IWGIA | October 2014

Fact sheet: Indigenous peoples' Right to Land - The threat of land grabbing

by the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)

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Land grabbing is the large-scale acquisition of land for commercial or industrial purposes, such as agricultural and biofuel production, mining and logging concessions or tourism. It involves land being purchased by investors rather than producers, often foreign investors. This is done with limited (if any) consultation of the local communities, limited (if any) compensation, and a lack of regard for environmental sustainability and equitable access to, or control over, natural resources.