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Realization of rights to land, which are guaranteed by national legislation, primarily by the Constitution of our country, is of great importance in the context of a legal democratic s tate. Restrictions or violations of guaranteed rights must be minimized and eliminated, which can be done by investigating problematic aspects and «weak spots» in the field of land relations, including the right to obtain ownership of land plots from state and communal lands on a free basis, and in relation to the right to buy out plots obtained on the right of permanent use. Thus, according to Article 13 of the Constitution of Ukraine [1], it is established that the state ensures the protection of the rights of all subjects of ownership and management, the social orientation of the economy. All subjects of property rights are equal before the law. Article 14 of the Constitution of Ukraine stipulates that the right to own land is guaranteed. This right is acquired and exercised by citizens, legal entities and the state exclusively in accordanc e with the law. The article is devoted to the study of actual and, at the same time, problematic aspects related to the realization of the specified rights to land. The analysis of the current legislation and international experience regarding the acquisition of rights to land plots was carried out, the current judicial practice was analyzed on the issues initiated in the research, and proposals were made to solve the existing problems. The influence of the martial law on the realization of the right to obtain ownership of plots within the framework of free privatization, on the realization of the preferential right to purchase land plots, and on general issues of land use by subjects of law in the field of agribusiness is considered. The main focus of the article is on the search for optimal solutions and ways to solve problems that arise in the context of acquiring land from state and communal arrays, the preferential right to purchase a plot of land, and the purchase of plots by subjects who at one time received plots with the right of permanent ownership. use. According to the content of the article, successively, according to the description of the issues, proposals are put forward regarding the improvement of national legislation, the development of special measures and mechanisms aimed at the protection of land ownersh ip rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reveals the scientific and practical category of protection of the rights of landowners and land users through the prism of the system of land and legal science and methods of their protection. It also reveals the content of the ownership right to a land plot, which in modern conditions has a fundamental nature and for these reasons needs to be provided by the state with effective mechanisms for its protection and protection. The article examined the scope of the law regarding the ownership and use of land plots, taking into account the legal nature of the land plot as real property. The types of ways of protecting land rights in accordance with the current legislation are defined. The definition of an effective way of protecting land rights is analyzed, taking into account the legal model and material and legal actions necessary to achieve specific tasks facing the protection of the rights of landowners and land users. The article carries out a scientific and practical analysis of the practice of the Supreme Court of Ukraine in the field of methods of protecting the rights of landowners and land users in the essence of a land dispute. The author investigated the direct influence of the chosen method of protection on the form of court proceedings and the results of the court case. The scientific study emphasizes the importance of the correct terminological interpretation when resolving land disputes, referring to the judicial practice of the court of cassation. The emergence of certain land disputes is currently a fairly constant process, which cannot be said about the judicial practice of resolving disputes of this category. Therefore, this article proposes to consider the most relevant conclusions of the Supreme Court regarding the resolution of land disputes. The decisions of the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court, which resolve procedural issues of civil proceedings regarding evidence and proof and determining the jurisdiction of disputes regarding the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of participants in land relations in the civil proceedings of Ukraine, are analyzed. The conclusion was drawn that, by its legal nature, judicial protection of the rights of landowners and land users is a complex interdisciplinary category, and its implementation in civil proceedings requires the court to take into account the norms of civil, land legislation, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though post-colonial governments vowed to ban chiefs, they reconstructed governance systems to accommodate traditional governance structures due to the primacy of the institution. Chiefs and local government authorities have instrumental roles to play in community development. However, the relationship between them is characterised by tensions and conflicts. The hostilities between the two stakeholders and by extension officials of modern government are due to the role chiefs played in the indirect rule system. Chiefs prior to independence were labelled as collaborators of the imperial regime and obstacles to independence. In Ghana, agitations from the educated elites about allegations of corruption against Native Authorities characterised the pre-independence era. Chiefs have been debarred from local governance, creating a tempestuous relationship between the two stakeholders at the grassroots. However, the contested issues have not been given the needed attention. The article examined the contested issues between chiefs and local government authorities in New Juaben, Ghana. The study involved 25 participants selected through simple random and purposive sampling techniques. The contested issues between the two actors were over power and economic resources. Economically, chiefs contested for portions of the District Assembly Common Fund and land ownership. The desire for consultation in the nomination of government appointees, and election of MMDCEs were the politically contested issues. The article recommends the institutional representation of chiefs in the Assembly and the allocation of funds to chiefs to curtail the conflict between the two actors of community development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the study of issues of legal regulation of relations related to the transfer of ownership of a plot of land in the event of acquisition of ownership of a real estate object located on it. It was established that the implementation of the principle of a single legal share of the land plot and the real estate object on it is carried out in accordance with the requirements of land and civil legislation. The need to determine the quality of priority land legal norms was noted. It was found that the legislative innovations contributed to the unification of the regulatory and legal regulation of the implementation and practical implementation of the automatic transfer of the right to a land plot when the right to a residential building, other building or structure on it is transferred. The mechanism of simultaneous transfer from the expropriator (previous owner) to the acquirer of the real estate object of ownership of the land plot on which such an object is located is analyzed. The grounds and conditions under which such a transition is possible have been clarified. In addition, the issue of legislative regulation of real estate objects, with the acquisition of ownership of which provides for the automatic transfer of ownership to the land plot on which they are