# General info

### Land area

This section records the **area size of the deal/project**. Please enter all area figures in **hectares (ha)** and, where possible, link values to a **year or exact date** and provide the **data source**.

Land Matrix distinguishes three area variables:

#### 1) Intended size (ha)

**Definition:** Total area the investor **intends** to acquire, lease, or otherwise obtain land-use, control, or ownership rights for **under this specific deal**.

**How to record**

- Enter the **overall intended size** for this deal (in ha).
- If the investor already controls part of the area and plans to expand, include the **already acquired** area in the total.  
    *Example:* 1,000 ha already held + plan to acquire another 1,000 ha → **Intended size = 2,000 ha**.

**Scope rule (avoid overcounting)**

- Record only intentions clearly linked to **this specific deal and location**.
- Do **not** enter general expansion plans referring to the investor’s **total land portfolio** in a country without deal-specific geographic information.  
    *Example:* “The company plans to expand to 10,000 ha in the country” (no location, not deal-specific) → **do not record** as intended size for this deal.
- Do **not** include intended expansions that likely refer to **other projects** not listed in Land Matrix.

**Notes**

- Use the comment field to explain uncertainty, assumptions, or conflicting figures.

#### 2) Size under contract (leased or purchased area) (ha)

**Definition:** Area that is **contractually secured** under this deal (i.e., land for which the investor has formally acquired land-use, control, or ownership rights through a contract such as a lease or purchase agreement).

**Year-/date-based entries**  
This variable can contain **multiple entries** to track changes over time (increases or decreases). Each entry includes:

- **Date (year or exact date):** when the specified area size was valid / under contract
- **Area (ha):** contracted area size at that time
- **Current (checkbox):** **mandatory** (single choice) to mark the **most recent** value

**Data entry rules**

- Add entries in **chronological order** (top to bottom).  
    The row order corresponds to the export order.
- Use the **“+ / –”** controls to add/remove rows.

**Notes**

- Record each distinct contracted area size as a separate entry.
- If sizes differ across sources or over time, explain the reasons in **Comment on land area** (e.g., phased contracting, partial cancellations, boundary revisions).

#### 3) Size in operation (production) (ha)

**Definition:** Area **actually in use** for operations/production (e.g., planted, cultivated, harvested, mined), i.e., the portion of land under the deal that is actively used.

**Year-/date-based entries**  
As with size under contract, you can record **multiple entries** over time. Each entry includes:

- **Date (year or exact date):** when the operational use occurred / was observed
- **Area (ha):** area in operation at that time
- **Current (checkbox):** **mandatory** (single choice) to mark the **most recent** value

*Example:* If 2,500 ha were planted in 2016 → enter **Area (ha) = 2,500** with **Date = 2016**.

**Data entry rules**

- Add entries in **chronological order** (top to bottom).
- Use the **“+ / –”** controls to add/remove rows.

**Notes**

- Record increases/decreases as separate entries.
- Clarify fluctuations and differing figures in **Comment on land area** if needed (e.g., partial cultivation, fallow periods, shifts between crops).

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### Intention of investment

**(Year-/date-based variable)**

Use this variable to record the investor’s **business intention** associated with the land acquisition (i.e., the **intended land use / intended product categories** of the deal). Changes over time can be documented by adding multiple entries.

#### How to enter data

Each entry consists of:

- **Choices (multi-select):** select one or more intentions that apply for the given point in time
- **Area (ha) (optional):** decimal number in hectares linked to the selected intention(s)
- **Date (optional):** ISO 8601 format (**YYYY-MM-DD**, **YYYY-MM**, or **YYYY**)
- **Current (mandatory):** tick **one** entry as the most recent (latest) entry
- Use **“+ / –”** to add or remove complete entries

#### Guidance

- **Multiple intentions may apply** at the same time. Select **all relevant** categories.  
    *Example:* Sugar cane can be used for **food crops**, **biofuels**, and **energy generation** → select all applicable categories.
- If you enter an **Area (ha)**, use it to assign the area corresponding to the selected intention(s) for that date/year. If unclear, leave Area blank and explain in the comment field (if available).
- For detailed lists of crops, livestock, and resources, refer to **Annexes 2, 3, and 4**.

#### Value range (Choices)

**Agriculture (incl. tree crops)**

- Biomass for biofuels
- Biomass for energy generation (agriculture)
- Fodder
- Food crops
- Livestock
- Non-food agricultural commodities
- Agriculture unspecified

*Notes:*  
Use **Agriculture unspecified** if the specific agricultural purpose is unclear.

- **Food crops:** edible produce for human consumption
- **Non-food agricultural commodities:** non-edible products (e.g., rubber, cosmetics, fertilisers, tobacco)

**Forestry**

- Biomass for energy generation (forestry)
- For carbon sequestration / REDD
- Forest logging / management for wood and fibre
- Timber plantation for wood and fibre
- Forestry unspecified

*Notes:*  
**Timber plantation** refers to long-term forestry concessions with forest management and typically reforestation obligations; it does not refer to one-time ad hoc logging concessions. Timber plantations may involve establishing new plantations or taking over existing forests. Use **Forestry unspecified** if the specific forestry intention is unclear.

