Growing climate change program advances win-win solutions

Across the globe—and everywhere we work—communities in rural areas are among the most vulnerable to climate change impacts, like land and soil degradation and more frequent extreme weather events. These environmental changes exacerbate ongoing social and economic issues like food scarcity, migration, and conflict.

Climate change and poverty are now so intertwined that they can only be solved together. Recognizing this, Landesa advances win-win solutions that benefit local environments and livelihoods alike. Landesa’s efforts to strengthen land rights hold promise for:

• climate change adaptation and mitigation
• environmental conservation
• community wellbeing

When rural and Indigenous communities are equipped with secure land rights that are gender-equal and socially inclusive, they are better able to make investments – in sustainable farming techniques like terracing, improved irrigation, and agroforestry – that conserve soil and water and build resilience to climate change.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CLIMATE CHANGE WORK

Welcoming three new Board members

Landesa is excited to introduce three new additions to its Board of Directors.

The new board members (shown from left to right above), Luciana Aquino-Hagedorn, J.D., Senior Fellow at the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, Columbia University; Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, Director of African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD); and Darshana Shanbhag, M.D., a primary care physician in the Seattle area, add to a diverse and talented team of professionals who advise on our mission to strengthen land rights for women and men in the world’s poorest places.

“Luciana, Wanjiru, and Darshana bring with them a wealth of experience and knowledge of inclusive social and economic enterprises from around the world. I'm proud to welcome three leaders of their caliber to our ranks,” said Landesa Board Chair Vikesh Mahendroo.

Terms for the three new board members officially began with Landesa’s March 19 board meeting.
 

NEW BOARD MEMBER PROFILES

Over $375K raised at Seed the Change

Thank you to everyone that attended our (first virtual!) Seed the Change Gala this year. Together, we raised over $375,000 for land rights action! We are deeply humbled by your support and dedication to strengthening land rights for people experiencing poverty around the world.

If you didn't have a chance to catch the whole show, or want to share with friends, you can watch a highlight reel or full recording of the gala.

Landesa in the news

Staff Spotlight: Li Ping

Li Ping is the China Program Director and Senior Policy Advisor based in Seattle, Washington. Li joined Landesa in 1995, though he began working in 1987 for Landesa’s founders, Roy Prosterman and Tim Hanstad, as an interpreter for their fieldwork and government meetings in China. Leading up to his current role at Landesa, Li served as a Senior Attorney, Tenure Specialist, Staff Attorney, and Chief Representative in Beijing.

What inspires your work with Landesa?
I once worked on a collective farm in a remote Chinese village, earning seven cents a day. Despite suffering from this extreme poverty, I did not realize its deep roots in a lack of secure land rights. It was Landesa and its founders Roy and Tim who helped me realize the root cause of many Chinese farmers’ poverty, which has led me to be devoted to this mission. These experiences have yielded my strong and never-shivering commitment to reducing poverty for farmers experiencing poverty by creating economic opportunities through securing their land rights.

READ LI PING'S INTERVIEW