Entre el 23 de octubre y el 02 de diciembre de 2016, el IPDRS y el Land Portal, llevaron adelante un foro debate en línea sobre la Propiedad colectiva de la tierra en Sudamérica, desafíos y perspectivas, buscando alimentar la discusión que actualmente proviene de toda una dinámica global desde ONG, centros de investigación, activistas, universidades, colectivos y claramente organizaciones campesinas e indígenas que plantea todo un esfuerzo mundial para defender la propiedad colectiva de la tierra desde sus distintas dimensiones ante las presiones y amenazas provenientes del agronegocio y de

Research and direct witnessing by participants allow realization of the extent to which the situation of native/indigenous peoples and rural communities in general (peasant, forest dwelling, pastoral and fishing) is dramatic everywhere on the planet. 2.5 billion people, members of so called indigenous/native peoples and rural populations in general, live on lands that they share and use in common. However, only a fifth of these lands are registered as community territories by national governments.

Les recherches et les témoignages directs des participants amènent à constater combien la situation des peuples autochtones/indigènes et des communautés rurales en général (paysannes, forestières, pastorales, de pêcheurs) est dramatique sur l’ensemble de la planète. 2,5 milliards de personnes, membres de peuples dits indigènes/autochtones et ruraux en général, vivent sur des terres qu’elles partagent et utilisent en commun. Pourtant, un cinquième seulement de ces terres est enregistré au titre de territoires communautaires par les gouvernements nationaux.

Las investigaciones y los testimonios directos de los participantes constataron cuán dramática es la situación de los pueblos indígenas/autóctonos y de las comunidades rurales en general (campesinas, forestales, pastoriles y de pescadores). Son 2,5 mil millones de personas las que pertenecen a estos pueblos, que viven en tierras compartidas y las usan de modo comunitario. Sin embargo, sólo una quinta parte de estas tierras está registrada como territorio comunitario por los gobiernos nacionales.

Amid the realities of major political turbulence, there was growing recognition in 2016 that the land rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities are key to ensuring peace and prosperity, economic development, sound investment, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Despite equivocation by governments, a critical mass of influential investors and companies now recognize the market rationale for respecting community land rights.

Indigenous Peoples and local communities hold a large share of the world’s land area under customary systems. However, there is a tremendous gap between what is held by communities in practice and what is formally recognised by governments.

Meant well doesn’t always mean done well. The Sustainable Development Goals are all set to undermine themselves, Stephan Klasen maintains. The worst aspect is that people, who really ought to be at the focus, threaten to fall by the wayside in this technocratic maze of hundreds of goals, targets, and indicators.

In many Asian, African, and South American nations, indigenous people are being driven from their homes: Government authorities are leasing hundreds of thousands of hectares of land belonging to indigenous people who only in the rarest of cases possess deeds to the land that are recognised by the authorities. Although in many cases their ancestors have lived on the land for centuries, these rights were never recorded in the land registries. The way of life and the livelihood of many indigenous peoples are severely threatened by their land being sold off.

The « Environment and Natural Resources Code of Cambodia » (Sixth Draft – – 20 November 2016) is a very extensive proposed law (535 pages !) which will have, if adopted, major impacts on many aspects of Cambodian development (Mines, Energy, Urban planning, etc..) but is particularly important for the management of Protected Areas and of Forests and Fisheries. The code has been elaborated by a panel of experts and several working groups led by Vishnu Law Group. A public national consultation has been organized by MOE in Dec 2016.

This short thematic study challenges the assumption that the legal framework to recognize and protect indigenous peoples’ (IP) customary lands is adequate and that the challenge lies in its implementation. With support from MRLG, a core group of IP NGOs of the Cambodia Indigenous Peoples Alliance (CIPA) held a series of seminars to scrutinize this legal framework, identify gaps and make recommendations for a revision of the supporting legal framework. The thematic study documents this joint reflection.

This short thematic study challenges the assumption that the legal framework to recognize and protect indigenous peoples’ (IP) customary lands is adequate and that the challenge lies in its implementation. With support from MRLG, a core group of IP NGOs of the Cambodia Indigenous Peoples Alliance (CIPA) held a series of seminars to scrutinize this legal framework, identify gaps and make recommendations for a revision of the supporting legal framework. The thematic study documents this joint reflection.

In the Mekong region, conflicts between local communities and large scale land concessions are widespread. They are often difficult to solve. In Cambodia, an innovative approach to conflict resolution was tested in a case involving a private company, Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL), and several indigenous communities who lost some of their customary lands and forests when the company obtained a concession to grow rubber in the Province of Ratanakiri. The approach was developed by CSOs Equitable Cambodia (EC) and Inclusive Development International (IDI) with the support of QDF funding from MRLG.