O estabelecimento centralizado das áreas protegidas diprivou muitas comunidades rurais das suas actividades de subsistência e estratégias de sobrevivência dependentes do uso dos recursos florestais (Fabricius et al. 2004; Weladji et al. 2003; Katerere, 2002; Ghimire & Pimbert, 2000). Perderam a terra e foram reassentadas (Webb, 2002; Koch, 2000; Reid et al. 1999), a caça de subsistência foi tornada ilegal (Fabricius et al. 2004).

Nos últimos 20 anos, um número crescente de organizações não-governamentais (ONGs) diversificou as suas actividades passando da prestação de serviços para a advocacia em prol de políticas. Elas estão a receber créditos pelos seus consideráveis impactos em processos globais, desde o desenvolvimento económico até à democracia. Mas estarão tais impactos a acontecer, de facto, e se sim como é que são conseguidos?

A terra está mais acima na agenda política, com intervenções pelo Presidente, Conselho de Ministros, comunidades e doadores. Embora não-oficialmente, as concessões de terras têm estado suspensas. Dois acontecimentos que vão ter lugar nas próximas semanas mostram a nova prioridade que está a ser dada às terras.

A terra volta a ser tema de debate em Moçambique, cinco anos após a aprovação de uma lei de terras na sequência de uma ampla consulta, naquele que foi um dos processos mais democráticos vividos no país nos anos 1990. A lei grangeou elogios por proteger os direitos dos camponeses e por criar, ao mesmo tempo, espaço para o investimento estrangeiro. O novo debate gira em redor de duas questões:

An overview of the types of land disputes and the dispute settlement fora.

“Land registration and cadastral surveying in much of the developing world has reached a crossroads. It is not possible to continue with business as usual in the face of massive informality within the world's cities, and new more relevant approaches have to be developed”. (Fourie, 2000).

De Soto’s influential book The mystery of capital offers a simple yet beguiling message: capitalism can be made to work for the poor, through formalising their property rights in houses, land and small businesses. This approach resonates strongly in the South African context, where private property works well for those who inhabit the so-called ‘first economy’. Evidence from South Africa, however, suggests that many of de Soto’s policy prescriptions may be inappropriate for the poorest and most vulnerable in our society, and have negative impacts on their security and well-being.

Uganda discovered commercial quantities of oil in the country in 2006 and ever since, there has been increased activity in the exploration of oil and gas. The exploration activities are being undertaken in the Albertine Graben in mostly the districts of Hoima, Buliisa, and Nwoya by international oil companies contracted by the government. Currently, there are three licensed companies namely, Tullow Uganda operations Ltd , Total E&P and CNOOC Uganda Ltd operating in the districts of Hoima, Buliisa and Nwoya within the Albertine Graben.

This report is in relation to a study on the Land Tenure and Livelihood Issues in the Albertine Graben Region. The study was carried out in three districts of Amuru Buliisa and Hoima. The study specifically focused on tenurial arrangements and land transactions in the region. The ultimate outcome of this study will be drawing of policy issues for policy engagement and dialogue towards a comprehensive policy direction to land governance in the Albertine Graben.

Mozambique has a land governance system that allows for strong protection of community-based land rights, community consultation with respect to partnerships with investors, and also secure rights to land for investors. However, the implementation of legislation has been slow and the capacity among state actors is weak. Tensions exist between a government keen on promoting foreign investment and agro-industry and a rural population that is insufficiently aware of and not always able to exercise their legal rights.

In countries where a large proportion of the total land area is held customarily, reform questions around land and development often tend to focus on the customary estate. Evidence from Solomon Islands suggests that a focus on public land holdings, even when they are relatively small in land area, can yield outsized benefits. Publicly owned land regularly includes economically valuable land and urban land on which development pressure is high. In Solomon Islands, as much as 10 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) may be affected by how effectively urban public land is governed.

Land policies are of fundamental importance to sustainable growth, good governance, and the well-being of, and the economic opportunities open to, both rural and urban dwellers - particularly the poor. To this end, research on land policy, and analysis of interventions related to the subject, have long been of interest to the Bank's Research Department, and other academic, and civil society institutions.