TIERRAS: An Integrated Approach to Land Conflict Resolution

This document seeks to familiarize development practitioners with integrated land conflict mediation concepts, and encourages the exploration of new programming opportunities. It was created based on the recent success of the TIERRAS "Promoting Peaceful Solutions to Land Conflicts in Alta Verapaz" project as its primary source of inspiration.

The TIERRAS project, implemented by Mercy Corps and its local partner JADE (Juristas Asociados para el
Desarrollo Legal) since 2003, has proven to be a vital source of knowledge and lessons learned for tackling some of the most complex and intractable land conflicts in the Guatemalan highlands of Alta Verapaz.

No one model can offer a sure-fire formula for land conflict resolution. Land conflicts, like all conflicts, are exceedingly multi-faceted and multi-causal. They require humility and a careful eye for selecting appropriate methods according to the history and socio-economic dynamics of each conflict-affected community.

This document is meant to act as part case study and part technical resource. It is recommended to read the document in its entirety once to capture how the project components link and complement each other, and then return to delve into specific sections of interest. We hope that you find the document both interesting and useful.

You can download and read a short overview of the piece by clicking here.