Natural resource management & land tenure

Key readings & websites

   
The following selection of free, online resources provides rapid access to key references on the main topics of the dossier. For a fully updated list that includes the most recent resources, click here.

• Documents
• Websites 
• KIT Library Queries

Documents

• Land information management in Uganda : current status
  Wabineno, L.M.; Musinguzi, M.; Ekbäck, P. | 2011 | Uganda
  This paper presents the current status of land information management system in Uganda, the different problems faced with the system and the practical solutions to the problems. Currently, there are 112 districts, each of which mandated to have its own land office.
• The green rush : the global race for farmland and the rights of land users
  De Schutter, Olivier | 2011
  This article questions the claimed advantages of land grab. It is likely that the poorest farmers will be priced out from these emerging markets for land rights, and that the interests of those depending on the commons will be ignored. Security of tenure for the rural poor must be protected.
• Decentralization and rural service delivery in Uganda
  Bashaasha, Bernard; Mangheni, Margaret Najjingo; Nkonya, Ephraim | 2011| Uganda
  The paper documents the state of knowledge regarding rural service provision in Uganda under decentralization and identifies knowledge gaps for further investigation. Its focus is on education, health, and agricultural advisory services, as well as the management of natural resources in Uganda.
• Challenges and opportunities for collaborative landscape governance in the east Usambara mountains, Tanzania
  Rantala, Salla | cop. 2011 | Tanzania
  The workings of the governance of natural resources at local and district levels was studied in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania, in order to strengthen collaboration between the actors and institutions at these levels.
• Environmental and gender impacts of land tenure regularization in Africa : pilot evidence from Rwanda
  Ali, Daniel Ayalew; Deininger, Klaus; Goldstein, Markus | 2011 | Rwanda
  Decentralized, low-cost land tenure regularization in Rwanda improved land access for legally married women, stimulated investment and maintenance of soil conservation measures, and had no negative effect in terms of distress sales and consecutive landlessness.
• Decentralization, land tenure reforms and local institutional actors : building partnerships for equitable and sustainable land governance in Africa
  Hilhorst, Thea
  This paper looks into the prospects for decentralized land governance to allow more discretion and freedom of action by local institutional actors. It also assesses the requirements for ensuring responsible local governance in terms of land registration, transactions, accountability and oversight.
  Accepted for publication in Land Tenure Journal, June 2010, no. 1. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• Land Rights Reform and Governance in Africa. How to Make it Work in the 21^st Century?
  Alden Wily, L.
  This paper looks at the root causes of insecurity in land tenure and current indications as well as constraints of real reforms. It discusses the conditions for an enabling reform, through community-based and incrementally expanding change.
  UNDP Oslo Governance Centre & UNDP Drylands Development Centre, United Nations Development Programme, New York, USA | 2006 | 76pp.
• Rural Livelihood, Poverty Reduction and Food Security in Southern Africa: Is Community-based Natural Resources Management the Answer?
  Arntzen, J., Setlhogile, T. and Barnes, J.
  This paper focuses on the socio-economic benefits of community-based natural resource management and its contributions to rural livelihoods, its impact on poverty and food security, and a comparison with other land use and development options.
  International Resources Group, Washington, USA | 2007 | 45pp.
• Supporting Decentralisation and Local Governance in Third Countries
  Boosuyt, J., Hauck, V. and Keijzer, N.
  This reference document is meant as a practical tool to provide strategic and operational guidance on the complex processes of decentralization and local governance. It looks at strategic questions in designing and implementing programmes as well as challenges and lessons learned.
  Europeaid, Brussels, Belgium | 2007 | 126pp.
• Of Global Concern: Rural Livelihood Dynamics and Natural Resource Governance
  Havnevik, K., Negash, T. and Beyene, A. (eds.)
  The report discusses the need for policymakers, researchers and civil society to better target the socio-economic, cultural and institutional complexities of rural lives and aspirations. Includes case studies from Africa, Latin America, India and Sweden.
  SIDA Studies No. 16, Stockholm, Sweden | 2006 | 268pp.
• Literature Review of Governance and Secure Access to Land.
  Palmer, R.
  This review summarises key findings from research into the governance issues of security of land tenure and distributional inequalities. It outlines research findings on effective ways to build capacity, accountability and responsiveness of the institutions governing access to land.
  GSDRC, DFID | 2007 | 37pp.
• Land Rights and Land Conflicts in Africa: A review of issues and experiences.
  Lund, C., Odgaard, R. and Sjaastad, E.
  This paper identifies important issues in the ongoing debate about African land rights and land conflicts. It also discusses various policy approaches adopted on the continent to solve land tenure problems and related conflicts.
  Danish Institute for International Studies | 2006 | 46pp.
• Land Grab or Development Opportunity? Agricultural Investment and International Land Deals in Africa.
  Colutla, L., Vermeulen, S., Leonard, R. and Keeley, J.
  The first detailed study of large scale land acquisitions in Africa analyses the modalities and likely impacts. It highlights the possible opportunities if things are managed well and warns about the risks if contracts are not properly negotiated and enforced.
  IIED, FAO, IFAD, London/Rome, UK/Italy | 2009 | 130pp.
• Nature, Wealth, and Power: Emerging Best Practice for Revitalizing Africa.
  This paper discusses natural resource management as a key economic and governance issue for rural Africa. Building on lessons learned in natural resource–based development in rural Africa, it presents principles and action steps that can serve as a guide to investment there.
  Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade Bureau of USAID, Washington DC, USA | 2002 | 36pp.
• Beyond Tenure - Rights-Based Approaches to Peoples and Forests, Some Lessons from the Forest Peoples Programme
  Colchester, M.
  On the basis of a review of 17 years of programmatic work with forest peoples in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, this paper explores the complexity of rights that need recognition if community-based livelihoods in forests are to be secured and well-being is to be improved.
  The Rights and Resources Initiative, Washington DC, USA |2008 | 52pp.
• Voluntary Guidelines for Good Governance in Land and Natural Resource Tenure.
  Suárez, S.M., Osorio, L.M. and Langford, M.
  This paper examines the FAO initiative to adopt guidelines for land and natural resources tenure from a civil society’s point of view, highlighting the role of a human rights framework to improve such a governance system and to make it accountable, transparent, democratic and participatory.
  FIAN International, Hakijamii | 2009 | 85pp.
• From Exclusion to Ownership? Challenges and Opportunities in Advancing Forest Tenure Reform.
  Sunderlin, W.D., Hatcher, J. and Liddle, M.
  This study shows that despite a continued transition towards recognizing forest land access and ownership of local people, significant challenges remain. It describes these challenges and provides recommendations on how the forest tenure reform process can be carried forward.
  The Rights and Resources Initiative, Washington DC, USA | 2008 | 64pp.
• Tenure in REDD: Start-point or Afterthought?
  Cotula, L. and Mayers, J.
  This report aims to promote debate on the REDD mechanisms, drawing on experience from rainforest countries. It explores tenure issues and identifies key challenges to be addressed if REDD is to have equitable and sustainable impact.
  IIED, London, UK | 2009 | 67pp.
• Tenure Rights and Beyond: Community Access to Forest Resources in Latin America.
  Larson, A.M., Cronkleton, P., Barry, D. and Pacheco, P.
  This paper collects different case studies on the evolving rights of forest groups in relation to access to forests and to the economic benefits such access entails in Latin America. Includes case studies from Guatemala, Brazil, and Nicaragua.
  CIFOR, Bogor, Indonesia | 2008 | 104pp.
• Devolution of Resource Rights, Poverty, and Natural Resource Management - A Review
  Shyamsundar, P.; Araral, E. and Weeraratne, S.
  This paper explores the impact, success factors and emerging challenges of decentralized natural resource management, in relation to community-based wildlife management, irrigation management transfer, and community forestry.
  The World Bank Environmental Economics Series, Washington DC, USA | 2005 | 124pp.
• Waiting for Democracy. The Politics of Choice in Natural Resource Decentralization
  Ribot, J.C.
  This research report aims to raise consciousness of the questions that remain concerning the definition and application of better environmental governance with respect to decentralization in natural resource management.
  World Resource Institute, Washington DC, USA | 2004 | 154pp.
• Building Local Democracy Through Natural Resource Interventions, an Environmentalist’s Responsibility. A Policy Brief
  Ribot, J.C.
  This policy brief provides natural resource policy-makers and practitioners with an approach for evaluating how their policies and projects can support the emergence and consolidation of local democracy. Includes case studies from Benin, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Malawi and Senegal.
  World Resource Institute, Washington DC, USA | 2008 | 38pp.
• Mali, Botswana, Namibia and Malawi: Institutional Aspects of Renewable Natural Resources Governance and Management through Special Districts
  Thomson, J.D. (ed.)
  This document presents eleven cases studies of formal and non-formal special districts, offering promise as an institutional means to improve the sustainable governance and management of renewable natural resources in Africa.
  ARD-BioFor IQC Consortium, Burlington, USA | 2004 | 248pp.
• Lands of the Poor: Local Environmental Governance and the Decentralized Management of Natural Resources
  Bonfiglioli, A.
  This paper argues that good, local-level mechanisms for environmental governance lead to productive natural resource management practices that improve the productivity of local rural economies, and also increase awareness of the importance of environmental issues, enhance local accountability and, finally, strengthen local democracy.
  United Nations Capital Development Fund, New York, USA | 2004 | 159pp.
• Policies and Practices for Improving and Securing Access to Land
  Coltula, L., Toulmin, C. and Quan, J.
  This paper analyses the links between land access and poverty reduction, and reviews recent policy and practice to improve land access for poorer groups in different parts of the world.
  IIED, London, UK | 2006 | 31pp.
• A Review of Tools for Incorporating Community Knowledge, Preferences, and Values into Decision Making in Natural Resources Management
  Lynam, T., De Jong, W., Sheil, D., Kusumanto, T. and Evans, K.
  The authors survey and evaluate selected participatory tools that have been proven effective in natural resources management and research with forest communities. Based on an analysis framework, each tool is examined for its strengths, weaknesses and adaptability.
  Ecology and Society 12(1) | 2007 | 15pp.

Websites
 

• The Community-Based Natural Resource Management Network (CBNRM)
• The Rural Hub - Supporting Rural Development in Western and Central Africa
• Rights and Resources Initiative
• CGIAR Systemwide Program on Collective Action and Property Rights
• International Land Coalition
• FAO Natural Resources Management and Environment Department 
• IIED - International Institute for Environment and Development
• Eldis Livelihoods and Natural Resource Management Resources
• Forest Governance Learning Group
• FRAME Natural Resource Management Communities
• IIED Gatekeeper Series on Sustainable Natural Resource Development
• IS Academy on Land Governance for Equitable and Sustainable Development
  
  

KIT Library Queries

• Conduct your own library search for paper and/or electronic resources