The recognition of land rights for indigenous people is crucial for the preservation of lives and livelihoods around the world. Today, an estimated 2.5 billion people depend on indigenous and community lands, however only approximately one fifth of this land is legally owned by indigenous people. As competition over the use of lands and control of natural resources is increasing, the issue of land rights adds a further dimension of complexity to countries efforts towards economic growth. In response, governments, financial institutions, and developmental agencies are working together to foster collaboration across all sectors in order to strengthen the rights of indigenous communities particularly where land and natural resources are concerned.

In Central America, FAO and the World Bank have promoted inclusive policies on land tenure through the  Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT) and the Land Governance Assessment Framework (LGAF), addressing in particular, the nexus between natural resources management, climate smart agriculture and indigenous peoples.

http://www.fao.org/investment/newsandmeetings/news/detail/en/c/418928/