Refers to all methods of obtaining land for project purposes, which may include outright purchase; expropriation of property; and acquisition of access rights, such as easements or rights of way. Land acquisition may also include the acquisition of unoccupied or unutilized land whether or not the landholder relies upon such land for income or livelihood purposes, repossession of public land that is used or occupied by individuals or households, and project impacts that result in land being submerged or otherwise rendered unusable or inaccessible. Land includes anything growing on or permanently affixed to land, such as crops, bodies of water that are appurtenant to the land, buildings, and other improvements. See Land Acquisition for more information.
Adapted from World Bank, "World Bank Environmental and Social Framework," Washington, DC, 2016, View the PDF; Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), "Environmental and Social Framework," 2021, View the PDF.