Global demand for timber, agricultural commodities, and extractives is a significant driver of deforestation worldwide. Transparent land-concessions data for these large-scale commercial activities are essential to understand drivers of forest loss, monitor environmental impacts of ongoing activities, and ensure efficient and sustainable allocation of land.

Extensive economic growth, tourism activities and over-exploitation of resources have become the common causes of environmental degradation in Langkawi. The sudden development leap resulting from UNESCO's recognition of Langkawi Archipelago as a Global Geopark in 2007, leads to continuous conflicts between enhancing environmental protection and meeting tourism and development needs.

This report reveals new links between Australia's big four banks and three land grabbing case studies previously documented in Oxfam's 2014 report Banking on Shaky Ground. The new report also provides evidence that, even after Oxfam first alerted the banks to their exposure to land grabs, all four banks committed tens of millions of dollars in loan facilities to the agribusiness firm Cargill. A former subsidiary of Cargill acquired large tracts of land in Colombia’s Altillanura region that had been set aside by law for family farming.

Meeting Name: Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission (APFC)
Meeting symbol/code: FO: APFC/2016/REP
Session: Sess. 26