107 To serve as a point of engagement with critical duty-bearers in land and resource conflicts, the ANGOC, through the regional initiative “Defending Land Rights and Human Rights Defenders” has embarked on a study. The purpose is to gather evidence to substantiate and flesh out the realities that characterize and shape land and resource conflicts in the Philippines. Through this study, ANGOC wishes to contribute towards a better understanding of land and resource conflicts in the country, and to highlight human rights issues in the context of these conflicts. Specifically, the objectives of this study are to: n discuss the nature and prevalence of land and resource conflicts, including the violation of the rights of land and environment defenders, and rural poor communities; n identify the nature, causes and impacts of land and resource conflicts, and land-human rights violations; n assess the effectiveness of available conflict prevention, response, and resolution mechanisms; and, n recommend actions towards the prevention and resolution of such conflicts. Scope and approach This study focuses on land and resource conflicts that occurred from January 2017 to June 2018. Case monitoring was used as the primary approach of the study, in conjunction with policy monitoring and events-based monitoring. Institutional analysis was also conducted to assess the effectiveness of mechanisms employed to manage violence, de-escalate conflict, and address the substantive issues that lead to sustained conflict. Cases, policy and institutional documents were gathered from six National Government Agencies, 10 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and 14 online/ media sources using the purposive sampling method. Some 352 land and resource conflict cases were studied and analyzed, with 59 percent (208) of the documented cases taking place in Mindanao, 23 percent (82) occuring in Luzon, and 18 percent (62) transpiring in the Visayas region. Land Conflicts and Land Rights Defenders in the Philippines environment defenders. Rural poor communities experience forced evictions from their homes, displacement, damages to their livelihoods and property, even severe hunger and poverty. They are also exposed to geophysical and health hazards and risks, which are further complicated by natural disasters and climate change. In some cases, long-standing community relations are fractured or polarized, further weakening their capacity to adapt to land and resource conflicts.