The Intersection of Tenure Rights and Climate Action
On March 5, 2025, the FAO and the Global Land Alliance launched an important study titled Collective Tenure Rights and Climate Action in sub-Saharan Africa. This study consolidates extensive research on how collective land tenure arrangements impact forest conditions, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of Indigenous peoples and local communities across the region. The findings are particularly relevant as climate action and sustainable development increasingly depend on securing land tenure rights for these communities.
The virtual event, attended by over 300 participants, brought together a distinguished panel of experts in land tenure, forest governance, and climate finance to discuss the study's key findings. The discussion explored the role of securing collective tenure rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities in supporting climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, identified gaps in tenure security, and proposed priority investments to enhance sustainable forest management.
Opening Remarks: The Urgency of Recognizing Collective Tenure Rights
The session was moderated by Francesca Romano, Land Tenure Officer at FAO, who underscored the significance of the research and the diverse expertise represented in the panel.
In his opening remarks, Ward Anseeuw, Team Leader of the Land Tenure Team at FAO, highlighted two critical aspects of the report:
The recognition of indigenous and local communities as stewards of biodiversity and natural resources. The pressing need to secure their land and territorial rights, given that over 78% of African forests are under community tenure only 17% of Africa’s land held by indigenous communities has been formally documented.
He emphasized that securing these rights is crucial for climate action, as recognized by recent global frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and UNFCCC negotiations.
Keynote Address: A Framework for Action and Investment
Delivering the keynote address, Margaret A. Rugadya, Senior Programme Officer at the International Land and Forest Tenure Facility, stressed that the study arrives at a pivotal moment when tenure security and climate justice must align.
She pointed out a critical gap in evidence, particularly in Africa, which hampers the ability to influence policy and secure investments. She illustrated the daily dilemma faced by forest-dependent communities: whether to protect their forests or succumb to economic pressures to exploit them. Rugadya argued that sustainable climate action requires investment in community self-governance, equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms, and legal recognition of customary tenure systems.
“Indigenous communities see their forests as wealth—not just for survival, but for sustainable management and economic empowerment. We must recognize both monetary and non-monetary benefits that enable long-term stewardship,” she stated.
Presentation of the Study: A Pathway to Secure Tenure and Climate Resilience
Malcolm Childress, Executive Director of the Global Land Alliance, provided a structured overview of the study, which synthesizes insights from over 400 research publications and numerous expert interviews across the continent. The study is structured into four key sections:
Context of Forest Tenure and Climate in sub-Saharan Africa – Highlights how collective tenure regimes dominate forest governance but these regimes often times lack documentation or recognition, contributing to tenure insecurity.
Factors Influencing Community Forest Governance – Outlines enabling conditions such as supportive governments, material benefits for community members, strong community governance, gender and socio-economic equality, and favorable geographic/physical condition.
Outcomes of Community-led Forest Governance – Reviews the evidence showing that tenure security can lead to improved conservation and sustainable livelihoods but remains inconsistent due to gaps in governance.
Pathways for Scaling Tenure Security – Proposes an investment model focused on strengthening tenure rights, enhancing community governance, and developing forest-based enterprises.
Childress emphasized that while community tenure arrangements have shown promise, their effectiveness depends on a combination of legal recognition, local governance capacity, and financial investments. He called for a global social movement that bridges grassroots stewardship with international climate finance and policy frameworks.
Panel Discussion: Insights from Experts on Tenure Security and Climate Action
The panel featured contributions from Roselyn Fosuah Adjei (Forestry Commission of Ghana), Simon Norfolk (Terra Firma, Mozambique), and Simon Addison (FAO), who provided regional and technical perspectives on tenure security.
Government Engagement in Tenure Reform and Climate Finance
Roselyn Fosuah Adjei, Ghana’s national REDD+ focal point, stressed the need for tenure reforms that align with climate finance mechanisms such as REDD+. She noted that financing programs should be tailored to the unique land governance contexts of each country and avoid imposing external frameworks that do not reflect local realities.
“Who is actually experiencing tenure insecurity? If we don’t unpack this properly, we risk designing solutions that create further conflicts rather than resolving them,” she cautioned.
Mozambique’s Experience: Devolution as a Tenure Strategy
Simon Norfolk highlighted Mozambique’s progressive land tenure laws, which recognize customary occupation as a statutory right. He pointed out that community-driven formalization of tenure has proven effective in attracting responsible investment while protecting forests.
“There is a need to think strategically about financing tenure security. The initial registration of rights is a public good that should be supported by governments and donors. Beyond that, we must enable communities to maintain their tenure rights and leverage them for sustainable development,” he argued.
Climate Justice and Tenure Security
Simon Addison explored the link between climate justice and secure tenure rights. He emphasized that indigenous peoples and local communities, despite contributing the least to climate change, bear its harshest impacts. He advocated for tenure security as a tool to:
Protect vulnerable communities from climate risks.
Redress historical injustices related to land dispossession.
Enable communities to benefit from climate finance and carbon markets.
“Indigenous communities are the best stewards of their lands. Supporting their tenure rights is not just about justice—it’s an effective climate mitigation strategy,” he concluded.
Closing Remarks and Way Forward
Astrid Agostini, Senior Adviser at FAO’s Investment Center, summarized the key takeaways:
Recognition of Tenure Rights is Fundamental: Secure tenure is the foundation for long-term conservation and climate resilience.
Collective Tenure is Not a Standalone Solution: Complementary investments in governance, livelihoods, and climate finance mechanisms are essential.
Actionable Evidence is Needed: The study is a starting point, and more localized research and innovations are required.
She announced that FAO and its partners would publish a policy brief to further explore investment opportunities in tenure security.
Conclusion: A Call for Action
The event underscored that securing collective tenure rights is not just a legal or social issue—it is foundational to address climate goals. The FAO and Global Land Alliance study provides a roadmap, but real progress requires sustained collaboration between governments, civil society, and financial institutions.
As Malcolm Childress aptly put it: “If these rights and resources are lost or damaged, it will be very difficult to reverse the impact in the future. We must work together to ensure land rights remain at the heart of global climate action.”
The challenge now is to translate these insights into action—securing tenure, empowering communities, and ensuring that climate investments are both just and sustainable.