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Contribution short abstract:

This contribution reflects on the thinking behind this roundtable from a primarily rural perspective, by reflecting on how concepts are locked in to unequal and unsustainable development, associated challenges & crises, recent policy - practice initiatives and implications for development research

Contribution long abstract:

The first part of the contribution brings together key insights from development research on land:

the co-constitution of land & property rights, forms and territoriality of political authority; linkgages between distribution and control of land and natural resources on levels and nature of economic growth; the importance of context-specific political economy analysis, and increasingly political ecology, in understanding social, political and environmental conflicts involving land; and the scope and opportunities for equitable, nature-friendly land reforms. For example tracing the broad colonial & post colonial histories of a number of African countries, the interplay between state and customary authority, the changing dynamics and interests of of different social classes and groups in land, the evolution and consequences of efforts for land reforms and for agricultural and land-based investments.

A second part will outline some potentially encouraging recent and emerging policy perspectives and practical initiatives bearing on land and natural resouce governance, including: rights-based conservation; incorporation of customary principles, authorities and rural communities in governance arrangements, the growth of interest in sustainable landscape investments, inclusive value chains and multi-stakeholder platforms, the growth of international law and jurisprudence in protecting the land rights of indigenous communities, women and girls, peasants and small farmers; and emergent convergence of civil society and international agencies programming on land. In conclusion, this contribution will briefly consider the place of land rights and land use governance in cross-cutting, interdisciplinary development research, questioning how researchers can help overcome challenges of securing land rights and sustainable land and resource use.