Call for Papers: 18th Annual International Sustainable Development Research Conference at the University of Hull- 24-26 June 2012

Dr. Guus van Westen and Prof. Dr. Annelies. Zoomers, International Development Studies (Utrecht University) in collaboration with LANDac

Deadline for abstracts: 15 December 2011

Goals and objectives of the track

The ‘global land rush’ is usually framed as a problem involving capital rich countries and investors (e.g., from China, Japan, Brazil, or Gulf states like Qatar) on the one hand and resource rich countries on the other. Driven by the food crisis and the rapidly growing demand for bio-fuels, foreign and domestic investors (often supported by the state in the host country) buy or lease large areas of farm land in Africa, Asia and Latin America for the production and export of food and biofuels.
According to the adherents (such as the World Bank), large scale investments in land are expected to be beneficial for the host countries by bringing in new technology and/or offering new sources of tax income. In addition it could help to improving food security, while also generating new perspectives for solving the climate crisis.

It is increasingly acknowledged, however, that the large scale land acquisitions often pose considerable risks, which in-clude the undermining or negating of existing rights, corruption, local and global environmental damage, nutritional deprivation, and political instability. Media reports and empirical research show that large-scale processes of land grab-bing are often at the expense of local populations.

This track aims update current knowledge and raise concerns. In order to stop land ‘grabbing’ while also taking care of food security and inclusive development, the current debate needs to be deepened and broadened. In policy debates much attention is given to the triple goal of improving land governance, protecting local people’s rights, while stimulating responsible investment. However, are such policies enough to turn the tide?

Contributions from the followings areas are sought-after
– Large-scale land acquisition (LSLA) in relation to food and bio-fuel production
– LSLA and renewable energy (hydroelectric dams)
– LSLA and nature conservation (incl. REDD+)
– LSLA and processes of water grabbing
– urban expansion and real estate development
– Land governance in relation to resource grabbing

Contact: Guus van Westen a.c.m.vanwesten@uu.nl or Annelies Zoomers e.b.zoomers@uu.nl

For further details about the conference see www.hull.ac.uk/isdrc18