located, is also disclosed. Approaches regarding the need to improve norms due to their uncertainty (contradiction) were supported. The special requirements for the contract providing for the transfer of ownership of the real estate object located on the land owned by the alienator were analyzed, the subject and essential terms of the contract were clarified, and the feasibility of improving the legal requirements on the specified issues was noted. Taking into account the analysis of the formed judicial practice, the relevant issues of the consideration of disputes related to the provision of the principle of a single legal destiny of the real estate object and the land plot on it were analyzed, the problems of independent construction, acquisition of ownership rights to it were considered. Attention is focused on the issues of further improvement of land legal norms in order to ensure the effective functioning of the procedure for transferring the right to a land plot in the event of acquiring the right to a real estate object located on it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the historical and legal aspects of the formation and development of the oldest scientific centers of Kyivan Rus at the end of the 10th and beginning of the 12th centuries. Art., as well as the economic and legal regime of their property. It has been studied that in Kyivan Rus, as one of the powerful states of Europe in the IX–XII centuries. starting from the 10th century a significant development of education, literature and science was observed, which is connected with the Baptism of Vladimir the Great of Russia, the introduction of Byzantine, canonical law and the formation of the original ancient Russian state and legal thought. It has been established that education and science gained special development under Grand Duke Yaroslav the Wise at the end of the 10th century. and the formation of the first national science center in Ukraine – the academic center «Yaroslav Academy», which was established at Sophia Cathedral in 1037. It was found that the activities of the «Yaroslav Academy» were based on both national traditions and the use of ancient and Bulgarian-Byzantine experience. It was noted that the activities of the «Yaroslav Academy» were characterized by the presence of a spectrum of scientific directions: translation activities, creation of own literary works and the first legal monuments («Pravda Ruska»). It has been established that the «Yaroslav Academy» should be considered the first scientific academic environment on the territory of medieval Ukraine, which operated in the format of reviving and spreading scientific knowledge and creating its own scientific works. It is noted that one of the important issues of the Yaroslav Academy’s activities is the study of the economic and legal regime of its property. The article analyzes the legal regulation of land ownership, including the land ownership of the church (Kyiv Metropolis). It was found that the institution of the metropolis provided for the right to independent church-administrative activity in the internal affairs of its diocese. It was established that the management of church property was carried out in accordance with the church statutes. It was concluded that the economic management of the property of the «Yaroslav Academy» was carried out by the Kyiv Metropolitanate, which had the right to manage church property, which was formed at the expense of the «princely tithe», which was deducted in favor of the Church (Kyiv Metropolis) and profits from «church courts». [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal wetlands, vital for fisheries habitats, have suffered extensive losses. Ecosystem restoration offers opportunities to improve fish catch and restore the valuable services these ecosystems provide. Successful restoration is dependent on choosing a site where restoration is feasible, which encompasses biophysical, social, governance, logistical, and resource factors. However, factors that influence feasibility such as land tenure (governance feasibility) and future climate risks (biophysical feasibility) are often overlooked in quantitative analyses of site selection. We ask how spatial priorities for restoration change when considering how feasibility is affected by land tenure, cyclone risk, and both factors together. Specifically, we analyzed a case‐study of mangrove restoration to improve fish catch in Queensland, where there is interest in restoring coastal habitats to support fish habitats. We found that the rank order of planning units by restoration feasibility was highly influenced by both land tenure and cyclones, with cyclones changing ranks with clustered regions along the coastline and land tenure variably changing ranks throughout. In planning units where fisheries benefit is expected to be high, but cyclone risk substantially reduces restoration feasibility, practitioners could consider strategically planting mangroves near established mangrove forest and selecting resilient species for restoration. Formalizing regulations for incentives to private land holders and amending legislation for easier permitting are additional suggestions for addressing land tenure challenges. Our study emphasizes the importance of systematic approaches to considering feasibility in spatial planning for restoration to minimize the risk of failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining forest diversity is an important value in long range management planning. This study was conducted in the ecologically diverse Acadian forest region in the Province of New Brunswick, Canada across 1.65 million hectares of publicly owned (Crown) and privately owned (Freehold) land. Tree species diversity using Hill numbers was evaluated across 21 forest type/age class combinations (groups) using 1691 sample plots to assess tree species richness (0D), typical species (1D), and abundant species (2D). Across the entire study area there were 0D = 31.0 total tree species observed, 1D = 11.5 typical species, and 2D = 7.0 abundant species. Among the 21 forest types/age class combinations, the Hill numbers ranged from 0D = 16.0–28.3, 1D = 5.6–11.5, and 2D = 3.5–8.4. A comparison of public and private land ownerships showed minor differences in tree species diversity at the landscape level. More intensively managed forest types (e.g., planted stands and naturally regenerated stands with silvicultural interventions) had similar levels of landscape-scale tree species diversity as comparable forest stands receiving no silvicultural interventions. This suggests that current management practices are maintaining tree species diversity across the landscape and highlights the importance of tailored management regimes for different forest types to support this diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporary collective relocation of former combatants in cantonments plays a vital role in Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) programmes. Existing research emphasizes the necessity of implementing limited-duration cantonments to mitigate potential security dilemmas. The 2016 Peace Agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP) provides a unique experience, deviating from conventional practices by maintaining cantonments over an extended period, with some evolving into permanent settlements. What are the effects of this strategy on community-based reintegration? Drawing upon original data from interviews, ethnographic observation, and surveys conducted in conflict-affected communities, this paper compares two cases: a cantonment successfully transformed into a permanent settlement and another initially promising cantonment that ultimately failed to achieve permanence. This study argues that long-term cantonments contribute to community-based reintegration benefiting former combatants and receiving communities by maintaining internal cohesion, supporting the local economy, and rebuilding the