5 November 2014
Land Matrix Introduces Regional Focal Points
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Land Matrix released its October newsletter, which describes the organization's decentralization process, highlights data trends and dynamics and illustrates drivers of large-scale land acquisitions.

landmatrixOctober 2014: In its October newsletter, the Land Matrix reports on the organization’s decentralization process, highlights data trends and dynamics, and illustrates drivers of large-scale land acquisitions.

Decentralization is necessary to promote accountability and transparency in land and investment decisions and improve data quality, Land Matrix stresses in its newsletter. To support such decentralization, Land Matrix has selected five regional focal points to support regional data collection and research, policy advocacy and networking and communication. The regional focal points are: Asian Farmers’ Organization for Sustainable Rural Development; JASIL, a Mongolian non-governmental organization (NGO); Eco Ruralis, a Romanian NGO; Fundación para el Desarrollo en Justicia y Paz (FUNDAPAZ), a civil society organization in Northern Argentina; and the University of Pretoria, South Africa. In addition, Tactical Tech Collective will help develop the communication strategy and technology behind Land Matrix.

The Land Matrix database shows an increase in the number of concluded deals, with over 60% of the deals in its database operational. The newsletter displays the number of concluded, intended and failed deals by date, intended size and size under contract. It highlights different implementation patterns, with some countries having low implementation rates and others showing a high rate of start-up projects.

Agriculture remains the main driver of large-scale land acquisition, followed by agrofuel production. Forestry projects are another driver.

The newsletter also provides an update on foreign investments, which primarily come from high-income countries, and a section on announcements and papers.

The Land Matrix is an initiative led by the International Land Coalition (ILC) and partners. It is a global land monitoring initiative that promotes accountability and transparency in land and investment decisions, and includes an open Global Observatory that collects and provides visual information on large-scale land acquisitions. [October Newsletter] [Land Matrix Website]

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