Latin America Focal Point data campaign

The Latin America Focal Point launched its 2022 data campaign.

The data campaign focuses on acquisitions that were considered relevant for the region given the magnitude and speed of expansion. These acquisitions include the exploitation of Lithium in Argentina in the provinces of Salta, Jujuy and Catamarca, managed by INENCO.

On the other hand, deals of large scale land acquisitions associated with the exploitation of wind energy in Brazil are being managed through our partner «Dataluta» in that country.

The University Observatory of Land and Territorial Planning of Honduras, the Observatory of Ethnic and Peasant Territories of the Javeriana University of Colombia and the SIPAE of Ecuador will continue with the contribution of deals related to local socio-environmental conflicts in their respective countries.

As a result of the data campaign, by November of this year we expect to have approximately 80 new deals and 50 updates, which will be an input for aligned research currently underway.

Argentina National Observatory data campaign 

The National Land Observatory of Argentina (ONA) began the process of reviewing, updating and uploading deals from Argentina, with the aim of adding 20 new records on various investments taking place in the country.

During this campaign, the ONA will focus mainly on deals of large scale land acquisitions associated with eviction conflicts in Argentina. The main source of this information will be the “National Meeting of Peasant and Indigenous Organizations of Northern Argentina” (ENCONA). After a year of successful collaborative work with ENCONA, the commitments for this year increased, strengthening the meetings with the organizations, in order to jointly seek primary information for new deals. It is also intended that the results of related research will be used as advocacy tools for the struggle in the territories.

Land Matrix Lac continues working collaboratively and broadens its horizons

We continue working together with the organizations of the National Meeting of Peasant and Indigenous Organizations of Northern Argentina -ENCONA-, in order to highlight several deals of land grabbing throughout the north of the country that threaten the land rights of rural families. Additionally, Land Matrix is also collaborating in the dissemination of ENCONA’s public advocacy activities through social networks.

New collaborator in Mexico: OUOT has incorporated a new collaborating member in Mexico. The monitoring of large scale land acquisitions in Mexico will focus on the analysis of the southeast of the country, a region comprising the states of Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo. The combination of the region’s environmental and cultural richness and the importance of its processes have motivated efforts to monitor acquisitions linked to tourism and agricultural developments, which increasingly impose pressure on natural resources and local communities.

Renewal of agreements: All members of the Land Matrix in Latin America have renewed their agreements and above all their commitment to continue working together in the search of deals of large scale land acquisitions, its associated research, and overall to contribute to political advocacy to mitigate land grabbing in Latin America. New agreements for another year of action; with OUOT in Honduras, Nitlapan in Nicaragua, Universidad Javeriana in Colombia, Sipae in Ecuador, Inenco in Argentina and Dataluta in Brazil. In addition, we are in constant contact with all our friends of the Collaborators Network for new joint actions.

Feedback to the communities on the technical report by ONA 

Within the framework of the work carried out by the National Land Observatory of Argentina – ONA, during the month of April, the «Mesa de Tierra del Salado Norte» meeting was held in the town of San José de Boquerón, Santiago del Estero. During the meeting, the technical report «Primer acercamiento al conflicto por las tierras en el Noroeste de Santiago del Estero, relatos de lucha y resistencia de las comunidades como fuente de información para la iniciativa Land Matrix» (First approach to the land conflict in the Northwest of Santiago del Estero, stories of struggle and resistance of the communities as a source of information for the Land Matrix initiative) was returned. Printed copies were delivered to members of the organization AcPProNoC (Asociación Civil de Pequeños Productores del Noroeste de Copo) and to members of the community «Lula Vilela»; the results of the report were discussed in plenary sessions.

From ONA, we consider this instance of feedback with  the community and its organizations as an important stage in the process of searching, recording and systematizing deals, not as a final closure, but as another opportunity to materialize and make visible the active work with stakeholders, which in this case represents a tool for advocacy in defense of the territories.

Latin America Focal Point at the Global Land Forum in Jordan

Land Matrix LAC will be at the Global Land Forum in Jordan from May 20th to 26th. Martin Pablo Simon from Fundapaz will represent the Focal Point.

Jordan opens its doors for the Global Earth Forum 2022 with the aim of involving the youth of the country and the region in building a sustainable future.

For the first time, this event will take place in a Middle Eastern country, which is part of an important and recently expanding region for the International Land Coalition.