Forest Peoples Programme latest report” Agribusiness Large-Scale Acquisitions and Human Rights in Southeast Asia” highlights the social” economic” and environmental effects of large-scale land acquisitions in Southeast Asia.  The report focuses on seven countries: Burma” Cambodia” Indonesia” Malaysia” the Philippines” Thailand” and Timor-Leste. As the reports states” while large-scale land acquisitions are supported by local governments to accelerate development” generate revenue and foreign exchange” and create jobs” the profits generated are often not equally distributed.  Instead” the wealth generated is often enjoyed by an elite few.  The report details the challenges in promoting broad-based development and environmental preservation in using such land acquisition schemes.  In Southeast Asia” the national human rights institution is engaged in a three-year effort to address these challenges from a rights-based perspective.   

Read the full report here.