IUFRO WFSE-FAO-EFI-Luke joint event at Global Landscapes forum in Bonn Sunday 23 June 2019

The SDG-tenure nexus in forest landscapes: applying a rights-based approach

How are tenure and rights included in the Sustainable Development Goals?  What is the evidence on the links between rights/tenure and sustainable landscapes, and why has the progress on strengthening tenure rights of local communities so low? What are the more promising approaches to strengthening the link?

This session explored these questions through an introductory presentation and panel discussion.  

The SDGs call for equal access and rights to land and other productive resources. The introductory presentation noted that rural land rights are implicitly included in three SDGs: SDG 1, SDG 2 and SDG 5. However, tenure and rights are instrumental for moving forward with several other SDGs such as SDG 8 on employment and economic growth.  They are also crucial for SDG 10 to reduce inequality within and among countries, SDG 14 to conserve and sustainably use coastal areas and mangrove forests and SDG 15 on protection and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems such as forests.

The indicators to track progress on the targets that address land and resource rights do not specifically address rights to forest resources; they focus either on all land or specifically on agricultural land. Furthermore, the SDGs do not refer to the full ‘bundle rights’ that includes access, use, manage, exclude and alienate.  The emphasis is on the security of rights, and while SDGs do not specify what constitutes tenure security the relevant SDG indicators encompass legal recognition and peoples’ perceptions of tenure security. However, the latter can be misguided, due to for example lack of information on possible threats.   

In the SDGs rights are not connected to land and resource governance issues such as participation and empowerment, accountable and just institutions and processes, although, these are addressed in other SDGs especially 5 on gender, 10 on inequality, and 16 on peace, justice and institutions. But the progress made in these SDGs would also need to encompass the institutions and processes affecting land tenure and the processes for clarifying and formalizing rights to land and resources.
The panel discussion focused on the evidence on the links between rights/tenure and sustainable landscapes and the challenges and most promising approaches to move forward. For decades, efforts to establish, clarify and strengthen rights to land and resources have been central to improving rural livelihoods and advancing sustainable use of natural resources. However, progress has been slow and livelihood and resource impacts variable.

The discussion concluded with the following main messages:

• It is well known that clear and strong rights to land and resources are important (but not sufficient) preconditions for improving forests, local livelihoods, or contributing to other SDGs. This is very evident from global reviews that point to highly variable results.
• Securing indigenous community rights is essential for self-determination. Whether this improves resource management/ sustainability or livelihoods - for both men and women - depends on other factors such as: the strength and breadth of the rights to forest lands and resources, recognition and protection of these rights by the State, the extent and degree of external pressures, community governance and collective action, enabling regulatory framework, and access to markets, finance, capacity building and technologies.
• In practice, strengthened community rights to forests or customary rights recognition are rarely accompanied by security of tenure or various forms of support given to other sectors (agriculture) and to other actors (large industry).
• Successful cases show that strong rights to communities can improve forests and livelihoods, but only when these are accompanied by multi-dimensional support to communities.
• SDGs and other initiatives emphasize the ‘rule of law’, but  State laws governing high value resources such as timber often favour large-scale industry and international trade while conservation laws continue to restrict local forest access and control. Unless local resource tenure and use rights are strengthened, increased law enforcement will worsen existing inequalities. ‘Safeguards’ are not enough to counter the current forms of resource exploitation and conservation that favour formalization, standardization and legalization over local systems of governing resource access.
• FAO is working with countries to advocate for, and strengthen policies and programs for more comprehensive support to communities, aligning them with internationally endorsed principles on tenure and human rights, and building on recent reviews and lessons learned. It complements work of the Tenure Facility (an independent foundation) that provides grants and technical support directly to Indigenous Peoples and local communities for land rights/tenure recognition through collective titles.

Programme:
Opening of the event: Pia Katila, IUFRO WFSE/Luke
Introductory presentation: Tenure and rights in the SDGs, Pia Katila, IUFRO WFSE/Luke
Panel discussion - Moderator Lukas Giessen, EFI
Panel members:   
Nonette Royo, Tenure Facility
Safia Aggarwal, FAO
Connie McDermott, Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford
Anne Larson, CIFOR