“Insecure land tenure affects the ability of people, communities and organisations to make changes to land that can advance adaptation and mitigation” |IPCC special report on climate change and land.
The climate and biodiversity crises are the gravest threats facing the planet. We’re in an emergency. Yet many of the solutions lie right underneath us, in how land is governed and managed. When rural people have access to and control over their land, they are more likely to be empowered to make climate smart decisions, and have incentives to invest in resilient infrastructure and sustainable land management practices.
LEARN HOW ILC MEMBERS ARE SECURING LAND TENURE AND ADVANCING MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION.
IPLC’S CRUCIAL ROLE IN CLIMATE ACTION
How can local communities contribute to the ecosystem restoration and also better manage natural resources that they use for their livelihood? And what is the connection between secure land rights and effective climate action?
ILC TOOLKIT: LOCALLY MANAGED ECOSYSTEMS
This toolkit gathers information on seven tools that have been successfully used by ILC members to enable the role of local land users in territorial and ecosystem management.
land rights for climate change mitigation
Mitigation refers to reducing climate change by lowering the levels of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, for example by enhancing the “sinks” that accumulate and store these gases (such as the oceans, forests, and soil).
Securing land and territorial rights is one of the most cost-effective ways of mitigating climate change as no new solutions are needed. Indigenous peoples and local communities already have the tools and knowledge. An added plus are the benefits of biodiversity conservation, protecting rivers, coastlists, rangelands and peatlands. Having secure land and territorial rights also allows Indigenous peoples, local communities, pastoralists and small-scale farmers to protect their land against land use change, driven primarily by agriculture and resource extraction.
PROTECTING TERRITORIES FOR CONSERVATION AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE [ECUADOR]
The Mojanda–Cajas Lake Complex in the Ecuadorian Andes is an area of moorland with high value for conservation and the provision of ecosystem services - now highly affected by climate change. The local government, together with ENI Ecuador, carried out a participatory process to promote territorial governance, help conserve the ecosystem and maintain water sources.
CREATING A GRASSROOTS INSTITUTION FOR COMMON FOREST RESOURCES MANAGEMENT [INDIA]
Van Utthan Sansthan (VUS) protects and manages 67,000 hectares of forestland in more than 240 villages in Udaipur (Rajasthan, India) under Joint Forest Management (JFM). VUS successfully engages tribal communities to work together to protect forests by improving common land and forest resources governance.
A TRADITIONAL NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM [INDONESIA]
Learn more about Sasi, is a 400 year old traditional conservation system and natural resource management concept that is effective in regulating resources use in indigenous communities, solving conflicts and protecting vulnerable groups such as women and children.
SUSTAINABLE WETLAND MANAGEMENT STRENGTHENS RESILIENCE AND LAND TENURE [UGANDA]
Small-scale farmers have employed strategies to strengthen their land tenure, use wetlands sustainably and conserve the environment through the adoption of sustainable land-use practices. This case underscores the importance of community-driven and participatory planning processes in promoting the sustainable management of natural resources for enhanced food security and livelihoods.
JOINT FOREST MANAGEMENT FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF FOREST RESOURCES [KOSOVO]
After successfully advocating with the government of Kosovo for the approval of a new forest strategy, based on participatory management of forest resources, NAPFO supported the implementation of Joint Forest Management in local communities.
land rights for climate change adaptation
Adaptation is about adapting to life in a changing climate. The goal is to reduce our risks from the effects of climate change- like sea-level rise, more intense extreme weather events, or food insecurity, to name a few.
When indigenous peoples, local communities, small-scale farmers and pastoralists have secure land rights, they have the security to apply their unique knowledge for climate change adaptation, such as through grazing rotation and sustainable water management. Having secure land rights allows local communities to have a seat at the table and a voice when it comes to developing and implementing climate change adaptation policies. It also reduces the chances of being removed from land as a result of external adaptation policies (such as programmes for carbon offsetting) without compensation and the opportunity for redress.
GREEN WATER HARVESTING RESTORES ARID ECOSYSTEMS [JORDAN]
Arid environments suffer from water shortages and land degradation. This good practice evaluates the impact of selected rainwater harvesting interventions on crop production and the prevention of soil erosion. These interventions increased available rainwater, doubled crop biomass production, and decreased soil erosion.
ELECTRONIC PASTURE COMMITTEE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM [KYRGYZSTAN]
Kyrgyz Jayity has created an electronic pasture committee (EPC) software for effective and decentralised management and monitoring of the status of national pastures. Pasture User Unions (PUUs) can carry out an inventory of pastures, a geo-botanical survey of pastures and develop plans for pasturing cattle.
INTERSECTORAL COORDINATION FOR COMMUNITY WATER MANAGEMENT [ARGENTINA]
After an extensive drought period, residents of the Tulumba Valley lost their livelihoods and opted to migrate to the city in search of alternatives. In an area without major social conflicts, water scarcity became the main obstacle to stay in the territory. The combined intersectoral approach to the problem allowed to collectively manage the solution.
COMMUNITY-BASED NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT [KYRGYZSTAN]
To remedy the degradation and ineffective management of pastureland, the Law on Pastures allowed the formation of Pasture Users’ Unions (PUUs). Using community-based pasture management systems, these committees have enabled pasture users and local communities to directly manage local areas and adopt best practices in rotational, effective, and planned pasture usage.
TRAINING OF WATER USERS ASSOCIATIONS FOR MORE SUSTAINABLE LAND AND WATER MANAGEMENT [MOLDOVA]
By using a participatory and inclusive approach, NGO Bios has offered training to 10 Water Users Associations for Irrigation to raise their awareness of the social, economic and environmental implications of irrigation and assist them in updating their Environmental and Social Management Plans. This has ensured more sustainable land, water and ecosystem management.
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