CASLE was formed in 1969 as an association of independent professional societies and other bodies, in the field of surveying, and land and marine economy.  It aims to foster development of the profession in Commonwealth countries, including appropriate standards of education and training, and to facilitate the transfer of technology with dialogue between member institutions and others, including governments.

CASLE achieves these aims through conferences and seminars, publications and consultancy.  Topics include land administration, property rights and dispossession, dispute resolution, risk management, climate change, construction sustainability, new practices in information technology, project management, cost information, and the management of professional practices.

CASLE has been actively involved in the biennial meetings of The Commonwealth People’s Forum in conjunction with most of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings since 1997, and was invited to take part in a High Level Review of the Commonwealth in July 2001.

CASLE was accredited as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) to:

UN Habitat 2 conference in Istanbul (1996)

Istanbul + 5 meetings in New York which coincided with the UN (GASS) (2001). 

CASLE was influential in the presentation of a communiqué at UN (GASS) 2001.

CASLE contributed to the WSSD in Johannesburg in 2002, and the concurrent GABS, and has been represented at every WUF meeting. 

CASLE is a member of:

The Habitat Professionals Forum (HPF)

Commonwealth Consultative Group on Human Settlements (CCGHS)

Built Environment Professionals in the Commonwealth (BEPIC 1997)

The Commonwealth Land Administration Group (CLAG)

The Global Land Tools Network (GLTN).

The Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS)

CASLE was awarded Consultative Status with the ECOSOC from 2006.

CASLE has Trustees involved in the following coalitions:

International Ethics Standards (IES)

International Property Measurement Standards (IPMS)

International Construction Measurement Standards (ICMS)

ECOSOC – Economic and Social Council of the United Nations
GABS – Global Alliance for Building Sustainability

GASS – UN General Assembly Special Session

WSSD – World Summit on Sustainable Development

WUF – World Urban Forum