social fabric in conflict-affected territories. However, specific conditions, particularly land ownership and security, are crucial for such a development. Without these conditions, long-term cantonments face the risk of being closed or relocated, threatening peacebuilding outcomes. The displacement of ex-combatants to other territories hinders community access to the benefits offered by the collective reintegration process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kyrgyzstan experienced a remarkable boom in potato production over the past thirty years, driven almost entirely by small farms. Today, potatoes are at once the backbone of national food security, a central source of income for many Kyrgyz households, and a non-trivial source of export earnings. This paper documents the central characteristics of the Kyrgyz potato economy and explains the conditions of its emergence and resilience. We show that Kyrgyzstan's potato economy is driven by three main features: land reforms that dispersed ownership of land early in the post-Soviet transition, dense social networks that connect producers to input suppliers and markets, and a match between the potato and the country's mountainous terrain and continental climate. Together, these features have given rise to a food security model that leverages the potato's well-known nutritional qualities, its cultural status as a food staple across the region, and Kyrgyzstan's geography and climate. We term this the Kyrgyz Potato Model (KPM). Unlike critics that stress the inefficiencies of Kyrgyz potato production, we highlight the model's strengths: it is extremely effective in feeding citizens, generates much-needed household incomes, and has been remarkably resilient in the face of recent global economic crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of land through an effective land survey ensures a secure land tenure system as well as conveys a smooth settlement of land disputes. At this backdrop, the study is framed with the objective of assessing the efficacy of Zonal Settlement System (ZSS) in Bangladesh. Using non-doctrinal data collection techniques, the study found that the prevailing settlement operation conducted under ZSS in Bangladesh is surrounded by a traditional, complex, and lengthy survey method. The study also revealed that insufficient manpower, inadequacy of technical support, administrative misfeasance, and ineffective dispute resolution arrangements worsen the situation. However, the study discovered that initiation of digital land survey and inauguration of an extensive capacitybuilding program will be instrumental in overcoming the crisis. Based on the deliberate discussion, the study also recommends for establishing a time-saving and fruitful land surveying approach, along with effective and robust supervisory administration and dispute resolution authority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the importance of integrated crop–livestock production in sustainable agricultural production and food security, there is a limited literature on the factors that influence this farming system's efficiency. The objective of this study is to identify the sources and drivers of crop–livestock production efficiency for smallholder farmers in Ghana. First, a Färe–Primont index approach was applied to estimate and decompose overall efficiency (i.e. total factor productivity efficiency [TFPE]) of farmers into three components: technical efficiency (OTE), scale efficiency (OSE) and mix efficiency (OME). The results show that OME was the primary source of TFPE, followed by OTE and OSE. Second, the effects of various socioeconomic and management factors on the three efficiency components were investigated using a fractional regression model (FRM). Land ownership, extension, household head age, crop–livestock diversification and distance to markets improved crop–livestock farming system's efficiency. However, the results show that these variables had different effects on the various efficiency components. For example, extension improved scale and mix efficiency but not technical efficiency. As a result, policies and development interventions must take these factors and their varying effects into account in order to improve crop–livestock farming system's efficiency and smallholder farmers' food security. Overall, this study emphasises the importance of employing methods that decompose efficiency into finer components and investigates their drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores relations of production in contemporary agrarian capitalism through the case of rural-rural migration from Myanmar to Thailand. It focuses on the often-overlooked rural proletariat, in this case, illegalized migrant laborers. It shows how migrants live and work in precarity, and argues that their social position is a result of practices of illegalization deployed by state authorities, local police, and farmers, which control and immobilize migrants socio-economically, spatially and politically. The paper adds to debates on the agrarian question of labor, stressing capital and (il)licit law enforcement as co-constitutive in shaping exploitation in the agro-industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following green revolution ideologies, smallholder commercialization is promoted as a pathway to African economic transformation. Nonetheless, polices that incentivize commercial production in Ghana affect migrant groups negatively with respect to land tenure. While some migrants are displaced from rented lands, others offer their labour services in exchange for the right to "freely" intercrop on native's cashew farms. The tenurial aspects of the new land–labour exchange relations cluster around labour tenancy without farmland or tree crop benefit sharing. A reversal to pre-historic non-capitalist tenure modes is favoured in land-abundant areas while market-based tenure is increasingly combined with food crop gifts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides empirical evidence on the relationship between women's land ownership and nutritional outcomes in Nepal. Using three waves of the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey and employing a bounding technique by Oster, I estimate bounded treatment effects of land ownership. The results show that women's land ownership is associated with a reduction in the incidence of childhood underweight and stunting and an increase in women's body mass index. Additionally, I find the selection on unobservable characteristics has to be larger than the selection on observable characteristics to drive these estimates to zero, suggesting that land ownership credibly improves nutritional outcomes. Furthermore, heterogeneous results show that the negative association between land ownership and childhood nutritional status is more prominent in male children and children from the Brahmin caste. Similarly, the negative relationship between land ownership and underweight in women is more pronounced in women employed in agriculture and rural areas. While I argue that landownership improves nutrition, these estimates are sensitive to the assumptions made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the unique self-organised spatial and social structure of the Kat O coastal settlements in Hong Kong. By problematising the identity politics between built forms and landscapes, this paper analyses the village's deep-rooted history within the land‒water dichotomies, which have been shaped by government survey methods and conservation-development policies. Specifically, it presents the peri-urban condition of Kat O's coastal settlements as a departure from the traditional urban‒rural continuum perspectives. Empirically, the field documentation of the self-built additions presents critical perspectives into the static understanding of land ownership, addition and adaptation strategies and the building materialities embedded within the government