Throughout the rural world, land provides a primary source of income, food security, cultural

identity and shelter. It also serves as a fundamental asset for the economic empowerment of

the poor and provides a safety net in times of hardship.

Land degradation is a serious problem that crosses national borders, ecological zones and

socio-economic levels. It can be especially devastating for the world’s poorest people living

in dryland areas. The Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands (LADA) project, executed

by FAO with funding from UNEP, GEF and others, assesses the causes and impacts of

land degradation at global, national and local levels in order to detect hot spots and identify

remedial measures. LADA approaches land degradation as a biophysical, social, economic

One out of every three people on earth is in some way affected by land degradation. Latest

estimates indicate that nearly 2 billion ha of land worldwide – an area twice the size of China

– are already seriously degraded, some irreversibly. This includes large areas of cropland,

grassland, woodland and forest areas whose degradation reduces productivity, disrupts vital

ecosystem functions, negatively affects biodiversity and water resources, and increases

vulnerability to climate change.

The problematic relationship between land tenure, food security and conflict has recently generated a considerable body of research. Land disputes are increasingly recognised as dynamic processes that are generated by (perceived) land tenure insecurity. Conflicts, however, can also lead to intensified struggle for land, especially when politico-military elites seek to consolidate their power base and reward their supporters by extending control over land as part of their war strategies.

The current volume presents the Proceedings of an important meeting entitled "Regional Expert Consultation on Land Degradation, Plant, Animal and Human Nutrition: Inter-relation and Impact". This scientific gathering managed to have a group of soil scientists/plant nutrition specialists, animal nutrition and medical doctors/human nutrition specialists to discuss these inter-related issues.

This article brings together key lessons from the Northern Cape Land Reform Project in which FARM-Africa works with the South African Government to support six poor Northern Cape communities that have benefited from the Government's Land Reform Programme.

This paper explains the political and economic complexities of the ongoing Ituri crisis, focusing on the role of land. In Ituri, mineral-rich land is at the core of the crisis and therefore, at the core of the longer-term programming needed to restore food security. But food insecurity in eastern DRC has a history. The paper argues that the ambigous Bakajika land law, introduced in 1973 and responsible for the emergence of a vast class of landless people, lies at the root of large-scale poverty, insecurity and spiralling violence.

The Occasional Paper Series published by the FAO Investment Centre covers technical briefs, research treatises and particularly useful case studies.

The "Expert Consultation on Integrated Management of Land and Water within an Agro-SylvoPastoral System" was held in Safita, Syria (Cham Safita Palace Hotel) during the period 16-18 June 1997.The Consultation was jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform of Syria and the FAD Regional Dffice for the Near East, RNE, Cairo, Egypt.

The Government of South Africa has a major holding of forest land, with a total estate

covering 892,000 ha of forest and associated land. Within the state's forest holding there is a

wide diversity of forest and land types including: commercial plantations and other afforested

land; indigenous forests; legally protected (indigenous) forest areas; and associated bare land.

This land is partly owned by the state and partly held on behalf of local communities, some of

In this report the results are presented from the soil survey carried out in the Green Belt area around Al-Hodeidah. This report covers the relevant parts of the Tihama coastal plain, including part of the wadi Siham alluvial plain. A soil map, land use map, vegetation map and physiographic map, all at a scale of 1 : 50.000, were prepared. The total area covered is approximately 15200 ha, situated in a half circle around Hodeidah city. The soils are in general homogeneous with little pedogenetic development, and variable degrees of salinity and sodium content.

This report is the result of a two-year study of Letlliakane Agricultural District (LetAD), carried out by the Agricultura! Land Use Planners of the Ministry of Agriculture (Central Region). The

main objective of the study is to provide planners, agricultural extension staff and community leaders with sound recommendations for improved and sustainable agricultural production and

possible solutions for major land use problems and conflicts. The study includes an inventory of the natural resources, population, farmer groups and economy of the area, the identification of