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Global palm oil demand for energy, food, and chemical uses has led to a rapid expansion of tree plantations in Southeast Asia, Central Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. This oil tree is the world’s most productive, highly profitable and traded vegetable oil crop, and the demand is expected to increase further in the near future. Nevertheless, oil palm expansion involves risks and nexus challenges. This work supports the idea that disruptive farming intensification, instead of land expansion, could scale up productivity, reducing the anthropogenic pressure on tropical forests and biodiversity losses. Findings from recent studies suggest that there is considerable scope for further yield improvements per hectare of palm oil with sustainable agronomic practices and farming intensification. Smallholder producers, agribusiness investors, civil society actors, NGOs, governments, researchers, and industry should make coordinated efforts with regulatory and support schemes and landscape design to increase yield and productivity with sustainable management practices and to achieve zero deforestation by protecting ecosystems.

Context and background As a result of advancement in Technology, the densification of Survey Control Points (SCP) has become very easy. There has been some Survey Control Points (SCP) that were established within the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) campus, Ondo state, Nigeria with no intention for database storage. Goal and Objectives: This study aimed at mapping of control points distribution within the University community. The objectives include to identify and re-coordinate all existing control points in the study area, compare the result statistically and create a database in a mobile application environment. Methodology: Ground survey and Geographic Information System (GIS) methods were adopted in the study. All existing Survey Control Points (SCP) within the study area were re-coordinated with the use of South Differential Global Positioning system (DGPS) in static mode with minimum of thirty-minutes observation per station. The observed data were downloaded and processed using South GPS Processor, AutoCAD 16 and ArcGIS 10.3.1 software. Student’s T-test was used in comparing some existing and the observed coordinates. The coordinates (Northings, Easting and Height), images of Survey Control Points (SCP) location, number and nearest identifying feature gotten from the ArcGIS environment were used in building the mobile application. Also, in the process of developing the mobile application, the following programming languages were used; JavaScript, HTML, CSS and Bootstrap. Notepad++ was used in compiling the codes while IntelXDK platform was used in building, testing and debugging the mobile application. Results: The result reveals that the control points are evenly distributed within the study area. It has also contributed to the quality of geospatial data in the University environment, eliminate duplication of efforts, and provide an effective and efficient means of data accessibility through the creation of a mobile application database. The developed mobile application database is hereby recommended for adoption and update by the Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics, FUTA., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 6, No 2: March 2023

Context and Background: Land is an important resource for human survival as well as that of other living organisms. Despite its importance, there are many problems that come with its management. There are increasing controversies and disputes over the ownership, access, and use of land. This is due to the increase in land demand, owing to factors such as population growth, urbanization, and food security. Land disputes in the Ashanti Region have drastically escalated recently as a result of these factors. Many land parcels have been left underdeveloped as a result of these disputes. Goal and Objectives: This study investigates land dispute cases from 2016 to 2021 in the Ashanti Region using survey records of land dispute cases from the Ashanti Regional Lands Commission. Methodology: The study reviewed 203 land dispute case files from the Lands Commission to perform spatial analysis in identifying the hotspot zones of land disputes in the area of study. Ripley’s K-function was used to test the null hypothesis of complete spatial randomisation and Moran’s I was used to measure the spatial autocorrelation of the land dispute incidences. A kernel density map was used to show the intensity of recorded disputes in the hotspot zones. Results: It was evident from the study that most of the land dispute cases were recorded in and around the central part of the study area. A map depicting the spatial extent and hotspot zones of the land dispute cases was developed to provide contextual background for policy makers, and researchers. Based on the Moran Scatterplots, Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) cluster maps were used to identify hotspot zones in the study area. A total of 12 localities were identified as hotspot zones in the study area. The incidence of land disputes was mostly in the peri-urban areas with proximity to the Central Business District. Further research is recommended to probe into factors that influence a locality or town’s vulnerability to land., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 6, No 2: March 2023

Background and Context : Land is a key element for the practice of economic activities such as agriculture. In rural areas, its equitable access is an essential condition for sustainable development and the improvement of the living conditions of populations. The availability of land resources in an area like that of the Council of Koutaba in West Cameroon has encouraged agricultural migration to this area. Goal and Objectives: This study seeks to analyze land management and identify the modes of land acquisition by agricultural migrants in the Commune of Koutaba. Methodology: The methodology used is centered around data from primary sources such as socio-economic surveys of a sample of 126 agricultural households and interviews with administrative and traditional authorities. The literature review, the consultation of archival data and the exploitation of cartographic sources completed the methodological framework. Results: The main results highlight the presence of a dual land law, modern law and customary law. Furthermore, only 9% of the rural population holds a legal land title, while 48% of the migrant population has access to land thanks to donations made by the indigenous populations. Despite identity tensions between migrants and indigenous populations, the synergies of actors in the rural world put in place strategies to preserve social peace., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 6, No 2: March 2023