survey methods and conservation-development policies. Theoretically, this study provides an understanding of these coastal settlements as cultural landscapes that are dynamically related to the environment, as well as the changing sociocultural relationships among different communities on the basis of their unique conceptions of habitation and living. By examining past and current conservation policies, this article advocates for a water-centric vision for countryside conservation in Hong Kong that transcends the commonly adopted terrecentric perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to demonstrate that the indenture system contributed to the development of a work ethic that facilitated the development of the Mauritian economy. The indentured labor system in Mauritius, though crucial for the island’s economic boom in the 19th century, involved harsh realities for laborers. Long contracts, limited freedoms, and debt bondage masked the ‘free’ labor narrative. Despite the exploitation, some former laborers achieved land ownership and entrepreneurship, showcasing resilience. Recognizing the vulnerability of a sugar-dependent economy, Mauritius embarked on diversification efforts, fostering tourism, manufacturing, and financial services. By examining the indentured labor system, we gain insights into the human cost of economic growth, the complexities of ‘free’ labor, and the long-term consequences of migration. This historical exploration sheds light on Mauritius’ social and economic transformation, highlighting its journey from a sugar-reliant nation to a more diversified and resilient economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are increasingly suggested to address biodiversity decline and climate change. However, many ecosystems are hardly used as NBS, including ponds and pondscapes. We therefore examine how policies and practices affect their implementation as NBS. Using a content analysis of policy documents and stakeholder inputs, we assess the policy context in eight countries but also zoom in on policies and practices in seventeen pondscapes. We derive three key insights: first, a protective status for a pond or pondscape interlinks with other enabling factors for NBS implementation, and protection and conservation should therefore be considered more often as NBS. Second, there is a shortage of, especially long-term, financing. Third, local leadership should be nurtured to overcome a lack of institutional cooperation and stakeholder awareness as well as fragmented land ownership. Beyond that, we show that implementation barriers interlink and interventions should therefore address several barriers simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abrogation of Article 370 by the Indian government on August 5, 2019 has fundamentally altered the political landscapes of Jammu and Kashmir. This viewpoint article examines the emerging dynamics and implications of this decision, using academic literature, media reports and policy documents. It argues that the abrogation has widened the existing political faultlines in the state, leading to the marginalization of mainstream politics, the concentration of power in the hands of the Central government, the emergence of new political players, and a new breed of militancy. The article also analyses the implications of the decision, focusing on changes in politics, governance, economics, and regional reactions. To tackle the difficulties arising from Jammu and Kashmir’s changing political landscape, the article suggests the restoration of statehood, the protection of land ownership and jobs for the local population, and the adoption of a policy of reconciliation through political dialogue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1956 the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) launched Mission 66, a ten-year program to rebuild and improve infrastructure within hundreds of units of the National Park System, among them Death Valley National Monument in California. As elsewhere, plans in this unit centered on a visitor center, new employee housing, administrative and maintenance facilities, and campgrounds. The original plans developed for Death Valley were abruptly changed, leading to allegations that the NPS was involved in a deal with a resort in the park, in which the NPS would receive a land donation in exchange for overlooking illegal use of monument water by the resort. This Great Death Valley Mission 66 Conspiracy reached the ears of Congress, and in 1962 Congressional hearings were held to investigate these matters. The NPS director and many others were called to give testimony. This story gives a fascinating glimpse into the development of Mission 66 facilities in a large park, and how the plans for these facilities depended on an underlying geography of land ownership, water rights, dubious surveys, and expectations by faraway bureaucrats; these in turn reveal much about possibilities and limitations on opportunities for park development. The Mission 66 facilities in Death Valley have stood the test of time and remain central to visitation in the park to this day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In global impact modeling, there is a need to address the heterogeneous characteristics of households and individuals that drive different behavioral responses to, for example, environmental risk, socio-economic policy changes and spread of diseases. In this research, we present GLOPOP-S, the first global synthetic population dataset with 1,999,227,130 households and 7,335,881,094 individuals for the year 2015, consistent with population statistics at an administrative unit 1 level. GLOPOS-S contains the following attributes: age, education, gender, income/wealth, settlement type (urban/rural), household size, household type, and for selected countries in the Global South, ownership of agricultural land and dwelling characteristics. To generate GLOPOP-S, we use microdata from the Luxembourg Income Study (LIS) and Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and apply synthetic reconstruction techniques to fit national survey data to regional statistics, thereby accounting for spatial differences within and across countries. Additionally, we have developed methods to generate data for countries without available microdata. The dataset can be downloaded per region or country. GLOPOP-S is open source and can be extended with other attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to examine female participation in farming and more specifically, the reasons for the low rate of female farm ownership in Ireland where only 13% of Irish farm owners are female. Females are excluded from the occupation of a farmer because land ownership is the key needed in most instances to being a farmer in one's own right. Females are farming, but too often, they are not owners of the farms they work on. We investigate the structural and cultural factors that alleviate or contribute to the inequality in Irish farm ownership. To address the research question, a qualitative study involving 35 semi‐structured interviews was carried out with both women and men in the Irish farming sector. This research recognises the positive role the state can play, as supported by cultural and institutional theory, by making legal and financial policy changes that can help effect change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The roots of ancestral legacy persist entangled with the currents of modern globalisation. While the global tourism market promotes corporate ventures and international travel, rural and Indigenous communities confront the challenge of adapting amidst hegemonic influences. In coastal communities of Ecuador, the juxtaposition of pre-colonial belonging and contemporary tourism development exemplifies this tension. Drawing on decolonial perspectives, this paper investigates how rural Indigenous communities on the Pacific coast of Ecuador have