5th International Land Management Conference

Description

While land governance frameworks and institutions need to evolve to meet changing economic, social and environmental goals, from economic development and poverty alleviation to climate and disaster risk resilience, they are bounded by and rooted in existing political and economic realities. Lasting transformation requires understanding of the wide range of socio-cultural, political and economic factors that influence how land is supplied, used, administered, managed, governed, and of how land markets operate. In any given context, these factors are informed by a range of economic and political interests, power dynamics, institutional characteristics and ideological perspectives.

Practitioners engaged in land governance reforms have long been aware of the political and economic nature of their work and the importance of considering political economy. A growing field of research on the political economy of land explores the factors that shape why approaches to land governance succeed or fail within given contexts. Land governance grounded in analysis of political economy has the potential to enable increasingly inclusive, equitable, economically productive and environmentally sustainable pathways to development. There is much more to be done to agree on approaches, methods and tools that support economically effective and politically realistic reform of land governance.

We seek to explore how analysis of political, economic and social factors impacting land governance can improve practice. We are interested in identifying evidence on topics such as land governance reforms that pave the way for long lasting changes.

Engagement of a variety of stakeholders is important to increase agency, transparency, participation, equity and ultimately the sustainability of land governance. Thus, we seek to explore examples of how analysis of political economy can help identify and address the underlying tensions perpetuating exclusive land governance.

Isolating land governance interventions from broader developmental and climate goals can frustrate effective land governance. Integrated approaches that consider the broader political economy can lead to improved land governance and wider developmental progress. We welcome case studies and research exploring these perspectives.

Traditionally, assessments of financial value and anticipated returns help to shape the economic and political interests in and commitment to land governance reform. However, there is increasing attention to the need for adaptation and sustainability considerations due to acute issues around food and energy security, climate change and disaster management. A more balance economic outlook would recognise the value of land in preserving biodiversity, sustaining natural capital and supporting diverse land uses. This session welcomes papers that explore how changing value systems and priorities are impacting the economics and financing for land governance.

Find out more about the conference on the LINK website.