that while these tools are standard, they often fail to identify or mitigate the drivers of violent conflict. The authors propose the development of a Conflict-Sensitive Business Practice (CSBP) toolbox to integrate conflict analysis into the project lifecycle, helping companies minimize their contribution to violence and contribute to peacebuilding.

A statement from the Center for International Environmental Law and partner organizations urging the U.S. Congress to oppose the U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) due to its perceived threats to environmental protections and public health.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FOEI) examines how multilateral trade negotiations within the World Trade Organization (WTO) could negatively impact the rights of Indigenous Peoples, specifically regarding territorial rights, traditional knowledge, and the management of protected areas and natural resources.