
4 October 2023
Meetings occur on the first Wednesday of every other month. For details on how to join, sign up for the forum.
This blog post outlines key issues and approaches discussed in 2023 meetings of the Countering Environmental Crime Practitioners Forum Land Corruption Working Group. This working group brings together a circle of interested practitioners from the conservation and anti-corruption communities for active collaboration. Stay tuned for periodic updates.
Land corruption jeopardizes conservation outcomes, climate progress, and human rights by enabling insecure land tenure, land grabbing, and other negative behaviors. Strengthened collaboration between experts in the anti-corruption and conservation communities is essential to bridge knowledge gaps and advance solutions.
Meetings of the Land Corruption Working Group are chaired by staff from Transparency International (TI) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and are open to any professional in the Countering Environmental Crime Practitioners Forum who seeks to target land corruption. Sessions are held under Chatham House rules and convene virtually every other month. Updates, including member-recommended case studies and resources, are shared in this space.
Land corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain in land administration and management (Transparency International). Transparency International estimates that across the globe, one in five people has paid a bribe to access land services. Effective and transparent land management and secure land rights are crucial to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), protecting biodiversity, food security, water management, sustainable cities, and addressing climate change.
Corrupt practices in land administration and management that result in negative social and environmental outcomes can include (among others):
Land corruption can undermine human rights and natural resource futures in many ways. For example:
Associated risks include:
Members of this working group have discussed the following opportunities for future cooperation:
4 October 2023
Meetings occur on the first Wednesday of every other month. For details on how to join, sign up for the forum.
LinkedIn Group: Countering Environmental Corruption Practitioners Forum
This LinkedIn group is a dedicated space for the members to promote practices, share experiences, and learn from each other. The group is open to professionals from diverse backgrounds, including government, civil society, academia, and the private sector, committed to addressing environmental corruption and promoting sustainable development. Subscription to the forum is required to join this group.
Image attribution: © naturepl.com / Jen Guyton / WWF; © Brian J. Skerry / National Geographic Stock / WWF; © Georgina Goodwin / Shoot The Earth / WWF-UK; © Hkun Lat / WWF-Aus