Over the past 30 years, the natural environment of the Asia-Pacific region has been subjected to increasing degradation of both land and water resources thereby threatening livelihoods, food security, people's health and long-term sustainable development. Pressures on these resources are more severe compared to other regions in the world. Some 850 million hectares, representing more that 28 percent of the region's land area, are affected by some form of land degradation.

What are the impacts of the increasing spread of biofuels on access to land in producer countries, particularly for poorer rural people? Biofuels could revitalise rural agriculture and livelihoods or, where there are competing claims on land exclude poorer land and resource users. This study documents current knowledge on current and potential impacts of commercial biofuel production for access to land in Africa, Latin America and Asia, charting both negative experiences and promising approaches.

This joint FAO-World Bank publication aims to draw attention to the negative impacts of weak governance in land administration and to point out the manifold benefits of good governance in the protection of property rights and the development of efficient land and property markets. It provides positive examples of good practices from around the world, as well as an overview of principles and key questions to be applied in any country for the evaluation of governance in land administration.