RRI held a panel discussion and release of new analyses of the current status of forest and land rights in developing countries and the globalized economic and political forces impacting land availability" equity and potential for conflict.

Introduction by Andy White" Coordinator" Rights and Resources Initiative

Panelists:

• Alfred Brownell" Director" Green Advocates Liberia
• David Deng" Research Director" South Sudan  Law Society
• Jeffrey Hatcher" Director of Global Programs" Rights and Resources Initiative
  
• Lou Munden" Founder" The Munden Project
  

Moderated by: Fred Pearce" renowned climate change journalist and author of the upcoming book" The Land Grabbers: The New Fight Over Who Owns the Earth.

With closing remarks by Tom Griffiths" Coordinator" Responsible Finance Programme " Forest Peoples Programme

At the event RRI launched a new report on the state of forest land rights and resources in 2011 titled" TURNING POINT: What future for forest peoples and resources in the emerging world order? This report takes stock of the current status of forest rights and tenure globally" assesses the key issues and events of 2011 that shape possibilities to improve local rights and livelihoods" and identifies key questions and challenges that the world will face in 2012 and beyond.    

 

In addition" RRI formally presented Rights to Resources in Crisis: Reviewing the Fate of Customary Tenure in Africa. This five brief series" written by panelist Liz Alden Wily" analyzes the roots of African land tenure systems" recent policy trends and puts the phenomenon of large scale land acquisitions in rich historical context. These briefs may be download in English and in French.