The Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security is the first global exhaustive tool on the tenure of land and natural resources developed through an open inter-governmental process with the full and effective participation of a vast array of relevant actors. In such document, internationally accepted principles and norms were established to define responsible practices for the use and control of land, fisheries and forests.

The Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries, and Forests in the Context of National Food Security represent an inclusive, transparent international agreement on the governance of tenure to promote food security and sustainable development by protecting the legitimate tenure rights of millions of people and improving secure access to land, fisheri (Read more at

The project “Increase the use of the Voluntary Guidelines on Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security among CSOs and grassroots organizations” has started in September 2014 thanks to a contribution of the Kingdom of Belgium. Its first phase, ended in December 2015, has involved seven countries: Guatemala, South Africa, Malawi, Myanmar, Niger, Senegal and Nepal.

The Voluntary Guidelines for the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries, and Forests in the Context of National Food Security discuss the importance of recognizing "legitimate land rights." But what does that mean and who determines which rights are "legitimate?"

An introductory video to the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security.

The daily food and incomes of billions of people, particularly the rural poor, are determined by their access to land, fisheries and forests. Societies decide and regulate access to these resources through systems of tenure. Paul Munro-Faure, Deputy Director and Francesco Romano, Land Tenure Officer of the FAO Partnership, Advocacy and Capacity Development Division explain how supporting responsible governance of tenure is critical to achieving food security and allowing families to invest in sustainable production. They describe the FAO policy work, including key policy messages.

In a landmark decision, the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) endorsed a set of far-reaching global guidelines aimed at helping governments safeguard the rights of people to own or access land, forests, and fisheries. The new Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security outline principles and practices that governments can refer to when making laws and administering land, fisheries and forests rights.

A comunidade de Remanso é uma comunidade quilombola, descendentes da família de seu Manoelzinho, que migraram do município de Andaraí para Lençóis. As famílias viviam em um método denominado ‘sistema de morada’, com direito de pequenas roças e, como contrapartida, os novos moradores dão sua força de trabalho não remunerada ao dono da fazenda. Atualmente se auto identificam como quilombolas.

In Sierra Leone, the well-being and livelihoods of many people, particularly the rural poor, are based on secure and equitable access to land, fisheries and forests. Increasing pressure on these resources in recent years has led to an escalation of conflict over access to natural resources.