New maps show indigenous peoples are custodians of 40% of Earth’s protected and ecologically intact landscapes

The world’s remaining ‘wild places’ are often envisaged to be packed full of biodiversity, and bereft of one troublesome species: Homo sapiens. But a new global study shows that about 40% of protected and ecologically-intact landscapes are actually under indigenous peoples’ custodianship.

India's $7.5 bln plan to turn 100 urban centres into Smart Cities by 2020 does not address structural issues and ignores the needs of low-income and marginalised groups, experts say

LAVASA, India - When David Cooper and his wife were looking for somewhere to retire, they wanted a place by a river or a lake, away from Mumbai's congested streets, worsening pollution and vanishing green spaces.

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 6 2018 (IPS) - Although indigenous peoples are being increasingly recognised by both rights activists and governmental organisations, they are still being neglected in legal documents and declarations. Indigenous peoples are only mentioned in two of the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and only seen in two of the 230 SDG indicators, says indigenous rights expert Chris Chapman.

On 3 July 2018, the European Parliament adopted by 534 votes to 71, with 73 abstentions, a resolution on violations of the rights of indigenous peoples in the world, including land grabbing, drafted by rapporteur Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Francisco Assis (S&D).

The Working Group 9.4 of the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) gathers scholars and practitioners that deal with the issue
on how Information and Communication Technology (ICT) affects social development. The theme for the upcoming 2019 IFIP WG 9.4 conference is: “Strengthening Southern-driven cooperation as a catalyst for ICT4D”.

A new study makes a significant contribution to the growing body of research showing that recognizing the land rights of and partnering with indigenous peoples can greatly benefit conservation efforts.

Deadline:  13/07/2018

The Land and GLTN Unit, located within the Urban Legislation, Land and Governance (ULLG) Branch of UN-Habitat, has the objective to develop, test and disseminate pro-poor and gender responsive tools and approaches regarding land, innovative residential tenures, affordable land management/administration systems, and land related regulatory/legal frameworks and tools.

BONN, Germany (Landscape News) — For Erasdus Jefwa Lazaro, a smallholder farmer and father-of-eight in rural coastal Kenya, the small stand of quick-growing eucalyptus and native malia trees on his land is better than money in the bank.

Three years on from planting their seedlings, the family have already thinned out the smaller trees and used the money to improve their house and install electricity.

OSLO, Norway — Indigenous peoples and local communities conserve lands and forests for a quarter of the cost of public and private investments in protected areas, according to new findings released at the Oslo Tropical Forest Forum last week, yet “fortress conservation” strategies often see indigenous peoples driven from their land in an effort to protect it from human activity.

WASHINGTON (Landscapes News) – When establishing environmentally and socially responsible forestry projects in new areas, taking time to listen to the locals and understand the context really pays off, said Paula Guimarães at a discussion forum about how the public sector can support private sector investments in sustainable and productive landscapes, at the recent Global Landscapes Forum 

CUSIPATA, Peru, Jun 30 2018 (IPS) - At more than 3,300 m above sea level, in the department of Cuzco, women are beating infertile soil and frost to grow organic food and revive community work practices that date back to the days of the Inca empire in Peru such as the “ayni” and “minka”.

MIDDLE OF THE WORLD CITY, Ecuador, Jun 18 2018 (IPS) - Sustainable land management (SLM) and conservation are the recipes that with different ingredients represent the basis for combating soil degradation, participants in the event to celebrate the World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD)agreed on Jun. 17 in Ecuador.

Under the theme “Land has true value. Invest in it,” a Latin American country hosted for the first time the celebration of the World Day, in the Middle of the World City, Ecuador, a country that stands out for sustainable soil management initiatives.