Corruption undermining land access, development

12 December 2011, Rome - "Unprecedented pressures on land have been created as new areas are cultivated, taken over by expanding urban centres or abandoned due to degradation, climate change and conflict," according to a paper jointly prepared by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and global corruption watchdog Transparency International (TI). "These developments have strained the rules, processes and institutions that determine which land resources are used, by whom, for how long, and under what conditions," the working paper reads.Striking at one of the core issues affecting agriculture and food security worldwide, the findings of FAO and TI in more than 61 countries show that weak governance has increased the likelihood of corruption in land tenure and administration, and is intensifying the impact of pressures on land use."The findings of the paper reflect what we have been hearing for years from farmers, herders, investors, governments and NGOs in many developing countries — that where land governance is deficient, a high risk of corruption exists," Alexander Mueller, FAO's Assistant Director-General for Natural Resources."Secure access to land and protection of natural resources from unbridled use...