Reform of Land Tenure

Given the importance of land titling issues in causing livestock-related deforestation, there is a case for reforming land tenure and land markets.

Ideally governments should end policies whereby land on forest frontiers can be freely occupied or claimed, or at least adopt a zonation policy whereby this can only happen in specific areas (equivalent to the establishment of protected areas elsewhere).

Specifically:

- Policies which make clearing forest a condition of, or the best strategy towards, gaining title should be reformed
- As much as is possible, those being given title to forest land should be required by law or local regulation to keep a high proportion of it uncleared.
- Local regulations requiring forest clearance to be of single contiguous parcels will decrease forest fragmentation, and the unnecessary elongation of forest-pasture interfaces.

Where title to established pasture or cropland in the vicinity of forest frontiers has remained undefined, it is likely overall that titling of these lands will be beneficial. However, if there is a gap between such a policy being discussed and being implemented, it may lead to a short-term trend of forest clearance.

Research/Appraisal Methods

Land tenure reform needs to be based on an accurate understanding of current land laws and land markets and their effects (see land titling issues). In addition, policy-makers will need to know the degree of concentration of landholding, and the frequency of land transfers, both to plan and to monitor new policies. However, unless reliable and accurate land registry systems exist, this may require time-consuming, and not necessarily reliable, research.

Related Policy Options

Land taxation
Establishment of protected areas
Critical appraisal of road building

Key references

Kaimowitz, D. 1995. Livestock and Deforestation in Central America in the 1980s and 1990s: A Policy Perspective. EPTD Discussion Paper, IFPRI, Washington DC, 1995. Click to view as Word document . (further information including copies of the report can be obtained from IFPRI at http://www.iimi.org/ifpri)

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