Context and background In response to national development challenges, the Government of Kenya has disseminated its development agenda through the ‘Kenya Vision 2030, which aims at creating “a globally competitive and prosperous country with a high quality of life by 2030”. Infrastructure projects are key enablers in spurring the socioeconomic development. Advocacy on the environmental, social sustainability, compensation, and restoration of wayleave acquisition for infrastructure development has been on the rise with various stakeholders involved with diverse requirements Wayleave acquisition in Kenya has been a major bottleneck to the implementation of infrastructure projects. Political interferences and activism have exacerbated the difficulties in wayleave acquisition process / right of way for the said infrastructure projects. Goal and Objectives: The study analyses the technical efficiency of the wayleave acquisition process on sampled transmission lines with various voltages and wayleave corridors sizes. This analysis will be instrumental to maximize output and on timely delivery of infrastructure projects in terms of the iron triangle parameters (scope, cost, and time) as the country seeks to transform into a middle-income country. the research analyses the efficiency of the wayleave acquisition process and the challenges faced in implementation of the resettlement action plans for transmission line projects in Kenya Methodology: The research employs Non-Parametric Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to assess technical efficiency of wayleave acquisition process. The research sought to maximise outputs in terms of time to realize the project (on time delivery rate) and minimize delays resulting from disruptions on right of way/ wayleave acquisition as the inputs. It further examines the input and output orientations efficiency to provide recommendation on process and policy changes. Results: The research finding show that a model is significant, and variables explains the technical efficiency of the wayleave acquisition process with an efficiency score (Theta of 1) otherwise other Decision-Making Unit (DMUs) are inefficient, depicting decreasing return to scale. Further policy interventions and recommendations have been provided to streamline the wayleave acquisition process especially under involuntary resettlement, African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 6, No 1: January 2023

Context and Background: Women represent close to 51% of the Cameroonian population and they are more than 70% active in food and market gardening activities (INS, 2010). To this end, they need land and capital to carry out their activities in order to make agriculture profitable and ensure food security for their families. The rural women of Baigom, like those elsewhere, are fighting with all the means at their disposal to gain access to land and participate in the agricultural development of this village. Goal and objectives: This contribution makes it possible to analyze the socio-economic and cultural context which is largely unfavorable to women's access to land in Baigom. Women who are active in agricultural production activities are limited by the unavailability of land resources, which nevertheless constitute a no less negligible factor of production. This state of virtual exclusion of these leading actors in family farming is detrimental to the development of the agricultural economy. Methodology: To conduct this study, the methodology adopted focused on primary and secondary sources and field observations. As for the primary sources, socio-economic surveys were carried out with a target population made up of women producers in the village of Baïgom. Young girls are more like family labor in peasant agriculture. The socio-economic surveys reached 5% of women over the age of 15, in the end 150 questionnaires were collected in the five main districts of the village (Nkoupetgom, Nkou gahri, Chaanké, Mbayé, Njissen). The secondary data are the fruit of the literature review and the consultation of the archives. These archives are present in the decentralized services of the State of the specialized institutions which generate official statistics such as the National Institute of Statistics (INS). The webography was not, moreover, a source of acquisition of certain knowledge in terms of the gender approach to land issues in tropical Africa as a whole. Results: The main results indicate that women's access to land ownership is low, with only about 8% holding a land title. Furthermore, the juxtaposition of modern and customary rights complicates the marginalization of women's access to land, with a negative impact on agricultural production activities. In spite of these obstacles, solutions are envisaged by all the actors to involve women more in the management of rural land., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 6, No 1: January 2023

The study aims to provide viable criteria to assess land suitability for apple growing in Kashmir Valley, India. It used a Delphi survey and the analytical hierarchical process (AHP) approach to determine factors influencing apple production. The evaluation criteria were obtained through multiple rounds of the Delphi survey of stakeholders. The Delphi outcome was extended to enable prioritization of the criteria, using a pair-wise comparison process. Results show that experts value physical and economic considerations (accounting for 87% of the overall weight) more than social factors. Furthermore, location-specific factors (i.e., cost-benefit ratio and landholding size) have significant bearings on land suitability for apple in the study area. The Delphi-AHP method proved to be useful as it incorporated core issues of agricultural land use by creating a common framework for suitability evaluation and eliminated uncertainties in the decision-making process.

Groundwater resources are vital for U.S. and global irrigated agricultural production. In the United States, ground-water supplies water to approximately 65 percent of all irrigated acreage. The connectivity among irrigators pumping from the same aquifer--paired with growing concerns about groundwater depletion--led to the creation of many of the groundwater organizations currently active in the United States. Groundwater organizations perform a variety of functions to promote groundwater resource stewardship and address groundwater overdraft and quality concerns that impact groundwater irrigators and other nonagricultural users (i.e., residential and municipal groundwater users). The operations of groundwater organizations are shaped by State-level groundwater law, organization governance, and the other irrigation-related activities performed by the organization (such as delivering water directly to farms and ranches). This report leverages data from the USDA's 2019 Survey of Irrigation Organizations to characterize the unique institutions that steward much of the Nation's groundwater resources.

