The Regional Operational Workshop in Latin America and the Caribbean highlighted the significance of community participation in sustainable land governance, with a particular focus on the involvement of indigenous peoples. The final thematic session showcased diverse experiences aimed at enhancing community land management. Presentations included best practices and lessons from the Regional Learning Cycle, illustrating effective strategies for engaging communities.

The session explored the challenges at the intersection of customary and statutory land governance in the context of climate change, emphasizing perspectives from diverse regions. Discussions highlighted the complexities of managing land resources under dual systems, where traditional authorities and formal legal frameworks often coexist and sometimes conflict. Participants shared experiences from both Anglophone and Francophone contexts, with a focus on how traditional knowledge and formal regulations can be reconciled to address climate change impacts.

The session examined the intricate challenges that arise when customary and statutory land governance systems intersect, particularly under the pressures of climate change. Insights from multiple regions illuminated the complexities involved in managing land resources where traditional authorities and legal frameworks coexist, occasionally leading to conflicts. Participants contributed perspectives from both Anglophone and Francophone regions, highlighting the delicate balance between traditional knowledge systems and formal regulations.

The session examined innovative approaches to empower rural and Indigenous women through secure land rights, emphasizing the vital role of women in climate mitigation and adaptation. It highlighted the persistent barriers that women face in land ownership and control, which impact their economic security, adaptation capacity, and participation in decision-making processes related to land and climate.

The joint East Asia Pacific (EAP) and South Asia (SAR) Regional Workshop highlighted the importance of strengthening land tenure to achieve a sustainable and inclusive future. The event was part of the broader theme “Breaking Barriers: Access to Land and Poverty Reduction and Climate Resilience,” focusing on regional experiences and innovations in land management.

The session focused on the application of Gender Transformative Approaches (GTAs) in securing tenure rights to promote sustainability, emphasizing the intersection of gender, land rights, and sustainable development. The session began with a keynote by Dr. Anne Larson, highlighting the importance of GTAs in land and resource tenure, laying the groundwork for understanding how gender-sensitive strategies can lead to more equitable and sustainable outcomes.

The session focused on the critical role of inclusive and transparent land governance in fostering climate resilience, particularly in the context of Africa’s ongoing struggles with the impacts of climate change. Recognizing land as a foundational element for economic, environmental, and social stability, the discussion centered on the need for people-centered land governance and secure tenure to support community adaptation to climate challenges.

The session focused on advancing responsible land-based investment (RLBI) governance through a comprehensive, multi-actor, and multi-pronged approach. Discussions centered on the ALIGN Technical Support Facility’s efforts to foster effective governance frameworks, emphasizing the importance of political economy considerations in navigating complex land governance contexts. Emerging pressures, such as climate change and the need for a just transition, were highlighted as key factors influencing land-based investment decisions.

The session examined the repurposing of brownfields as a strategic solution to support the global shift from coal to renewable energy, highlighting its importance in addressing land scarcity for sustainable development. The discussion emphasized the need for large land areas as the world transitions to renewable energy, contrasting this with the lower land requirements of traditional fossil fuels.

The session explored innovative investment models aimed at transforming agrifood systems by prioritizing both land and people, with a focus on sustainable and equitable practices. Highlighting two key projects—Transformative Land Investments (TLI) and Mekong Region Land Governance (MRLG)—the discussion showcased their efforts to drive global change by integrating responsible investment with agendas around land tenure, climate resilience, and sustainable food systems.

The session examined the policy landscape necessary to secure land tenure in the context of land-intensive climate action, addressing the rising global demand for land driven by renewable energy projects and biological carbon removal commitments. The discussion acknowledged the historical impact of large-scale land acquisitions (LSLAs) in the Global South, which often resulted in adverse socioeconomic consequences and human rights violations, emphasizing the need to avoid similar pitfalls as land demands shift toward climate mitigation efforts.

The session explored the critical role of customary land tenure in advancing sustainable Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR), emphasizing its importance for community-driven conservation efforts. The discussion began with a keynote presentation by Anne Larson, who presented CIFOR's research on how secure land tenure can mobilize effective communal interventions in FLR, drawing on case studies from Madagascar and Cameroon. This presentation highlighted the link between land tenure security and improved livelihoods through sustainable forest management. Dr.