navigated their tourism ventures, negotiating notions of private property, access to credit, and business administration formalities, while upholding traditional Indigenous values and collective land property needs—what we term decolonial practices of local tourism. Moreover, the emergence of proximity tourism offers a promising avenue for advancing decolonial practices within the global tourism market, prioritising geographical and cultural closeness over conventional distance-focused approaches. Employing a collaborative approach, the research integrates Indigenous methodologies with conventional research methods, bridging diverse backgrounds within the research team, including academia, consultancy, and Indigenous leadership. The analysis underscores the pivotal role of collective land ownership in preserving cultural identity and fostering resistance to capitalist encroachments. The study concludes with a call to amplify Indigenous voices, cultivate solidarity, and advocate for more inclusive and equitable approaches to tourism development. This imperative stems from the need to decolonise and promote culturally sensitive local tourism practices, urging a reconfiguration of the tourism industry towards a more equitable and respectful engagement with Indigenous communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Tsitsa River catchment of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, concerns regarding the sedimentation of a proposed large, multipurpose, in-channel water storage scheme prompted investigations of sub-catchment suspended sediment loads and yields. Confluence-based fingerprinting and source apportionment was undertaken to explore whether this simple approach could identify relative sub-catchment contributions to downstream sediment loads, supplementing modelling and direct sampling. In November 2018, fine sediment sequestered in bed substrates was sampled above and below confluences, using a resuspension technique. The < 63 µm sample fraction underwent analysis of mineral magnetic properties, gamma emitting radionuclide activities and geochemistry to identify suitable tracers. Conservatism and range tests were used to select different combinations of composite fingerprints at seven confluences. Bivariate source apportionment using an unmixing model showed that the approach could be used as a preliminary means of determining relative sub-catchment sediment contributions. Catchment characteristics such as geology and land cover, as well as land tenure and management, were considered as explanatory factors for the difference in sediment contributions. The results for most sub-catchments were broadly similar to those from other studies. Shortcomings of this approach included the reliance on a single sampling effort, and uncertainty associated with sub-catchment sediment transport and residence times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the gendered rights and challenges of ownership, access, and investments in land and shea trees in Ghana. It mainstreams women into policies regarding land and shea tenures. A qualitative approach through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with key stakeholders was used. From the study, women do not own land or shea trees, but they can exploit them. The loss of farmlands and shea trees through urbanisation worsens women's welfare, incomes, and bargaining power. To ensure the effective management of shea parklands, collaborative governance of land and shea trees between the landowners and local government is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the predicament of young widows residing in the tea estates of Bangladesh. The study used qualitative methods to understand how young widows perceive and interpret their experiences of widowhood. Nine young widows were chosen for the in-depth semi-structured interviews using referral sampling. Data were analysed thematically, which was then critically explored and contrasted with the previous literature. The results demonstrated that young widows in the tea gardens struggled to address the psychological, economic, health care, educational, and recreational demands of their children due to declining resource bases. Additionally, young widows face sexual harassment, emotional disturbances, financial insecurity, and gender-sensitive discriminatory cultural practices. The paper advocated for expanding the social safety net in the tea gardens and ensuring land ownership among the tea gardeners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate smallholder farmers' perceptions of the integration of avocado cultivars into farmlands and the influencing factors in Upper Gana and Jewe Kebele, Central Ethiopia. Household surveys and key informant interviews were conducted. Household survey data were obtained from a purposive sample of 164 avocado growers using a semi-structured questionnaire. Key informant interviews were conducted using a snowball approach. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were used for data analysis. The results showed that Hass, Ettinger, and Nabal were the avocado cultivars preferred by respondents. Home gardens and fruit orchards were the most preferred niches for avocado cultivation. About 64% of the respondents confirmed the positive effects of avocado farm integration, while 65% expressed concerns about possible adverse effects with annual crops. Limited access to grafted seedlings and low technical expertise in the propagation of avocado cultivars were hinder avocado integration. Regression analysis revealed that land tenure, tree management practices, availability of family labor, low access to grafted seedlings, and farmers' concerns about potential resource competition between avocados and annual crops had a significant influnce on farmers' decisions on avocado on farm integration. Thus, understanding farmers' attitudes is crucial for promoting the adoption of avocado on farm integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indonesian government established Social Forestry (SF) Program in 2015 to overcome inequality in land tenure, overcome agrarian conflicts and improve the welfare of communities around the forests. Pesawaran Regency does not yet have SF location guidelines in the Indicative and Social Forestry Areas Map. In fact, Pesawaran Regency has a forest area potential of 28% and has a Human Development Index (HDI) score below the provincial HDI average. This study aims to (1) analyze land use and cover changes in forest areas in 2015 and 2020, and (2) determine land potential for SF. SPOT image is used to analyze land cover with visual interpretation. Land suitability evaluation uses the Multi Criteria Evaluation (MCE) method based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The parameters used in this study were land/use cover, soil type, altitude, slope, rainfall, distance from rivers, distance from settlements, and distance from roads The results show that almost half of the forest area in 2020 is in the form of mixed gardens (49.63%), forests (24%), and coffee/cocoa plantations (22.2%). The potential land use changes are from forests to mixed gardens, coffee/cocoa plantation and mines. The parameters most influencing the land suitability for SF are land cover, slope, and soil type. Based on land suitability and land availability analysis for SF, it was found that 66% of the research area had potential for SF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the post-Cold War world order, the African Continent has been a stage for some of the most violent intra-state conflicts arising from natural resources and land distribution. These contestations have often been inter-communal and take the violent extremism route. The consequences of these devastating contestations have been apocalyptic in most of these conflicts. In Kenya's Mount Elgon Region, the emergence of extremism Sabaot Land Defence Forces and counter-extremist groups is rooted in a long historical