**Renewable energy power plants**

- Solar park
- Wind farm
- Renewable energy unspecified

**Other**

- Conservation
- Industry
- Land speculation
- Mining
- Oil / Gas extraction
- Tourism
- Other

*Notes:*  
Select **Other** only if none of the listed categories fit and provide details in the comment field (if available). Use **Renewable energy power plants** (not “Other”) when energy is produced via wind/solar facilities.

#### Format

- **Area:** decimal, ha (optional per entry)
- **Date:** ISO 8601 (YYYY-MM-DD / YYYY-MM / YYYY) (optional per entry)
- **Current:** checkbox (mandatory; mark the most recent entry)

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### Nature of the deal

This variable captures the **type of transaction / land-rights arrangement** under which the land is/was acquired for the deal (i.e., how land rights are transferred or granted).

#### How to select values

Select the option(s) that best describe the agreement(s) governing the deal:

- **Outright purchase** (full transfer of ownership)
- **Lease** (land-use rights granted for a defined period)
- **Concession** (time-bound right to use/operate land or resources; scope and legal meaning may vary by country)
- **Exploitation permit / licence / concession (mineral resources)** (right to exploit a specific mineral resource in a defined location; use only for mining deals)
- **Pure contract farming** (no land rights transferred; production organised via contracts with farmers)

#### Guidance and typical cases

- **Mining deals:** select **Exploitation permit/licence/concession (mineral resources)**.
- **Forest logging/management:** select **Concession**.
- **Most agricultural deals:** typically **Outright purchase** or **Lease**.

**Note:** The scope of rights differs between transaction types, and the legal interpretation of **lease** and **concession** may vary by country/region.

#### Multiple selections and documentation

- If a deal includes **multiple agreements** (e.g., several licences, combined lease + permit, subsumed/merged deals), you may select **more than one** option.
- If none of the categories fit, select the closest option (if any) and describe the arrangement in the **comment field**.
- Where information is ambiguous (e.g., conflicting sources, overlapping contracts), add a short explanation in the comment field.

---

### Negotiation status

**(Year-/date-based variable)**

This variable records the **contractual trajectory** of the land acquisition over time—from initial interest through negotiations and agreements to possible cancellation, expiry, or changes in ownership. **Failed deals are not removed** from Land Matrix.

#### How to enter data

For each change in status, create a separate entry using **“Add more”**:

- **Status** (select from the list below)
- **Year/Date:** when the status was reached **for the first time**
- **Current:** tick **one** entry as the most recent/current status
- **Comments:** explain context, uncertainty, or complex sequences

Add entries in **chronological order**.

**Important:** Do **not** infer negotiation status from implementation status. Record negotiation status based on **evidence about agreements/contracts**, not on operational activity.

#### Status categories (definitions)

**Intended (Expression of interest)**  
Investor expresses an intention to invest (sometimes with an indicated location), but no formal negotiation is confirmed.

**Intended (Under negotiation)**  
Investor and government/national company are discussing a possible land transfer; **no agreement** and **no contract** yet.

**Intended (Memorandum of Understanding)**  
Preliminary agreement (MoU) signed. Land use may begin before a formal contract; explain details in comments.

**Concluded (Oral agreement)**  
Agreement reached but no written contract signed yet (or unclear whether a contract was signed).

**Concluded (Contract signed)**  
Written contract signed.

**Failed (Negotiations failed)**  
Negotiations terminated before agreement/contract.

**Failed (Contract cancelled)**  
Existing contract cancelled/terminated/broken.

**Contract expired**  
Contract ended. If a new contract is signed later, record the new concluded status as a subsequent entry.

**Change of ownership**  
Deal taken over by another investor.

- **i) New contract signed with new investor:** record *change of ownership* (takeover date), then record *concluded* for the new contract (contract year/date).
- **ii) Existing contract transferred (unchanged):** record *change of ownership* (takeover date) and keep the relevant *concluded* status with the original contract year/date; the deal remains concluded.

#### Practical notes

- Always add entries **chronologically**.
- Use comments to document uncertainty, conflicting sources, or complex sequences.
- One entry must be selected as **Current**.

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### Implementation status

**(Year-/date-based variable)**

This variable captures the **stage of implementation** reached at a given time (i.e., what is happening on the ground and when). It can change over the lifecycle of a project.

#### How to enter data

Create a separate entry for each change using **“Add more”**:

- **Status** (select from the list below)
- **Year/Date:** when the project first reached this stage
- **Current:** tick **one** entry as the most recent status
- **Comment:** explain evidence, uncertainty, or transitions

If a deal is subsumed and sources imply different implementation stages, document the differences in comments.

#### Status categories (definitions)

**Project not started**  
No implementation activities have taken place.

**Start-up phase**  
Preparatory activities are underway, but **production has not started** (e.g., land clearing, roads, facilities, irrigation).

**In operation**  
Production is underway (including seeding/planting). Also applies to active extraction/operations in non-agricultural projects where relevant.

**Project abandoned**  
Project temporarily or permanently halted. Clarify (temporary/permanent) in comments if possible.

#### Practical guidance

- Record changes **chronologically** and note key transitions in comments.
- Always select one entry as **Current**.