Global trends in forest tenure:common issues and
way forward
Francesca RomanoForest Policy Service, FAOYaoundé, 25-29 May 2009
http://www.fao.org/forestry/tenure/en/
Agenda
• Overview of the main results of FAO forest tenure assessment in 4 regions
• Figures• Main common issues
• Global Forest Resources Assessment: a tool for forest tenure analysis
• Future efforts • FAO plans• Your inputs
*
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Africa
South andSoutheast Asia
Central Asia
Latin America Public
Private
Community/Group ow ned
Ow ned by indigenous or tribalpeople
Other types of ow nership
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Africa
South andSoutheast Asia
Central Asia
Latin America
Strictly limited
User rights/ Customaryrights/Permits to hunt, gather deadw ood and NWFP
Communities
Privates
Other
Forest tenure reform can have positive impact on SFM and poverty alleviation (Viet Nam, Tanzania, Mongolia)but...
the forest sector is still very “static” and there are no guidelines on how to secure and diversify forest tenure
Is tenure an issue?
• Limited diversification and resistance to change
• Limited data availability
• Contradicting/ not harmonized policies and legislations
• Limited incentives to invest • marginal resources and benefit sharing systems
• insecurity/ fragility of tenure rights
• high costs, limited returns
• little recognition of traditional/customary tenure systems
• bad tenure governanceineffective legislationcomplex land policies and procedureslack of capacities to implement reformsweak institutionsinformation flow not adequate
• Tenure is not yet a priority in Countries’ agenda. Necessary a formal endorsement, that recognizes also forests
• Need for forest tenure reforms based on globally agreed principles, mechanisms and fundamental requirements
The process is important
How to develop effective tenure systems?
• Which specific aspects should be addressed?
• Which format?• Which
complementary tools/mechanisms?
Global Forest Resource assessment• Principles:
– is based on country reports, data provided by Gov./Ministries
– common terminology and definitions• Strengths:
– Country commitment– Forest tenure table is new and improved– Periodical update (5 years)
• Weakness:– Only official figures are provided – Informal tenure systems are not included, nor
contested lands (with some exceptions, e.g. Peru’)
Forest tenure assessment table
Other types of ownership
...of which owned by indigenous / tribal communities
...of which owned by local communities
...of which owned by private business entities and institutions
...of which owned by individuals
Private ownership
Public ownership
2005 2000 1990 Forest area
FRA categories
Other
Communities
Private corporations and institutions
Individuals
Public Administration
2005 2000 1990 Forest area
FRA categories
Public forest management categories
Future efforts
• Guidelines for tenure diversification
• Voluntary guidelines on governance of tenure of land and other natural resources and other
• Capacity building• Country projects in
support to tenure reforms and data collection (e.g. Nepal, Argentina, China)
...“Not being able to fully exercise one's rights can be likened to owning a vehicle without having a key”...
Additional slides
Private ownership structure in Europeaccording to % share in FOWL (11 countries)
82%
5%
13%
Individuals / families
Forest industries
Private institutions
Public ownership structure in Europeaccording to % share in FOWL (11 countries)
85%
1%
14%State ownership
Provincialownership
CommunalOwnership
Share [%] in area of forest and other wooded land in Europe(23 countries, forest area only for Germany and Lithuania)
50.09%
0.36%
49.55% Private ow nership
Public ow nership
Other ow nership