Digital agriculture (DA)—the ongoing transformation of farming that includes digitalization and automation of farming tasks, of which precision agriculture (PA) is a chief element—may be an impor-tant part of the solution to several challenges facing U.S. agriculture, including rising production costs, climate change, and labor shortages, among others. Adoption of digital technologies in row-crop production has generally increased since 1996, though use has varied widely by technology and crop. Using data from USDA’s Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS), we document trends in the adoption of digital agriculture technologies between 1996 and 2019, emphasizing changes after 2016. The adoption of yield maps and soil maps (i.e., maps that associate physical characteristics with geographic coordinates) and variable rate technologies (VRT), in addition to other technologies, has been substantial on corn and soybean acreage for many years. Though their use has been increasing in recent years, technologies such as yield maps, soil maps, and VRT have been adopted on only between 5 and 25 percent of total U.S. planted acreage for winter wheat, cotton, sorghum, and rice. However, adoption of automated guidance has increased sharply in the past 20 years, with application on well over 50 percent of the acreage planted to corn, cotton, rice, sorghum, soybeans, and winter wheat. Beyond documentation of trends, this report explores certain drivers of farmers’ uptake—including pricing, soil variability, USDA programs, labor-saving benefits, expected productivity impacts, and availability of consultant services.

Ethanol manufacturers use about 40 percent of the U.S. corn crop for ethanol and related co-products, with the majority of the ethanol being consumed in the domestic transportation fuel market. After seeing strong growth for several years, ethanol-based demand for corn plateaued over the last decade. Recently, demand for fuel ethanol was reduced by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This report summarizes the current U.S. and international fuel ethanol markets and provides projections of future fuel ethanol demand in these markets.

Context and background In 2017 Mali developed a law recognizing the customary land rights of local populations called the "Loi sur le Foncier Agricole" (LFA, Farmland Land Law). This law was celebrated by rural populations, particularly farmers, who saw their family farms protected from state monopolization through incorporation into the private real estate domain of the state by means of registration. It was in this euphoria that the Land Law (LDF) was passed in 2020 by ordinance. No.21-056 of October 7, 2021. Goal and Objectives: The purpose of our study was to know the impact of this LDF on the achievements of the LFA. Is the new legislation in line with the logic of protecting traditional, customary agricultural land, the object of the LFA, or does it call into question the gains made?. Methodology: Through a comparative analysis of the LFA and its application texts that are still in place, the LDF and its application decrees, the former Land and Property Code (CDF) and its application texts, the texts on decentralization in Mali, the laws on administrative organization and the laws on the Domain services. Results: The results of our research have shown that the new law on domains and land tenure is an insidious but violent challenge to the LFA in that it integrates customary lands, which are the subject of the LFA, into the State's private real estate domain as they were before the LFA was adopted in 2017. In addition, it abolishes the precarious titles that were an opportunity for the poor to access land to live on (agriculture, rural concessions) and to find housing (urban and rural housing concessions) in favor of a single document, the land title. This law sounds the death knell of legal dualism in a Mali that is still predominantly agricultural, where custom governs the essential aspects of social relations., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 6, No 2: March 2023

This report is a summary of the data contained on the farmland sales portion of the Minnesota Land Economics (MLE) web site (http://landeconomics.umn.edu ) as of February 1, 2023. It is formally reissued each year, as new sales data become available. The present document consists largely of graphs and tables summarizing sales over the past twenty-four years. It provides averages at the multi-county region and at the statewide levels of aggregation. Individual transaction data are available for downloading and analysis at the MLE web site.

Context and background Infusion of technologies such as Geographical Information Systems into organizations has in most cases been associated with the concept of championing. Geographical Information Systems when developed across countries and/or regions, are integrable to create Spatial Data Infrastructure. In the Southern African Customs Union region, the concept of Spatial Data Infrastructures at national level have been acknowledged and/or kick-started. The efforts by these countries in development of National Spatial Data Infrastructures are evaluated with the aim of advancing a Southern African Customs Union Regional Spatial Data Infrastructure. This region has been incepted as collaborative trade block of the member countries. In the context of geospatial information, it is advanced that the region has discoverable opportunities and organizational platform for Spatial Data Infrastructure. A consideration is made that spatial data is capable of strengthening operational, tactical and strategic endeavors of Southern African Customs Union by providing evidence-based support to decisions and policy making. Goal and Objectives: The objective being interrogated in this paper, is the discoverability of geospatial data and information systems in Southern African Customs Union that can be integrated with its trade data and championed into Regional Spatial Data Infrastructure. Methodology: Mixed method of both quantitative and qualitative was used. In qualitative form, documents, questionnaires, interviews and workshop attendance have been utilized to decipher the attitudes of various stakeholders within Southern African Customs Union towards a Regional Spatial Data Infrastructure Concept. In a quantitative form, discoverable data has been found then further processed in line with the goal and objectives stated above. Results: Results obtained have enabled an elementary geodatabase proposition and maps of the region with a number of macroeconomic indicators. Furthermore, a discussion has been done to advance a preliminary determination of sponsor and champion of Southern African Customs Union Regional Spatial Data Infrastructure., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 6, No 2: March 2023

