A Rapid Evidence Assessment of Investment Decision-Making for Land

This is a literature review (a ‘rapid evidence assessment’ to be precise) of land investment strategies, particularly two land uses that are prominent within the investment strategies of private sector companies, institutional investors, and private wealthy individuals – renewable energy and forestry investments. Factors were extracted from the literature and combined with previous work to create a conceptual framework of how different factors influence land values and concentration of ownership. Financial incentives, such as natural capital payments (i.e. carbon credits) were included in the conceptual framework as these are proving to have a dramatic effect on land values currently. The aim of the framework is to demonstrate the complexity of land markets and how regulation or intervention in one area can have consequences in other areas, as well as being able to highlight the many competing interests in demand- and supply-led dynamics.