struggle for equitable distribution of land rights. Despite efforts by state and non-state actors, sustainable peace remains a distant mirage. Socio-economic determinants have emerged as fundamental determinants in these extremist contestations, yet, extant literature has been silent on this subject matter. This paper sought to interrogate socio-demographic determinants as pathways for homegrown extremism in the Mount Elgon Region. Study findings revealed strong support for the interplay between ownership of land, source of income, level of education, and sustenance of homegrown extremism over land-use conflicts in the study area. The paper recommends the need for the Ministry of Lands to expedite the management of the historical land question to contain the socio-demographic determinants as pathways for homegrown extremism in the study area. The findings underscore the importance of land tenure security in pursuit of peaceful, just, and inclusive societies as advocated for in the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This ethnographic study explores the life histories of 12 key informants of Siamese descent who were living in Myanmar but illegally fled into Thailand following civil unrest and thus became a diaspora in their motherland. The study was conducted from 2018 to 2022 in the Singkhon diaspora community of Ban Rai Krao village near the Thai-Myanmar border, in Prachuap Kiri Khan province, Thailand. It used the Critical Medical Anthropology (CMA) perspective, the concept of social suffering, and borderland anthropology to illustrate the traumatic experiences of the Singkhon and their participation in social movements for citizenship rights, land ownership and, particularly, public healthcare access. Although they have cooperated with Thai Nationality Reintegration Networks for decades, they have run into difficulties as a result of power relations within capitalism and bureaucratic delays. Furthermore, the Covid-19 pandemic made it more difficult for those without ID cards to access government assistance and healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Climate change adversely impacts the livelihoods of smallholder farmers across East and Southern Africa. Climate-related information is assumed to support smallholder farmer decision-making and use of adaptive practices as a means to improve livelihoods, resiliency and levels of food security. However, the value of climate information provision and its role in promoting adaptive practices remains poorly understood. We examined smallholder household access to, and use of, climate information. Survey data was collected from 5322 households across Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Tanzania and Zimbabwe using the Multidimensional Poverty Assessment Tool. Overall, the majority of households regularly accessed at least one source of climate information, primarily via radio (64.9%, n = 3453). Our statistical models showed that households with relatively better access to credit and land tenure were more likely to receive climate information (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively, n = 1421), and of those, households who reported observing past climate-related changes were more likely to actually use climate information (p < 0.05, n = 1097). Secure land tenure was positively associated with information use, though not statistically significant. Findings from our study offer guidance for improving the targeting and delivery of climate information programmes and policies, and indicate that the assumed benefits of climate information provision should be more rigorously evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sabah, Malaysia's biggest palm oil‐producing state, has made Roundtable Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification mandatory under Sabah's Jurisdictional Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (JCSPO) initiative. Few studies have examined the independent native smallholders' challenges in adopting the JCSPO initiative. To address this knowledge gap, we engaged with oil palm smallholders via various qualitative methodological approaches over a 14 month period. We identified a range of challenges currently faced by the smallholder; these include RSPO compliance, land tenure issue, low financial and knowledge capacities, increasing food insecurity, and unstable market price of certified crude palm oil. In our article, we argue that the statewide certification policy is consolidating the inequalities in resource access and capacity for growth amongst smallholder groups in different districts. Fair resource allocation to different geographical areas is needed to provide new empowerment mechanisms and remedies for marginalized groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continued innovation in contract design may enhance the delivery of agri-environmental climate public goods (AECPG), but barriers to adoption arise in terms of how farmers perceive the economic benefits. Therefore, this paper examines survey data from Ireland and the Netherlands to analyse whether land managers agree that results-based, collective action, value chain and land tenure contracts for the delivery of AECPG are understandable, applicable to their farm and economically beneficial. Using Probit models, we also identify groups of land managers who perceive the different contract types as being economically beneficial, and these findings can inform policymakers of farmer groups who need adequate consideration during the design of agri-environmental contracts. For example, greater incentives could encourage older farmers to enrol in results-based contracts in Ireland and value chain contracts in the Netherlands. We also find a link between contract duration and the perceived economic benefits of collective action contracts in both countries, with land managers in Ireland desiring a longer duration. We highlight that policymakers and land managers in Ireland could apply lessons from the design of agri-environmental contracts in the Netherlands, where they are more common and varied. Greater knowledge exchange between users and non-users of such contracts would also help bridge the gap between theory and practice in both countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving productivity is an important channel for satisfying household food needs through food availability. Increasing the productivity of small-scale farmers is linked to a number of factors, including land access, labor, chemicals, fertilizers and so on. Most farmers resort to expanding their cultivated areas to increase production because of insufficient financial resources available for purchasing inputs during agricultural seasons. This situation, combined with increasing pressure on land, does not favor agricultural production and, by extension, food security. This study therefore assesses the impact of different modes of access to land on agricultural productivity. Regime-switching multinomial regression techniques were used to account for endogeneity bias due to observed and unobserved factors. The results of the study show that access through free loans, tenancy and sharecropping negatively affect agricultural yields. The counterfactual analysis reveals a positive gain estimated at 509.9 kg/ha from land access by landowners. If the lenders were landowners, their gain would be 396.6 kg/ha, whereas the farmers would gain 485.1 kg/ha if they were landowners, and similarly the sharecroppers would gain 389.8 kg/ha if they were landowners. It is clear from these results that improving agricultural yields depends on securing land and requires the establishment of an effective land ownership system. This research impacts land ownership policies, which need to be revised to address customary rights and reduce inequalities in access to secure land. It highlights the way land tenure security drives agricultural advancements and offers actionable recommendations for