Global economic and market conditions continue to challenge U.S. crop and livestock farming. Inflation, extreme weather events, supply chain disruptions, high input costs, and Russia's war against Ukraine have pushed commodity prices above historic trends. The situation in Ukraine has affected wheat and corn markets in particular. These conditions set the stage for the long-term outlook for U.S. and global supply, demand, and trade for major field crops (corn, soybeans, wheat, and upland cotton) and major meats (beef, pork, poultry), key commodities for gauging the performance of the U.S. farm sector.

Extended wet winters present a challenge for grazing management for some farm businesses. Extended wet winters can cause waterlogging of pastures and when such pastures are grazed, soils and pastures are damaged. This research analysed, for two representative dairy farm businesses in south-eastern Australia with 100 hectares affected by a wet winter: (i) the cost of doing nothing differently to grazing management to manage pastures; (ii) the cost of actively managing wet pasture through ‘on-off’ grazing if the case study farm had a stand-off area; and (iii) the maximum amount of capital that could be invested in a stand-off area for wet pasture grazing management, if the farmer wants to earn a 10 per cent annual return. To do this analysis both biophysical modelling and economic analysis was used. It was found that, if the representative dairy farm businesses did nothing differently to grazing management during an extended wet winter, this could result in extra costs between $9,000 to $50,000 depending on the likelihood of a wet winter. However, if the representative farmer had a stand-off area and practised on-off grazing then the annual cost of this grazing strategy could be between $300 to $2,600. The maximum amount the representative farm business could invest in a stand-off area to earn a 10 per cent annual return, and be no worse off than doing nothing differently to manage wet pastures, was found to be from $50,000 to $250,000, depending on the frequency of the extreme wet weather. If the capital cost of the stand-off area was less than this amount, then the representative farmer would be better off investing in a stand-off area and using on-off grazing rather than doing nothing differently. A key conclusion from this analysis is that the representative farmer may be better able to manage the risk of a wet winter through active grazing management because the annual costs of an unchanged grazing management regime during a wet winter are more volatile than the costs of actively managing an extended wet winter. Lastly, a cost framework has been developed that other farm businesses could use to consider the costs of different wet winter pasture grazing management strategies for their businesses.

Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) are an important source of livestock grazing for many ranching operations in the Western United States. There are currently more than 22,000 authorized federal grazing permits representing 15.7 million animal unit months (AUMs) of grazing. Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming are examples of western states where many ranches are dependent on federal grazing. The combined total for the three states is 5,389 federal grazing permits, representing 5.6 million AUMs of grazing. In recent years, the use of federal lands for livestock grazing has become increasingly controversial with some organizations calling for the complete removal of all livestock grazing from public lands. The purpose of this analysis is to estimate the economic impact of removal of federal grazing by cattle on the combined Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming economy. The net effect of removal of federal cattle grazing in the three-state area is estimated to be a loss of $186.2 million in direct economic impact, and a reduction of $560.5 million in total economic impact. These impacts equate to a loss of more than 4,000 jobs and decreased labor income of $205.4 million annually. Due to the cumulative nature of the impact, these negative effects are expected to continue for many years into the future if federal grazing is removed. The analysis indicates that removing federal cattle grazing would have significant negative economic impact on the three-state area, particularly on many rural counties that have sensitive economies due to their dependency on agricultural production and limited alternative employment opportunities.

