ICARRD+20 and the Future of Land Governance

Introduction

ICARRD+20 marks a critical moment for advancing responsible land governance and strengthening land tenure security worldwide. As global demand for land intensifies due to climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, infrastructure expansion, and agricultural production, secure land rights and transparent land governance systems have become essential for sustainable development.

Land governance determines how land is accessed, used, and managed. Effective governance protects human rights, promotes economic stability, and enables communities to invest in sustainable land management. ICARRD+20 provides a global platform for governments, civil society, and international organizations to align policies and strengthen commitments to equitable land governance.

What is ICARRD+20?

ICARRD+20 (International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development +20) builds on previous global efforts to promote agrarian reform and improve land tenure security. The conference focuses on ensuring fair access to land, protecting vulnerable populations, and strengthening responsible land governance frameworks.

ICARRD+20 and the Future of Land Governance

ICARRD+20 comes at a time when land governance and land tenure rights have become central to climate mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development.

Cumulative land demands under these agendas are increasing global pressure on land. This makes land governance at ICARRD+20 a core political issue.

Without secure land tenure rights and recognition of legitimate and customary land rights, climate and biodiversity strategies risk undermining food security, increasing land conflicts, and failing to achieve their objectives.

Read our one-pager on why ICARRD+20 matters so much at this moment.

Women’s land rights at ICARRD+20

Women’s land rights are critical for sustainable land management, climate resilience, and food security. Strengthening women’s tenure security functions both as a safeguard and as an enabler of effective land-based policies.

Through the Women’s Land Rights Initiative, land tenure under the UNCCD, UNFCCC, and CBD is being addressed in a coordinated way to ensure women’s land rights are integrated into Rio Convention implementation.

Read our one-pager on why women's land rights are so critical for climate resilience, biodiversity, food security, and more.

Environmental commitments, invisible rights: addressing cumulative land demand

Evidence from assessing national action plans under UNCCD, UNFCCC, and CBD shows that customary land rights remain largely invisible in environmental action at national level.

ICARRD+20 must address how cumulative land demand, driven by climate, biodiversity and investment policies, can be governed in ways that protect tenure security and access to land.

Read our one-pager on why cumulative land demand must be visible in policy and planning processes.

Given current global realities, re-focusing on a shared normative framework—the VGGT—is critical.

The Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT) recognize land tenure as essential for sustainable development. Yet implementation remains uneven and largely self-reported.

Strengthening accountability at ICARRD+20 requires linking land governance to measurable tenure security outcomes, human rights safeguards, and independent monitoring mechanisms.

Read our one-pager on strengthening accountability to protect core human rights.

Conclusion: The future of land governance after ICARRD+20

ICARRD+20 represents a critical opportunity to strengthen responsible land governance and advance secure land tenure globally. Its outcomes must now translate into concrete policy action, particularly in the 2026 triple COP year, when climate, biodiversity, and land degradation negotiations will create key implementation opportunities.

TMG will continue working to ensure that ICARRD+20 commitments inform global policy processes and support stronger, more accountable land governance systems. Secure land tenure is essential for climate resilience, sustainable development, and protecting the rights of communities. The success of ICARRD+20 will ultimately depend on sustained political commitment and effective implementation in the years ahead.

Rights4Land Monitoring Tool: Explore our R4L tool, designed to help monitor the land governance situation in given place, ensuring accountability from a human rights perspective.

Net Zero Land Rights: Explore our dedicated website for our publication, "Net Zero Land Rights: How our climate goals drive land demand and shape people's lives," on how net-zero goals are driving unprecedented global land demand, often at the expense of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.