Land alienation, environmental degradation and food insecurity Jonathan Davies International Union for Conservation of Nature Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office

Changing climate is just one amongst many challenges Other threats may be perceived to be more immediate volatile markets political marginalisation Conflict Climate change may amplify vulnerability to these threats.

A major challenge is the alienation of natural resources Communal tenure is prevalent (and often desirable) Political representation can be weak Legal resources are scarce Understanding of legal rights is weak

Alienation of land can lead to environmental degradation Environmental costs of land use change are usually overlooked Ambiguity over who is responsible for environmental impacts Existing land uses are poorly evaluated Increased reliance on least sustainable coping measures Ecosystem Services are not valued

Land grabbing can weaken governance over resources Landscape level impacts Weakening of capacity of local institutions Erosion of legitimacy and respect of traditional leaders Institutional competition between community and government

Sustainable development requires building per capita wealth Total wealth = Produced capital (e.g. infrastructure) + Human Capital (e.g. an educated workforce) + Natural Capital But Natural Capital is not completely fungible If the ecosystem services that support life are destroyed, growth will not be sustained

Where the environment is degraded, food security declines Loss of water, soil nutrients, climate regulation Weakening of the workforce Loss of coping strategies In addition to the more obvious impact of lost land WFP

The amplifying effect of climate change more unreliable weather more frequent extreme events higher temperatures Food insecure people, whose natural assets are eroding and whose rights are not upheld, are the most vulnerable to climate change

Thank You