GPPAC endorses the CSO-Led Declaration on Land, Peace and Security

Across the communities where GPPAC members work, they witness land come under growing pressure from climate change, deforestation, unsustainable farming and grazing, urban expansion, and extractive industries.

As a result, livelihoods are threatened, inequalities deepen, and displacement and tensions over access to land and natural resources increase.

Environmental protection is therefore inseparable from conflict prevention and sustainable peace. 

Recognising this connection, GPPAC is joining more than 380 organisations in endorsing the CSO-led Declaration on Land, Peace and Security, spearheaded by @ Surge Africa Org.

The Declaration calls on leaders to:

1. Advance inclusive land governance for peace and resilience: Strengthen the rights, participation and leadership of communities, especially women, youth and Indigenous Peoples, in decisions over land and natural resources. 

2. Enhance funding mechanisms: Increase and better align funding for land restoration, drought resilience and peacebuilding to ensure resources reach frontline communities in fragile and conflict-affected areas.

3. Build peace-positive partnerships: Increase collaboration across governments, civil society, communities and sectors to develop shared solutions to interconnected challenges. 

4. Strengthen implementation and accountable monitoring: Improve conflict-sensitive planning, data, monitoring and learning to show how land restoration efforts contribute to resilience and peace.

The Declaration will be launched on 20 August at COP17 of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. GPPAC members will be there. If you are attending and would like to connect, get in touch with us. 

Read and endorse the Declaration here.