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LAND GRAB OR DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY?
AGRICULTURAL INVESTMENT AND INTERNATIONAL LAND DEALS IN AFRICA
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May 2009 - A joint IIED- FAO- IFAD publication. The first detailed study of large scale land acquisitions in Africa analyses the modalities and likely impacts. The study highlights the possible opportunities (investments, rising agricultural productivity and rural incomes, if things are managed well) and warns about the risks (uncompensated loss of land rights for the rural poor) if contracts are not properly negotiated and enforced. It makes recommendations to the main stakeholders to make this new trend useful for food security and rural development.
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GOOD PRACTICE EXAMPLES FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION IN CUBAN AGRICULTURE
FINAL PROJECT REPORT
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May 2009 - Assistance to Improve Local Agricultural Emergency Preparedness
in Caribbean Countries Highly Prone to Hurricane Related Disasters (TCP/ RLA/3101). The vulnerability of the Caribbean region to hydro- meteorological hazards such as hurricanes, floods, drought, high magnitude rainfall and related hazards such landslides is underscored. The recurrent impacts of these events have wreaked havoc on environment, economy and society throughout the region. Although the contribution of agriculture to Caribbean regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has steadily declined over the last two decades, this sector has remained a major employer of labour and as such a main player in the livelihood profile of the region. The extreme vulnerability of the agricultural sector to a variety of hazards/disaster has been a perpetual focus of hazard/disaster management and interventions in the Caribbean. Over the past decade, the FAO has regular responded to the relief/rehabilitation/reconstruction needs of the sector in the aftermath of hurricane-related disasters.
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LAND REFORM, LAND SETTLEMENT AND COOPERATIVES
2008/1
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May 2009 - Compulsory acquisition (or “expropriation”) is when a government uses its power to acquire private rights in land without the owner’s or occupant’s willing consent. The process is intended to benefit society and is frequently used to enhance social and economic development and to protect the natural environment. The appropriate use of compulsory acquisition necessitates ensuring a balance between the public need for land on the one hand and the provision of land tenure security and the protection of private property rights on the other. It is an inherently disruptive process. Even with generous compensation and fair and efficient procedures, the displacement of people from established homes, businesses and communities entails significant human costs. Where the compulsory acquisition process is badly designed or poorly implemented, the economic, social and political costs can be enormous. Attention to its procedures is critical if a government’s exercise of compulsory acquisition is to be efficient, fair and legitimate.
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SMALL-SCALE BIOENERGY INITIATIVES:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION AND PRELIMINARY LESSONS ON LIVELIHOOD IMPACTS
FROM CASE STUDIES IN ASIA, LATIN AMERICA AND AFRICA
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May 2009 - Final report. This report is based on a series of 15 international case studies conducted between September and November 2008 under a joint initiative of FAO and the Policy Innovation Systems for Clean Energy Security (PISCES) Energy Research Programme Consortium funded by DFID. The case studies focussed on developing an improved understanding of the linkages between Livelihoods and Small-Scale Bioenergy Initiatives. The study was developed in consultation with the PISCES Consortium Advisory Group. This is made up of leading international participants in the field of energy and development, including members from the IEA, UNEP, ENERGIA, DFID and FAO, as well as policymakers and research organisations in the PISCES target countries of India, Kenya, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. The focus of the study was on the impacts that different types of local level Bioenergy initiatives can have on Rural Livelihoods in different contexts in the developing world. Livelihoods are understood as the enhancement of the full range of natural, financial, human, social and physical capitals on a sustainable ongoing basis.
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LAUNCH OF NEW GFAR WEB SITE
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May 2009 - The Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) has launched its new web site. The site contains an extensive document repository, featuring over 1,000 publications from GFAR and it's Regional Fora dealing with important areas of focus such as both new and learned methods of research, innovation, regional research priorities and more. Members of “e-GFAR” are able to participate in Forum debates, post news items and also submit reports, papers and other information regarding agricultural research on this site.
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THE STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOSAFETY IN BELARUS
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May 2009 - As part of the former Soviet Union, Belarus was a major food producer, particularly of meat and dairy products. However, since gaining independence in 1991, it hardly instituted any structural reforms in the agricultural sector, largely retaining the former system of subsidised collective and state farms. Agricultural production generally declined following independence, but over the last six years, yields have stabilised and even increased in some instances. Private smallholdings contribute significantly to agricultural production. Following the nuclear accident at Chernobyl in 1986, a sizeable area of the productive agricultural land and forest remains contaminated with radioactive fallout. Belarus is a signatory to several international agreements on issues of biosafety and while it has introduced substantial national legislation in this regard, there are, as yet, no transgenic crop varieties grown in the country. Research on genetic engineering of plants, animals and microorganisms is relatively undeveloped and there is room for considerable capacity building. Facilities for field testing and monitoring release of GMOs in the environment are in need of upgrading.
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COMPULSORY ACQUISITION OF LAND AND COMPENSATION
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May 2009 - FAO Land Tenure Studies 10. Compulsory acquisition is the power of government to acquire private rights in land without the willing consent of the owner or occupant in order to benefit society and is often necessary for social and economic development and the protection of the natural environment. The exercise of these powers is frequently contentious and problematic. The guide explains what compulsory acquisition and compensation are, and what constitutes good practice in this area, examining the consequences of poor legislation, procedures and implementation. It is likely to be of most use in countries that are seeking to understand good practice in this area and to improve their own legislation, procedures and implementation in compulsory purchase and compensation in the interests of society as a whole.
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GOVERNANCE OF TENURE OF LAND IN CENTRAL AFRICA
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May 2009 - Land Tenure Working Paper 7. This document points out common problems that exist in the governance of land tenure in central African countries. It underlines that corruption, a weak rule of law and misuse of power are the main challenges for good governance.
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GOVERNANCE OF TENURE OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
SITUATION IN WESTERN AFRICA
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May 2009 - Land Tenure Working Paper 6. This document assesses the state of governance of tenure of land and other natural resources in Western Africa. It compares national politicies, legislations and practices with the main standards and criteria of good governance. The study identifies challenges of governance. It also recognises the good practices and the recent initiatives undertaken in favour of responsible governance of tenure of land.
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FOODCLIMATE E-NEWSLETTER
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May 2009 - Welcome to the fourth issue of FAO's e-newsletter on Climate Change and Food Security published on the occasion of the FAO Committee on Agriculture. This update includes announcements of FAO's upcoming events on climate change, information on the outcomes of various international meetings, such as the Climate Change talks in Bonn, Germany, the UN-REDD programme's first policy board meeting and other conferences held with FAO's participation. Special focus is given to climate change adaptation in Bangladesh and to gender and climate change issues in India. Also featured in this issue are presentations of publications recently added to the FAO Climate Change web portal as well as useful new on-line tools.
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LAND TENURE WEB SITE
New look and feel
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March 2009 - The land tenure web site has a new look and feel – we invite you to visit the site. We hope that it will be easier for our readers to navigate the new site and find the information they seek. The other natural resources topics will be updated in the coming months, followed by a new look and feel for the Natural Resources Management and Environment home page.
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