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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Thank You