One year ago, thanks to a Solutions Journalism Network LEDE Fellowship and in collaboration with the Land Portal, I started a project to find stories of responses to the damage caused to the land and environment. During this time, I affirmed that communities and people around the world are working to protect and heal the environment, even if those stories hardly make it to the mainstream media.
Along with GIZ and the National Agency for Spatial Planning, known as ANAT, in Senegal, we co-hosted a webinar, “Uncovering Land Data Opportunities in Senegal,” on 31 January 2023. The panel brought together open data and land governance experts to discuss the state of land information in Senegal – focusing on the findings from the SONI Senegal Report – and the way forward to a more inclusive, open and transparent land data ecosystem in Senegal.
In this episode of the LandUP! podcast, we wanted to better understand a largely unexplored subject matter: the land rights of persons with disabilities. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities defines Persons with Disabilities as including those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.
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Countries
Bolivia is one of the 16 megadiverse countries on the planet, which has given it diverse eco-regions. The evolution of the land situation in the country, closely connected to the demands of the indigenous population, reached unprecedented levels in the region culminating in the transformation of Bolivia into a plurinational state in 2009 with 36 recognized nations.
The land issue, closely linked to natural resources, is a major challenge for economic and social development in Guinea. However, various factors contribute to weakening access to land for communities in urban and rural areas. In particular, existing land policies and regulations, which are old, poorly harmonized and not enforced, do not adequately protect the land rights of local populations. The lack of transparency and poor governance of resources by the Guinean state add to the shortcomings of the law.
Issues
One third of the world’s soils - including farmland, forests, rangelands, and urban land - are already degraded and it is estimated that this number could rise to almost 90% by 2050. Land Degradation occurs naturally, but research shows that land degradation is increasingly caused directly or indirectly by unsustainable human activities, notably deforestation, overgrazing, mining or intensive agriculture. This has driven biodiversity loss, desertification, and led to a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
The SDG Land Tracker provides easy access to official data and information on all land-specific SDG indicators. It concisely explains the indicators, why they are important, and tracks progress.