Focus on Land in Africa

‘Local’ plays a critical role in long-term sustainable management of land and resources. On Wednesday, we explored the devolution of smallholder carbon project ownership to local institutions. Issues of land tenure and secure land rights also hold serious implications for local people and can shape best management and conservation efforts across Africa.

Focus on Land in Africa (FOLA) is an educational resource facilitating knowledge sharing among development practitioners and policy makers on the interplay between land and natural resource rights and development in Africa. This knowledge sharing platform tries to accomplish this through commentaries, briefs, videos, and case studies.

Jimmiel Mandima, Director of Program Design and Partner Relations at the African Wildlife Foundation, a contributor to the Landscapes for People, Food and Nature Initiative, has contributed FOLA’s most recent “Talking Land” Commentary. He discusses the experiences of several community based natural resources management initiatives, such as the Communal Areas Management Program for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) program in Zimbabwe and Namibia’s LIFE program. Decades experimenting with these programs has stressed the importance of diversified livelihood strategies (beyond the typical hunting), a long-term outlook for investments, and robust training for program leaders.

You can also visit FOLA’s Environment and Natural Resources and Agricultural Development pages to delve deeply into related issues. You can contact FOLA at focusonlandinafrica@gmail.com, and connect via: Twitter @AfricaLandRts, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Read More:
Empowering Local Communities to Manage Land and Natural Resources: Lessons from Southern Africa