Estimating farmers’ supply responses to changes in framework conditions is important to inform decision-makers on the expected impacts on production volume as well as the resulting land-use shifts. Existing agricultural supply response models generally require either larger databases with farm-level data for microregional analysis or are implemented with a coarse resolution (e.g., country level) due to the lack of data. While such approaches are suitable for regions with abundancy of data or for global-scale analysis, there is a need for an alternative for micro-level analysis in countries with low data availability. In addition, it is important to include the spatial component in the regional supply response analysis, allowing not only the quantification of the overall change in output but also the likely spatial land-use change. Against this background, this dissertation aims to answer the research question whether a combination of a biophysical model with farm-level economic data can be used to estimate farm-level profitability of individual crops and respective cropping systems and thereby simulate farmers’ supply responses in countries with limited data availability. To answer this question, a new modeling approach called Profitability Assessment Model (PAM) is developed, tested and validated. This new modeling approach follows the principles of minimum data, focusing on delivering timely and quantitative analyses with satisfactory accuracy to inform decision-makers. That is an important feature since the overall goal of the concept is to limit the data required by the model to a minimum, allowing quick implementation while accepting moderate accuracy. The PAM is a spatially explicit model with simulation units’ size of spatial resolution grid varying between 5 and 30 arcmin (10x10 to 50x50 km in area), following that used by the Global Biosphere Management Model (GLOBIOM). PAM estimates the profitability of each farming alternative at the simulation unit level and allocates the land to maximize farmers’ return to land. The PAM model is developed and calibrated for the Brazilian agricultural sector. Using Brazil as the case study is interesting due to its overall importance in the global production of agricultural commodities as well as the environmental impact of land-use changes. For this case study, four production system are represented in the PAM model: (a) double cropping of soybeans and maize, (b) soybeans with a cover crop, (c) sugarcane monoculture and (d) beef production. While the profitability of the arable crops is endogenously estimated, beef is considered as an opt-out option, which is modeled based on exogenous return-to-land information. Since soybean, maize and sugarcane production accounts for 84% of the total seeded area in Brazil, the current version of the PAM model represents the most important cropping alternatives to farmers in Brazil, but not all. An important methodological contribution of the dissertation is the development of routines for the extrapolation of each production cost component from the known typical farms’ data to all regions in the country. These routines are based on local expertise as well as existing information on yield levels, prevailing production systems and farming conditions. Each cost component is analyzed individually and, based on theoretical discussions, specific cost functions are proposed following the expected behavior of each cost item – e.g., linear relationship with yields or fixed per ha. That should improve the accuracy of the model in estimating production costs (and finally profitability) while also allowing the model to be adapted to simulate changes in framework conditions that may affect only selected cost items (e.g., a significant increase in fuel prices). In addition, the PAM model improves on existing models because it accounts for specific cost components such as the transport of sugarcane from farm to mill, which is required due to the perishability of the crop. Besides the important impact of inbound transport cost on the overall profitability of sugarcane production, the endogenous simulation of this cost item allows the model to spatially differentiate among regions depending on the current availability of mills. A major constraint for regional profitability analysis is the lack of information regarding farm input and output prices. To overcome this problem, the PAM model provides an interesting alternative by endogenously estimating prices via the transport module. By considering the different transportation costs of each crop and basing the distance estimation on the actual availability of roads, the model allows a straightforward conversion of reference prices to farm-gate prices. The ability to endogenously simulate transport cost is a useful feature for the simulation of scenarios based on price shocks. Apart from the development of the modeling approach, this dissertation focuses on the quantitative model validation as a key step to identify strengths and limitations of the concept. Projected yields are validated against regional statistics and production cost estimates are benchmarked against the two available datasets, with a suitable number of primary typical-farm data. Furthermore, the resulting land-use maps are evaluated against two simplified validation maps representing current land use. In the business-as-usual scenario, the PAM model estimates a national weighted average of returns to land of 248 USD/ha for double cropping and 188 USD/ha for sugarcane. This relationship, however, is different in the states of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais, where, on average, sugarcane has a higher return to land than double cropping. Benchmarking PAM’s production cost estimates with observed local data shows a satisfactory model accuracy with a relative mean absolute error (rMAE) lower than 14%. The lowest error found in the production cost estimation is in sugarcane (rMAE of 8.7%) and the highest in second-crop maize (rMAE of 14%). The validation of the business-as-usual land-use map shows that the PAM model is able to satisfactorily reproduce the current land use in Brazil. The visual and quantitative validation results show a strong correlation between the available land-use maps, with PAM allocating the same crop as observed in 86% of total arable land. To test the ability of the PAM model to predict land-use and output changes due to changing framework conditions, a scenario analysis is carried out: What will happen in case yields of key crops change significantly as a consequence of climate change? Due to the strong reduction in the returns to land for grains (i.e., maize and soybeans) in the tropical region more than 24% of the current arable land is simulated to move from grains to sugarcane production. These results, however, vary significantly in the different regions, where the most affected states are Goiás, Paraná and Mato Grosso, jointly accounting for more than 55% of the total land-use change. This dissertation contributes to the overall development of regional farmers’ supply response models for countries with limited data availability, showing that it is feasible to combine a biophysical model and farm-level economic data as the basis for the profitability estimation in a high spatial resolution. The ability to estimate individual cost components separately gives the model the required flexibility for the simulation of market- and policy-related questions, providing timely and accurate information for decision-makers. The bottom-up approach based on local expertise is an important strength of the PAM model, avoiding unrealistic parametrization and ensuring that the majority of local features of production systems are included in the estimation. Finally, considering the overall goal of using minimum data, the model accuracy indicates a strong potential of the model to answer research questions, with additional parametrization and integration expected to further improve its performance.

