Community led planning, data and consultation that support land tenure systems and community governance

The food, fuel, and materials that sustain our way of life come from local communities. Where communities are included in the decision-making processes about whether and how resources are developed, there are better outcomes for all stakeholders. With authentic community involvement, communities see long-term benefits, landscapes, and environments can be managed to withstand and recover from impacts, and companies have a more stable operating environment. Across the world, communities and local governments are building tools and systems to strengthen governance and enable their participation in natural resource development decisions. These tools are particularly important in the exploration and development phase for mining companies and become even more crucial when there are overlapping and compounding pressures on land use from small- and large-scale agriculture, forestry, renewables, and now the carbon/biodiversity market. The objective of this session is to illustrate how community-led approaches can support responsible natural resource development and how other stakeholders can support these efforts. This panel will explore case studies from Sierra Leone, Guyana, and Turkey, where local and Indigenous governments and groups are working with national governments, industry representatives, and other civil society groups. The session will explore practical tools and processes that are being used by these groups, including: land use and land planning mechanisms, multi-stakeholder forums, community-led consultation and engagement processes; and data collection and evaluation related to community wellbeing and the environment.