Innovations in Land Rights
Recognition, Administration, and Governance

The eight Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) form a blueprint that is agreed to by all the
world's countries and its leading development
institutions. The first seven goals are mutually reinforcing
and are directed at reducing poverty in all its forms. The
last goal, global partnership for development, is about the
means to achieve the first seven. To track the progress in
achieving the MDGs a framework of targets and indicators has
been developed. This framework includes 18 targets and 48
indicators enabling the ongoing monitoring of the progress
that is reported on annually (United Nations, or UN 2000).
The contribution of land professionals to achieving the MDGs
is central and vital. The provision of relevant geographic
information in terms of mapping and databases of the built
and natural environments, as well as providing secure tenure
systems, systems for land valuation, land use management and
land development are all key components of the MDGs. Land
professionals have an important role in directing land
administration systems in support of secure property rights,
in particular for those who have traditionally been
disadvantaged, of efficient land markets, and of effective
land use management. These functions underpin development
and innovation and form the 'backbone' in society
that supports social justice, economic growth, and
environmental sustainability. Simply, no development will
take place without having a spatial dimension, and no
development will happen without the footprint of the land professionals.