THIS STUDY EVALUATED AND WEIGHED THE SPATIO-TEMPORAL DYNAMICS OF URBAN SPRAWL IN OYO TOWN. SPRAWL IN NIGERIA IS A MENACE THAT IS VERY OBVIOUS WITH VARIOUS UNSUSTAINABLE IMPACTS, PRESENTING CONCERN FOR ECOFRIENDLY SUSTAINABILITY. LANDSAT IMAGES OF YEARS 2003, 2013 AND 2021 WERE CLASSIFIED TO PRODUCE LAND USE LAND COVER MAPS. URBAN SPRAWL AND EXPANSION WERE ANALYZED USING POST-CLASSIFICATION TRANSFORMATION FINDING AND SPATIAL METRICS METHODS, RESPECTIVELY. THE OUTPUTS REVEALED BUILT-UP AREA GREW BY 0.40% DURING THE FIRST PERIOD (2003-2013) STUDIED, AND 14.25% DURING THE SECOND PERIOD (2013-2021). WHILE NON-BUILT-UP ENCOMPASS AN AREA OF 4640.12 KM2 (97.48% OF TOTAL AREA), AND IT DECREASED TO 4620.01 KM2 (97.06%) IN 2013, AND 3941.05 KM2 (82.80%) IN 2021. DURING THE THIRD PERIOD (2003-2021), BUILT-UP AREA ENLARGED FROM 1.68% OF THE TOTAL AREA IN 2003 TO 16.33% IN 2021, INDICATING A GREAT CHANGE OF 14.65% IN BUILT-UP AREA BETWEEN YEAR 2003 AND 2021. THE ANALYSIS FURTHER REVEALED A GROWTH COEFFICIENT OF 2.424%, WHICH INDICATED THAT OYO TOWN IS EXPERIENCING URBAN SPRAWL. ACCORDING TO THE URBAN EXPANSION INTENSITY INDEX SCORES OF 0.814%, OYO RECORDED A RELATIVELY MEDIUM SPEED URBAN EXPANSION BETWEEN YEAR 2003 AND 2021. URBAN SPRAWL IN OYO HAS CAUSED LAND DEGRADATION, LOSS OF VEGETATION COVER, LOSS OF NATURAL HABITAT, AND CONTAMINATION OF SURFACE WATER AMONGST OTHER THINGS. IN VIEW OF THE VITAL PART PLAYED BY VEGETATION AS A CARBON SINK, POLICY MAKERS ARE REQUESTED TO STRICTLY ENFORCE LAWS TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM CONTROL OVER URBAN GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND SPRAWL WITHIN OYO TOWN, African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 6, No 1: January 2023

Das Ministerium für Landwirtschaft, Umwelt und Klimaschutz des Landes Brandenburg hat den Entwurf eines Gesetzes zum Erhalt und zur Verbesserung der brandenburgischen Agrarstruktur (Brandenburgisches Agrarstrukturgesetz - BbgASG) vorgelegt. Dieser Entwurf sieht deutliche Verschärfungen gegenüber den bestehenden Regelungen des Grundstücksverkehrsgesetzes und des Landpachtverkehrsgesetzes vor. Sie betreffen ein Vorkaufsrecht regionaler Landwirte, Obergrenzen für Kauf- und Pachtpreise sowie Begrenzungen der Betriebsgröße. In dem vorliegenden Policy Brief werden agrarstrukturelle und ökonomische Auswirkungen der vorgeschlagenen Bodenmarktregulierungen untersucht. Weiterhin wird das dem Gesetzentwurf zugrundeliegende agrarstrukturelle Leitbild diskutiert. Grundlage des Leitbilds ist das Narrativ renditeorientierter Finanzinvestoren, deren Aktivitäten einer vielfältigen und nachhaltigen Landwirtschaft in Brandenburg entgegenstehen. Wir zeigen, dass vielen der daran anknüpfenden Prämissen des Leitbildes eine schlüssige empirische Grundlage fehlt. Die im Agrarstrukturgesetzentwurf vorgeschlagenen Regelungen stellen massive Eingriffe in die unternehmerische Freiheit und die Funktionsfähigkeit des Bodenmarktes dar. Insbesondere stützt sich der Regelungsansatz auf planwirtschaftliche und kartellähnliche Prinzipien, wie die Orientierung von Kauf- und Pachtpreisobergrenzen an administrativ festzulegenden Grundrenten und Ertragswerten. Daraus resultieren Beeinträchtigungen der agrarstrukturellen Entwicklung und Wettbewerbsfähigkeit der Landwirtschaft in Brandenburg ebenso wie eine drastische Entwertung von Bodeneigentum zulasten der Landwirte ebenso wie der großenteils in Brandenburg lebenden 175.000 privaten Bodeneigentümer. Die Umsetzung des Gesetzentwurfes wäre mit enormem bürokratischem Aufwand und erheblichen Rechtsunsicherheiten verbunden.