policy improvements on food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores how a displaced Papua New Guinean people decided to lease their customary land for oil palm plantation farming to restore their land use rights and resolve ongoing disputes with migrant settlers. By transforming the landscape into a territorialized space as a plantation, Kairak‐speaking Baining hoped to gain actual landownership status and control over their land, which in turn, they believed, could bring them the development they had long dreamed of. I argue that Kairak conceptions about the plantation as a tool to reveal their landownership and remove the settlers drew on Melanesian notions about covering and revelation, changing perceptions of value, and discourse around ‘settlerhood’ and ‘nativism’, and show how agribusiness capital expansion strategies leverage regional politics of identity and autochthony. By illustrating how the plantation expansion unfolded differently in this region, the material offers new insights on the Plantationocene, global land grabs, dispossession and migration, and reaffirms the consequences reported elsewhere in the world where enclosures of exclusion lead to forceful rearrangements of people's social and economic lives, leaving their hopes and plantation promises unrealized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractMulti-stakeholder forums (MSFs) are crucial for managing complex decision-making; yet ways for evaluating engagement, especially for Indigenous peoples, remain ambiguous. This study examines the Honduran Mosquitia, where conflict over the illegal occupation of Indigenous lands led to the creation and eventual dissolution of an MSF. It questions whether the continuity of formal dialogue structures signifies genuine engagement or if disruption might better indicate it. The study applies the lens of boundary objects—concepts or devices that enable collaboration among actors with differing agendas—to assess engagement. In Mosquitia, territorial governance served as a boundary object, fostering the establishment of an MSF. Government, donor, and Indigenous stakeholders had their distinct interests in supporting territorial governance. Indigenous stakeholders exited the MSF when their aims for securing land tenure were unmet, turning to civil disobedience to assert territorial governance. The MSF’s dissolution prevented the co-optation of territorial governance by government and donors, remaining a contentious term that more accurately reflected the tensions among stakeholders. This case shows how engagement might paradoxically be reflected in the MSF’s disruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe Chaco Salteño of Argentina is a global hotspot of land conflict and climate change pressures that, together, threaten the livelihoods of local inhabitants. This study sought to examine the role that formal land tenure and other mechanisms of access to resources play in building resilient livelihoods in the face of multiple stressors. Using a qualitative approach, we analyze the role of mechanisms controlling access to resources in securing the conditions necessary for adaptation. We find that the two primary adaptive mechanisms identified by producers (formalized land tenure and local producers’ organizations) vary greatly in their feasibility and contributions to livelihood resilience. We explore these to better understand how they are perceived by producers and the extent to which they are employed. Findings from this study contribute to efforts to advance sustainable development by contextualizing the importance of varied strategies in supporting resilient livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the Mpondomise Rebellion of 1880–1881 in the Tsolo district in the Transkei, a number of black citizens were rewarded with grants of farms for their loyalty to local Cape officials. Within a generation, half of these farms were lost by the grantees and their descendants. This was because of indebtedness and manipulation by a magistrate and by an attorney who was a member of the main local trading family. This occurred at a time when black franchise rights in the Cape were under attack and economic and professional opportunities for the emerging black propertied class were being eliminated. Dispossession and the wider onslaught on black advancement determined defensive attitudes involving land segregation and led to bitter controversy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to devise intersectionality based policy analysis to advance multiple equity measures, with the in-depth analysis of access to land resources by Dalit community in rural-agrarian settings, and a special focus on their current state and causes of landlessness and its effect on social exclusion/inclusion. Contributing to the theoretical debate on caste and class formation, the study depicts on how the caste system influences land ownership and access. It addresses the complex and multiple inequalities embedded in the lived experiences of Dalit communities, reflecting their lower social status and class position in Nepali society. The intersectionality framework proves highly relevant for examining innovative policy approaches related to land accessibility among Dalits, facilitating the translation of intricate knowledge into accessible messages essential for a new policy discourse that prevents the concentration of resources and services in the hands of elites within marginalized groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to find out and analyze the evaluation of the policy of granting state land tenure rights in Sambaliung District, Berau Regency and identify the factors inhibiting the implementation of Berau Regency Regional Regulation Number 5 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of State Land Tenure Administration. This research is a descriptive qualitative research and the results of the study show that the evaluation of Berau Regency Regional Regulation Number 5 of 2019 shows that although this policy has provided several positive achievements, there are still challenges that need to be overcome to improve its effectiveness and responsiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the use of land as a common practice that is intrinsic to the class construction and way of life of a sub-section of the peasantry. The aim is to understand how the common use of land among the peasant class allows them to escape, albeit relatively, from [End Page 42] the subjection of their income and labor. Grounded in dialectical materialism, we analyze what is common in both its etymological and concrete sense in relation to the experiences of the peasantry. We discuss common land and the imposition of private property as inseparable, and argue that the state acts as a tool for imposing and shaping private property, in a way that strengthens the uneven development of capitalist production. Lastly, we use our analysis to explore the formation of peasant territories in Brazil, which have emerged from land in common use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multitude of factors contributed to the escalation of the land question in Laikipia County. This research article therefore sought to establish why these factors continued to impact the land question despite of numerous interventions. It was qualitative and used a historical research design that enabled thematic analysis of the derivied data. It applied interpretivism philosophy. The research article also corroborated instrumentalism and articulation modes of production theories. Thematic analysis also permitted interpretation of data to achieve reliability and validity. It concluded that changes in land use and land tenure during the colonial and post-colonial era, geo-politics, ethnocentrism and skewed resettlement programmes by post-colonial regimes contributed to the rise of the land question in Laikipia County. It recommended that fixing changes in land use and land tenure, geo-politics, negative ethnicity and skewed resettlement programmes will resolve the land question in Laikipia County. