Improve coordination and partnership in geospatial information management, conference concludes

Abstract

The Addis Ababa Declaration, adopted by over 300 delegates from 57 different countries resolves to “advocate for and increase political awareness and value of geospatial information in the context of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and the 2063 African Union Agenda as a collective vision and roadmap to secure land and property rights for all.” Entitled ‘Geospatial Information Management Towards Good Land Governance for the 2030 Agenda’ (Sustainable Development Goals), the Forum, opened on 20 April by Ethiopia’s President, Mr. Mulatu Teshome, notes that up to 75% of people-to-land relationships globally are not formalised thus paving a way to insecurity of tenure and unproductive use of land. The delegates emphasised the positive contribution geo-spatial information can have towards the implementation of the sustainable development goals and that good land governance through up-to-date and accurate information underpins a successful implementation of the goals.