Documents - Land Rights

Mining. When is Enough, Enough?

To accompany the film, In Defence of Life, Gaia and partners have launched a new briefing, Mining: Enough is Enough. This document begins to challenge mining industry claims that the mass extraction of new mineral deposits is necessary to meet material need and ensure the 'development' of people and nations.

Mundemba declaration and statement of solidarity: women, communities say NO to oil palm expansion

Statement of solidarity with the communities of Ndian Division, Southwest Region of Cameroon

Protecting Community Lands and Resources in Africa

In 2013, a group of 20 expert advocates from across Africa gathered for a three-day symposium to share experiences and practical strategies for effectively supporting communities to protect their lands and natural resources. This book came from that gathering, five chapters detailing strategies and case studies illustrating grassroots advocates' lessons. (Booker, Knight, Brinkhurst / Namati / 2015)

Thinking Together For Those Coming Behind Us (Summary)

This brochure summarises key contents of the Wapichan people's territorial plan 'Baokopa’o wa di’itinpan wadauniinao ati’O Nii' ('Thinking Together For Those Coming Behind Us'). The summary includes examples of agreements made between villages on ways to secure and care for their lands, forests, savannahs, wetlands and mountains and promote self-determined development in Wapichan communities (The indigenous peoples of the South Rupununi, 2012).

Thinking Together For Those Coming Behind Us: An Outline Plan for the Care of Wapichan Territory

After years of painstaking work and multiple community consultations, the indigenous Wapichan people of southern Guyana have set out agreements and proposals for caring for their territory in a ground-breaking plan titled Baokopa’o wa di’itinpan wadauniinao ati’o nii (Thinking together for those coming behind us). This innovative grass-roots effort has resulted in more than one hundred inter-community agreements on sustainable land use, including proposals to establish an extensive Wapichan Conserved Forest over old-growth rainforest in the eastern part of their territory. Discussions and agreements also involved documenting a community vision for community land use, livelihood and culture in Wapichan Wiizi (Wapichan territory) in 25 years’ time (a document of the indigenous peoples of the South Rupununi, 2012).