Natural resources and their effective management are necessary for securing the realisation of human rights. The management of natural resources is linked to broad issues of economic development, as well as to political stability, peace and security, but it is also intimately connected to the political, economic, social and cultural rights of individuals and communities relying on these resources. The management of natural resources often leads to ill-planned development, misappropriation of land, corruption, bad governance, misaligned budget priorities, lack of strong institutional reforms and weak policies coupled with a continued denial of the human rights of local communities. This book argues that human rights law can play an important role in ensuring a more effective and sustainable management of natural resources, putting forward the idea of a human rights-based normative framework for natural resource management. It offers a comprehensive analysis of the different norms, procedures, and approaches developed under human rights law that are relevant to the management of natural resources. Advocating for a less market and corporate approach to the control, ownership, and management of natural resources, this book supports the development of holistic and coherent integration of human rights law in the overall international legal framework governing the management of natural resources.

"The book provides a practice-oriented and comprehensive analysis of the role of IHRL in regulating the exploration and exploitation of natural resources. ... While the book is accessible to those approaching the subject for the first time, it identifies pressing areas for further examination that will be of interest to advanced researchers. With decades of experience researching on natural resource management and indigenous peoples' rights, local community rights, and benefit sharing, Gilbert has succeeded in developing a truly interdisciplinary resource that will be essential for scholars, policymakers and practitioners in the fields of human rights, environmental studies, international law, international relations, and resource politics." - Michael Addaney, Chinese Journal of Environmental Law