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the role of grazing reserves and transhumance corridor systems in enhancing sustainable transhumant pastoralism, drawing on the collaborative planning theory as its theoretical framework. This research aims to understand how these land management strategies impact the sustainability of pastoral practices from the viewpoints of various stakeholders, including farmers, herders, policymakers and local community leaders. This study adopted a mixed-method research design and an exploratory sequential mixed-method approach. Based on the research approach, this study first gathers data through key informant interviews and, subsequently, cross-sectional surveys of 254 crop farmers and 82 herders in the Sekyere Kumawu and Sekyere Afram Plains Districts of Ghana. The findings indicate mixed perceptions among stakeholders regarding delineating grazing reserves and transhumance corridor systems. While most farmers and herders recognise the potential benefits of delineating grazing reserves and corridors in reducing conflict and promoting environmental sustainability, concerns persist about land rights and the flexibility of resource use. While herders see these policies as providing secure grazing territories, farmers fear losing land for agricultural expansion. This study also notes a "paradox of pastoral land tenure", where herders gain access to grazing resources but face mobility restrictions. Socioeconomic factors like age, education, experience, and association membership significantly influence stakeholders' perceptions, particularly among herders directly dependent on these resources. These findings underline the complexities in policymaking for land use, emphasising the need for inclusive and well-informed approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to explore legal certainty and effectiveness from the perspective of progressive law in dealing with social, economic, and cultural dynamics that exist in rural communities related to the use of receipts as proof of land ownership. The case study approach was carried out on the people of Genteng Village who mostly carried out land purchase and sale transactions, both certified and uncertified, only proven by a receipt without any AJB, let alone a name change. The qualitative analysis process is carried out qualitatively in three main stages. The results of the research show that the law should be seen as a means to protect and promote human rights as well as social welfare. The existence of informal evidence such as sale receipts creates significant legal uncertainty for the people in Genteng village. For stakeholders, namely village officials, and the government should be more aggressive in providing counseling and assistance to make the PTSL program a success. Further research could also focus on developing innovative legal and procedural frameworks that simplify land registration while addressing cultural and socioeconomic barriers to formalizing land ownership, which could provide valuable insights for policymakers aiming to strengthen land rights and reduce legal uncertainties in informal transactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Day v Shropshire Council (Day), the Supreme Court considered the effect of a statutory trust under section 10 of the Open Spaces Act 1906 on a subsequent purchaser. Finding for the claimant, a local resident resisting development, the Supreme Court unanimously held that the local authority's failure to give notice and consider objections under the Local Government Act 1972 meant that the site's transfer into private ownership did not extinguish public trust rights to open space, binding the disponee. This note suggests that the decision in Day is to be welcomed, providing clarity on long‐established legislative provisions that protect open spaces, even when sites are not identified as such in planning processes. The note applauds the clarity of the Supreme Court's resistance to drawing on the law of trusts when interpreting statutory provisions and commends the ease with which the Supreme Court confirmed the co‐existence of public and private rights in land. The note also considers how Day illustrates the nature of local authority land ownership, a live issue at the boundary between land and administrative law, of particular interest at a time when local authorities are disposing of surplus open spaces for development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the capitalist and colonial enclosure of land-qua-property, the property parcel has served as the geographic foundation of land ownership. Bounded, self-contained, and mutually exclusive with all surrounding parcels, this geography is taken for granted in our contemporary understandings of property. As the ownership of land, property, and housing has become increasingly concentrated in fewer and fewer hands in recent years, however, it perhaps makes more sense to think of property not as isolated and individual, but as fundamentally networked and relational. Properties that are quite distant from one another are often connected through tangled webs of corporate property ownership, which are meant to deliberately obscure the true ownership—and concentration—of such property from public view. This article demonstrates the importance of untangling these corporate networks, using a case study of three large corporate landlords operating in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia: Invitation Homes, Pretium Partners, and Amherst Holdings. The article shows how the true extent of these corporate landlords' holdings is hidden by these networks, and how researchers can untangle that to produce a more complete understanding of concentrated housing ownership. Through this method, we can uncover that these three firms control more than 19,000 single-family homes across the five core counties of Metro Atlanta, using an extensive network of more than 190 corporate aliases—registered to seventy-four different addresses across ten states and one territory—to hide their holdings behind a veil of secrecy and insulate themselves from liability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dominant tone of the literature on land's territorial politics misses conceptual complexities by neglecting historical constructions of land practices. An alternative understanding intertwines social and political elements emphasised in the non‐dualistic, beyond dialectics, tongbian philosophy. This views everything as consisting of two mutually embedded, opposite poles—different yet without alienation; set in a ceaseless interaction as processes of becoming, continuity and change. The concept of focus–field relationship via a spatial story deciphers complexities between viewing land as territory (LaT) and land as property (LaP). Mobilising this formulation in sites of intensive real estate change (Hong Kong's Sham Shui Po and Mumbai's Malad) reveals subtleties of historical antecedents shaping contemporary forces. Here, complex institutional entanglements reveal both diachronic and synchronic interactions wherein the dynamics of control, shifts in power, growth or decline in time and space co‐join LaT and LaP. Such political complexities question views of land's transformation being contingent on archaic ideas of the Westphalian state and uni‐polar framings of capital moving from the North to the South. The tongbian philosophy allows the exploring of ideas of difference without alienation, embracing epistemic and ontological equivalence in theory and fieldwork, and between the North and South—themes seldom taken up in the geographical literature. Finally, the paper proposes a study of land dynamics using the concept of land occupancy via the spatial story approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]