Under the umbrella of the Land Dialogues series, the last  webinar of this year’s series “Navigating Loss and Damage : A Path to Justice for Indigenous Peoples” took place on December 5th, 2024. The webinar drew in a little over 250  participants. The series is organized by a consortium of organizations, including the Land Portal Foundation, the Ford Foundation and the Tenure Facility.  

Dr. Serene Ho’s keynote address at the 8th India Land and Development Conference offered a thought-provoking exploration of the intersection between climate action and land governance, particularly in the Global South. As a Senior Lecturer in Land Administration and a researcher passionate about the socio-political dimensions of land, Dr. Ho provided a nuanced analysis of the pressures exerted by climate strategies on land-dependent communities.

Sanjay Gajiwal, Deputy Election Commissioner and a seasoned Indian Administrative Service officer, delivered a thought-provoking keynote at the 8th India Land and Development Conference (ILDC). With a career spanning diverse roles in urban governance, disaster management, and land reforms, Gajiwal brought his unique blend of administrative experience and academic rigor to the stage, shedding light on the challenges and possibilities of modernizing land governance in India.

Prof. (Dr.) Jiju Alex, an eminent scholar in agriculture and rural development, delivered a profound keynote at the 8th India Land and Development Conference (ILDC). Drawing from his extensive experience and Kerala’s pioneering initiatives, Prof. Alex explored how decentralized governance can be a cornerstone in building climate resilience and empowering local communities to address the challenges of climate change.

Jacinta Kerketta, a distinguished poet, writer, and journalist from the Oraon Adivasi community of Jharkhand, delivered a stirring keynote at the 8th India Land and Development Conference. With her voice deeply rooted in the struggles and stories of her people, Jacinta brought the ongoing displacement and erosion of Adivasi land rights into sharp focus, weaving poignant poetry with hard-hitting narratives.

Gautam Bhan, a leading urbanist and Associate Dean at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), delivered a compelling keynote at the 8th India Land and Development Conference (ILDC), challenging entrenched narratives around housing in urban India. His address, rooted in decades of research and practice of teams of researchers at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements, Bangalore, delved into the critical intersections of affordability, adequacy, and viability, forming the pillars of what he called "India's housing question."

Professor Anju Vali Tikoo, a distinguished academic with a career spanning over three decades, delivered a passionate and incisive keynote at the 8th India Land and Development Conference (ILDC). Her address, a clarion call for gender inclusivity in land governance, explored the intersection of law, policy, and lived realities for women in India. With her deep-rooted knowledge of legal frameworks and her personal experiences, Prof. Tikoo brought to light the systemic barriers that continue to marginalize women in matters of land ownership and decision making.

This blog post is part of the series What to Read. 

Have you heard about Loss and Damage (L&D)? I must admit very humbly that I did not fully grasp the ins and outs of the concept before I was asked to write this digest. If, like me, your interests lie primarily in land governance, you might very well be unfamiliar or only vaguely familiar with this notion.

It’s already been a few weeks since I took part in The World Urban Forum 12, a global conference on urbanization established by the United Nations, in Egypt between 4-8 November. It was a remarkable opportunity to bring together global experts, practitioners, and leaders to address major global challenges as cities worldwide face pressures, particularly from conflicts and natural disasters.

 

After five failed rainy seasons and the worst drought in 40 years, communities in Northern Kenya – mainly pastoralists – are negotiating with carbon project developers to save forests, wetlands and rangelands, and their livelihoods.

India Land and Development Conference, ILDC is back with its eighth episode at the picturesque FLAME University in Pune this week. It has been quite a journey for this collaborative convening. Despite its 8th edition, it has emerged as a globally recognized land convergence event, drawing attention from far and near. 

Just thinking of a conference on a topic like ‘Land’, in a country like India, is in itself a big challenge, forget organizing it year after year, for eight years - setting a stature that has grown every year!  

From the Land Portal team and board of directors