Land is an essential natural resource. Forty per cent of the world’s land is dedicated to agricultural and livestock production and ninety per cent of our food come directly or indirectly from it. Access to land facilitates also the livelihood of a significant amount of people, consisting of small-scale agriculture and other activities belonging to the primary sector, such as livestock, hunting-gathering, artisanal fishing, etc. These populations largely use public or community lands. More than two billion people have access to these lands, also called commons or commons. In other cases, even in greater numbers, the populations depend on lands with legal titles of tenure not formalised or adequately protected legally; in many cases, they are indigenous populations. While they have historical roots, these titles are often informal and precarious.

However, these traditional situations of land tenure have been lately suffering significant adjustments, so international law is being forced to provide a response to protect those communities.

In this respect, an international call for papers will be opened, hoping that it will have the greatest diffusion and participation. Consequently, the objectives of this Congress are:

• Promoting interdisciplinary research, the generation of knowledge and experiences in order to guarantee sustainability in natural resources, such as the Earth, for all in a fair, sustainable, equitable and healthy way.
• Generating knowledge and debate between the international scientific community and the key international political and social actors and networks in the matter, in order to promote research initiatives and the adoption of public policies on human rights and the Earth.
• Contributing to better international regulation of access to land, guaranteeing its sustainability and production value, as well as protecting the large population groups whose livelihoods depend on it.
• Encouraging the debate and bringing together the opinions of speakers and attendees to reach joint conclusions, fostering cooperation and collaboration of the different agencies participating in the activity. Encouraging the development of the Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and other people working in the rural world.

Click here for more information on how to participate.

Africa: Connections and Disruptions

In 2019, the University of Edinburgh’s Centre of African Studies will host the 8th European Conference on African Studies, Europe’s largest and most international conference with an African focus. It will take place in the University’s central campus on June 11-14 2019, and is organised on behalf of the Research Network of African Studies Centres in Europe AEGIS.

The conference brings together 1,500 leading researchers, policymakers, and leaders from across the world. There will also be a complementary series of artistic and cultural events, as well as various networking and capacity building events, including some particularly aimed at the next generation of African researchers.

For more information about the event click here.