ev06 roma tre sg

International Land Coalition: 

International Land Coalition University Roma Tre Master Degree in Food Security and Human Development October, 19th 2006 Land dynamics in Latin America: some trends and main actors Stefano Di Gessa

A brief introduction on terminology: 

A brief introduction on terminology “Tenure” comes form English Feudalism>>1066, freehold and leasehold. Land tenure as the right to hold rather than the possession in itself. A land tenure system is all the system of tenure recognized by law (national/local) A land tenure system is understood within the socio-political context in which is placed

Terminology.. : 

Terminology.. Agrarian structure is the pattern of distribution of land among owners (unimodal or bimodal) Agrarian reform involves the (re) distribution of landholdings in order to change the agrarian structure Tenure reform refers more to the rights as related to landholdings (it might leave the owners with the same land but with different rights over it)

…terminology: 

…terminology Tenure security refers to the confidence that one’s (land) rights will be protected by the existing legal system (lack of worry about losing rights) Economists refer to security including the duration as an element for better security (long time security is needed for investment) Others add a third element to security: Full rights in the land, including sell/buy

Latin America today: : 

Latin America today: Three trends to characterize the macro region during the last decades: The agrarian reform programmes and the counter reforms The liberalization process coupled with agricultural deregulamentation (neo-liberal model) Consolidation of democracy and decentralization processes

Latin America: who are the rural poor?: 

Latin America: who are the rural poor? Urbanization processes, but still rural population is relevant in the region: 111 million people live in rural areas, 78 million of which are poor (47 so called extreme poor) Mayor groups within the rural poor are: IPs (33%), small farmers (27%), landless (10%) >>poverty in the region is rather a socio-economic phenomenon linked to ethnicity and gender (48% of the poor are women, 55 youth below 24 years) with economic consequences than a mere economic fact <<

What is land to rural poor?: 

What is land to rural poor? >a leverage for economic livelihoods, >a means through which affirm “right to life” >the basis to meet basic nutritional needs (food security) and a vehicle to accumulate capital and transfer it to future generations (via better schooling and health for children) >an identity factor, including collective identity for IPs >an element of social cohesion and reduced land-related conflicts >an element for long-term investments with both economic and environmental benefits

Current debates: 

Current debates (i) Agrarian reforms vs land markets A balance of the first generation AR and second generation Scope of the first generation AR Economic outcomes and social outcomes

…current debates: 

…current debates (ii)The emergence of IP territorial identity (land vs territory) 14 countries revised their Constitutions between 1985 and 2000>> multi ethnicity of L.A. states recognized Slow titling process IPs claim territories not land Economic (market-led) integration Mining/logging and forest conservation

…current debates: 

…current debates (iii)Paradigms vs policies No small scale agriculture on national policy agendas Dual vision: Viable/not viable agriculture Within the viable, no support services>> privilege large-sized agriculture

What ILC does?: 

What ILC does? Capacity building via empowerment and networking Policy/advocacy via influencing the terms of debate and policy influencing Dialogue fostering via facilitation

Other actors: 

Other actors WTO >>agriculture and free trade agreements UN system/ FAO and small farming /IFAD and access to assets Governments NGO/CSO Social movements and “organizaciones de base” (La Via Campesina, CLOC, REMTE, MST, COICA)