Animal manure provides crop nutrients and improves soil quality. However, manure’s nutrient variability and low phosphorus and nitrogen content per unit weight reduce its market value relative to chemical fertilizers. While manure remains an important source of fertilizer in many farming systems, alternative uses are becoming important. Manure can be used to generate renewable energy in the forms of heat, gas, and electricity with further processing, but innovation is required to compete against other renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. Entrepreneurs are also developing markets for fiber found in manure. Environmental policies related to animal farms, meant to protect air and water quality, can both raise manure management costs and increase manure’s value as an energy precursor. This study uses data from the USDA Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) to describe current manure production, handling, storage, and use. An extensive literature review of manure-related research describes existing and emerging technologies that have the potential to increase the value of manure or reduce manure management costs. The study identifies potential government programs and policies for promoting the adoption of technologies that enhance manure value for farmers.

Tropical hydrographic basins have undergone significant land use change processes in recent decades and correspond to areas of high population growth and development of economic activities. This article explores the causes of land use change in a tropical dry forest watershed, taking the Canalete river basin as a case study. For this purpose, stakeholder analysis techniques and participatory methods were applied. The results showed that the main causes of land use change in pastures were associated with biophysical factors, while forestsshrubs and crops were associated with direct and subyacents socioeconomics factors respectively. The participatory mapping allowed obtaining a desired land use scenario for the year 2030, observing a decrease of more than 16.2 ha of pasture, compensated by an increase of almost 2.4 thousand ha of crops and 13.8 thousand ha of forests and shrubs. Similarly, the hydrological impact of changes in land use was observed, especially in terms of flooding.

The aim of the project was to create a nationwide, uniform, spatially high- resolution nutrient model together with agricultural and water management authorities of the federal states in order to create information bases that can contribute to fulfilling the reporting obligations of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), among other things. The aim was to map inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus from agriculture, the wastewater sector and the air pathway into groundwater, surface waters and the tributaries in the North Sea and Baltic Sea or the transfer levels to neighbouring countries, taking into account the respective most important conversion and degradation processes. The AGRUM-DE model network consists of the agricultural-economic model RAUMIS (operated at the Thünen Institute) and the hydrological models mGROWA-DENUZ- WEKU-MePhos (Jülich Research Centre, FZJ) and the model MONERIS (Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, IGB): • Using the RAUMIS model, the Thünen Institute calculated nitrogen balances of agriculture on municipal areas and an analysis of the effect of the amended Fertiliser Ordinance (DüV) on achieving the management objectives for groundwater, inland waters and coastal waters. • Using the mGROWA-WEKU-DENUZ-MEPhos models of the Jülich Research Centre, the water balance and diffuse nutrient inputs into groundwater and surface waters were determined separately according to the most important input pathways. The model calculations were carried out for the entire area of Germany in a grid of 100 m × 100 m. • The MONERIS model was developed and applied by the IGB in Berlin to calculate N and P inputs from point sources and urban systems into surface waters at the municipal level and the retention and degradation of N and P compounds in surface waters at the sub-basin level. Through an as-is analysis, the different origins and levels of nutrient inputs were first determined. This made it possible to spatially identify pollution hot-spots and thus priority areas for the implementation of measures. Based on this, the regional N and P action requirement to achieve the protection goals for groundwater and surface waters to achieve the marine protection goals was determined and the effects of the amended Fertiliser Ordinance on nutrient inputs were analyzed. The project was accompanied by a working group of around 50 experts from the federal states in the field of agriculture and water management, in which all project steps – from the definition of the data basis to the presentation of the results – were presented, discussed and agreed in detail., DOI:10.3220/REP1684153697000

In the first quarter of 2023, the Seventh Federal Reserve District’s farmland values saw a 10 percent increase from a year ago, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of double-digit year-over-year growth. In addition, “good” farmland values in the District rose 2 percent from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the first quarter of 2023, according to the survey responses of 148 District agricultural bankers. Despite demand to purchase farmland still being up, there was a smaller amount of farmland for sale in the three- to six-month period ending with March 2023 than in the same period ending with March 2022. Moreover, the number of farms and the amount of acreage sold were down somewhat during the winter and early spring of 2023 compared with a year earlier. Annual cash rental rates for District farmland saw an increase of 8 percent in 2023—down from their gain of 11 percent in 2022. The vast majority of responding bankers (78 percent) forecasted District farmland values to be stable during the second quarter of 2023, while 15 percent forecasted them to be higher and 7 percent forecasted them to be lower. Agricultural credit conditions held fairly steady in the District during the first quarter of 2023. The availability of funds for agricultural lending in the first quarter of 2023 was nearly unchanged from a year earlier, but demand for non-real-estate loans was down for the 11th straight quarter. At 70.3 percent, the average loan-to-deposit ratio in the first quarter of 2023 was slightly down from the previous quarter. Repayment rates for non-real-estate farm loans were higher in the January through March period of 2023 compared with a year ago, and the renewals and extensions of these loans were lower. The amount of collateral required by banks across the District was on net a tad higher than a year earlier. By the end of the first quarter of 2023, the District’s average nominal interest rates on farm operating, feeder cattle, and farm real estate loans had reached their highest levels since the third quarter of 2007. However, average real interest rates for all three were last higher in the first quarter of 2021.

