The consultative workshop, which took place 27-29 March 2006 at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC), Addis Ababa, was the first step in the process of developing a land policy framework and guidelines. The discussions were informed by an issues/discussion paper, and brought together representatives from African governments, Regional Economic Communities, Civil Society including farmers' organizations, African private sector, Centres of Excellence and Development Partners.

The purpose, and often the result, of the legislation which has been gradually introduced over the last fifty years has been to replace a system of unwritten customary rights which varied from region to region with a relatively simple system of land ownership based on written and published texts, familiar to all and applicable to the territory as a whole.

This paper states that the development strategy of most African countries, since independence, has depended mainly upon the exploitation of their natural resources. These include agriculture, minerals, energy, water and other biological resources. Unfortunately, the strategy did not bring about the expected results but created environmental degradation and increased poverty (World Bank, 2003).

This paper focused on managing land based resources for sustainable development: highlights on the status of sustainable development in Africa.

The recent FAO in-depth study on agricultural and food problems in Africa concluded that even the present inadequate food supply situation is unsustainable. Unless major policy decisions are taken and implemented to resolve the food production crisis and reduce the rate of population growth, the trends of the past 25 years will continue and the food supply situation will continue to deteriorate during the next 25 years. Famine of the magnitude experienced during the 1983-1934 drought could become a regular feature even in period of more average rainfall.

The report considers the critical issues providing the context for discussing land issues affecting West Africa as a region. These include the political, social and economic context, colonial legacy and legal plural systems, the operations of regional economic communities and other regional initiatives, impact of demography, migration and urbanization, conflicts and post-conflict issues, as well as shared resources and ecosystems.