The governing Georgian Dream party (GD) continues to control all branches of the state. Although the UNM-led opposition put pressure on the GD government, it won a third term in allegedly fraudulent parliamentary elections on October 31, 2020. The opposition refused to take up their seats in the new parliament, which led to a political deadlock. The crisis peaked when Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia resigned in February 2021 over his personal refusal to arrest UNM opposition leader Nikanor Melia.

Land lies at the very foundation of our society and social life; it plays a central role in the livelihoods and cultural identities of communities across the globe, and contains the resources that underpin our now globalised world. However, partly because of this, it is often at the heart of social and political conflicts. Increasing demand for food, energy and other primary products is driving agribusinesses, mining companies and speculative investors in a quest for new land to acquire and exploit.

Over the last two decades, Georgia has made impressive progress in economic growth and reforms. These advancements have also brought about an increase in investments and infrastructure as well as in service sectors, such as tourism, that provide a potential for future growth and welfare. Georgia’s leaders and society have also recognized that the pursuit of growth depends on the sustainability of its development path. Sustainability, in turn, hinges on the protection of the country’s most valuable assets –its nature, people, and cultural heritage.

Title: The economics of pasture management in Georgia: An economics of land degradation study

Title: The economics of pasture management in Georgia: An economics of land degradation study

This list of bibliographic references is an accompanying piece to the data story written by Daniel Hayward and published by the Land Portal on 12 May 2022.

This case study analyses how interventions implemented by LIFT have improved the functioning of environmentally sustainable agricultural input markets..This resource was published in the frame of the Land Investment for Transformation (LIFT) Programme. For more information;please check: https://landportal.org/community/projects/land-investment-transformation...

Pastoralists in Isiolo county in northern Kenya feel under siege;with their way of life under threat. Isiolo has been the home of the Waso Boran pastoralists for many decades;but attacks from neighbouring Somali herders;encroachments by agriculturalists from Meru;expansion of conservancies and planned road;pipeline and resort city mega-projects are affecting all pastoral livelihoods;creating many new risks and environmental uncertainties. Droughts are occurring more frequently. Market uncertainties are important;regarding access to milk;meat and live animals.

Cameroon’s current land law appears to have two conflicting objectives: to attract investors through large-scale land concessions; while protecting biodiversity;defending local people’s rights and promoting rural development. But the legislation governing large-scale land-based investments is outdated and sometimes incoherent. The land allocation process is investor driven and does not appropriately balance economic;social or environmental considerations.

Since the arrival of multinational agribusiness company SOCFIN in 2011 as part of a large-scale investment in palm oil in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone;social conflict has raged in the Malen Chiefdom. SOCFIN is controlled by a Belgian businessman (Hubert Fabri) and the French group Bolloré;which has developed a business empire in many parts of Africa. This report found that affected communities who have lost access to and control over their land have been exposed to serious human rights violations and abuses since 2011.

A paper from the Agricultural Policy Research on Africa (APRA) programme in Zimbabwe supported by a DFID grant to IDS;Sussex. Explores the intersecting factors that have shifted pathways of commercialisation;mostly of tobacco and maize;in Mvurwi area in northern Mazowe district;Zimbabwe;since 1890. Looks at five periods;starting with early colonisation by white settlers;then examines the consolidation of ‘European agriculturefollowing World War II;before investigating the liberation war era from the mid-1970s.

In June 2018;the President of Burkina Faso enacted a new agriculture investment code;aiming at promoting productive investments in livestock;fisheries;forestry and fauna management. It establishes an enabling environment and creates incentives to boost investment in the targeted sectors. Despite some shortcomings that can be fixed through implementation;the code is an important step in the right direction to attract responsible investment.