CFS 38 (special)

Voluntary guidelines on the responsible governance of tenure of land, fisheries and forests in the context of national food security 

The Guidelines were developed through intergovernmental negotiations led by CFS that took place during 2011-12 in multi-stakeholder discussions including participants from international agencies, civil society organizations, private sector representatives and research institutions.

The Guidelines promote secure tenure rights and equitable access to land, fisheries and forests as a means of eradicating hunger and poverty, supporting sustainable development and enhancing the environment.

They set out principles and internationally accepted practices. They provide a framework that States can use when developing their own strategies, policies, legislation and programmes. They allow government authorities, the private sector, civil society and citizens to assess tenure governance, and identify improvements and apply them. 

For more information on the Guidelines and the governance of tenure, please visit www.fao.org/nr/tenure or contact the Voluntary Guidelines secretariat at [email protected]