Illegal land and conversion

Land conversion, or land grabbing, is the process whereby a nation, organisation or individual acquires land illegally or fraudulently, often under the guise of agricultural development. It is a key driver of tropical forest loss through clearances for logging, agriculture, animal grazing, and mining. Illegal land conversion often involves corruption and intimidation and threats of violence against local communities.

Strengthening frontline defenders

The Nature Crime Alliance is convening actors from a range of sectors to develop solutions to prevent illegal land conversion. This includes work to bolster the capacity of frontline defenders including Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and to improve legal frameworks to prevent land grabbing.