A/79/317 implementation are often overlooked, leaving resettled individuals struggling to rebuild their livelihoods. 55 60. Finding suitable replacement land remains a persistent challenge, often confronted only during project implementation. 56 Replacement land may not be feasible for sacred or historical sites. For example, the Blueberry River First Nation in British Columbia demonstrated that industrial development had left no territories for it to carry out its traditional ways of life. 57 61. Non-economic losses, such as cultural heritage and Indigenous knowledge, are challenging to calculate and compensate for. Communities are often treated as a single entity, overlooking diverse needs, while livelihood assistance programmes suffer from inadequate oversight, hindering their effectiveness. These programmes typically rely on short-term financial aid and basic training, assuming that it is sufficient for long-term livelihood restoration. 62. Benefit-sharing. Current resettlement practices often view livelihood restoration as a means to compensate for asset loss rather than support actual livelihood restoration. Despite efforts, such as those seen in the Nam Theun 2 project in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, research reveals persistent impoverishment and human rights issues. 58 Resource development on Indigenous land often fails to deliver sufficient local benefits, and agreed compensation is frequently inadequate (see A/HRC/24/41). 59 Numerous examples illustrate that, all too often, projects purporting to be of “vital national interest” are not necessarily in the interest of all, and usually not in the interest of those directly affected (see A/HRC/55/53/Add.1, para. 50). 63. However, some natural resources and mining companies are developing new approaches to agreement-making and benefit-sharing with affected communities. In Canada, for example, First Nations, Métis and Inuit entities were partners or beneficiaries in nearly 20 per cent of the country’s electricity-generating infrastructure in 2022, most of which produces renewable energy. 60 In Nepal, benefit-sharing policies in the hydropower sector formalize royalty distribution to communities, though issues with clarity and uneven distribution remain. 61 In Australia, land rights __________________ 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 16/24 World Bank Group, “World Bank acknowledges shortcomings in resettlement projects, announces action plan to fix problems”, 2015. Available at www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2015/ 03/04/world-bank-shortcomings-resettlement-projects-plan-fix-problems. See also World Bank, “Involuntary resettlement portfolio review: phase II – resettlement implementation”, 2014. Ana Maria Esteves, “A people-centred approach to assessing livelihoods impacts”, Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, vol. 39, No. 6 (2021), pp. 478–495. The Supreme Court of British Columbia released its decision in Yahey v. British Columbia on 29 June 2021. See https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023WLRS0004-000043#:~:text= On%20June%2029%2C%202021%2C%20the,their%20traditional%20ways%20of%20life . Thayer Scudder, “A retrospective analysis of Laos’s Nam Theun 2 dam”, International Journal of Water Resources Development, vol. 36, No. 2 (2020), pp. 351–370. The Indigenous villages of Newtok and Nakapiak in Alaska, United States of America, each received $25 million for relocation as part of the tribal relocation assistance programme established in 2021, which was reportedly one quarter of the amount required for the full relocation of the communities. The Cree Nation has signed over 75 agreements with federal and provincial governments, including benefit agreements and agreements on payments to Cree communities. See Canada Energy Regulator, “Market snapshot: Indigenous ownership of Canadian renewable en ergy projects is growing”, 2021; available at www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/ market-snapshots/2023/market-snapshot-indigenous-ownership-canadian-renewable-energyprojects-growing.html. See also Main Agreements of the Cree Nation Government; available at www.cngov.ca/governance-structure/legislation/agreements/#:~:text= In%202001%2C%20the%20Cree%20and,between%20the%20Cree%20and%20Quebec . International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, “Benefit sharing and sustainable hydropower in Nepal”, 2016. 24-15075