In this issue: The economics of forage crops in the Western U.S.

Context and background Unsustainable land management practices result in land degradation that threatens the environment and stifles livelihoods. Africa remains exposed to threats such as natural resource degradation and poverty due to various reasons that include: changing demographics, urbanization, mining, fragile natural resources and ecosystems, increased soil erosion and land degradation, low yields and high post-harvest yield losses. Land degradation is severe and ongoing because of economic pressures and slower evolution of environmental awareness. Goal and Objectives: This article, while examining the Africa’s land potential of the African countries, advocates for the people themselves and youth particularly, not just the governments, to be involved. It also explores the wealth of livelihood opportunities that can be found in tackling land degradation and environmental policies. Methodology: The methodology involves multiple case studies focused on the review of the continent's strategic resource richness. It includes scientific studies, and reports of support organizations. Results: This paper has laid out concerns about both the state of Africa’s environment and youth career prospects. But more importantly, provided insights on steps that can be taken to conserve the environment and create jobs., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 6, No 1: January 2023

The United Republic of Tanzania has been administratively restructuring and Transforming its Local Government Authorities from lowest to higher rank based on ranking structural ideas adopted from China. Based on that regard, the Urban Local Government of Tanzania has been categorized into administrative hierarchical positions of Trade Centers, Townships, Towns, Municipalities and Cities. Materially, the administrative transformation of urban authorities in Tanzania resulted in the reemergence of rural urbanism and the urban village in urban Localities. The reemergence of rural urbanism and the urban village in urban settings is becoming more Prevalent in Tanzanian cities, municipalities, and town councils. As a result of the impact, there is dramatic disappearance of ecological environmental essentials in urban settings, ensuring that 65 per cent of Tanzanian city settlements urbanize informally. Goal and Objectives: The main objective of this study is to explore how the administrative hierarchical position transformation of agrarian urban authorities resulted in the booming growth of the Rural Settlement Urbanism into an urban Setting that resulted in Urban Villagization rather than urban modernisation in Tanzania. Methodology This study drew empirical evidence of urban villages and rural urbanism into an urban setting from 443 respondents in 13 wards and 53 sub wards in Dodoma National Capital City. A mixed approach and a case study strategy were adopted in which both qualitative and quantitative data were collected. Official and household interviews; focus group discussions; measurements; and observations were used to collect data. Results The findings of this study revealed that 35 wards out of 41(85%) and 189 sub-awards out of 222 (85) sub wards in Dodoma are undergoing rural urbanism into urban settings and have urban village features such as uncoordinated walkability, poor quality of life, unsustainability, low population and low building and population density, traditional neighbourhood structure, poor quality architecture and urban design, mixed-use and diversity, and uncoordinated connectivity. To regulate them, the LGA is urged to integrate and apply new urbanism concepts and models that highlight the development of village planning ideas which ensure ecologically friendly behaviours by establishing walkable neighbourhoods with a diverse choice of housing and employment opportunities, Traditional neighbourhood design (TND) and transit-oriented development (ToD)., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 6, No 1: January 2023

In Cote d���Ivoire, as in many African countries, social tensions are frequently linked to a crisis of the rule of property law. These socio-legal conflicts are referred to by various names depending on their subject matter or the time and place in which they arise: law crises, the weakness of the State apparatus, the unsuitability and failure of institutions, and so on. However, in the majority of cases, these conflicts stem from a common phenomenon: weak land tenure security, or more precisely, land insecurity. The awareness of the magnitude of the problem of securing land tenure and its formalization through the "PAMOFOR" project (in which we participated as a research group and technical land operator), leads us to ask the following questions: How can we master the analysis of land governance and land tenure security in C��te d'Ivoire? And what is its current state? Indeed, an assessment of land governance in Cote d���Ivoire is required. To accomplish this goal, the LGAF tool was used as the foundation of a highly participatory approach to systematically analyzing various aspects of land governance. The goal is to identify best practices and reach agreement on priority areas for land administration improvement. The analysis' findings enable stakeholders to address key governance gaps and develop a clear roadmap for improving land governance., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 4, No 5: Special Issue, November 2021

This paper sets forth five principles in operationalizing and mainstreaming gender inclusiveness in land and legal documents in Ghana. In addition to the documentary reviews, 30 experts in land policy analysis, gender and legal affairs were interviewed concerning their perspectives on gender inclusivity in land policies in Ghana. The study used the general land and legal documents as the guiding framework in operationalizing gender inclusivity. The documents were evaluated to determine how well they incorporate gender issues in their design and implementation. Findings suggest that while there exists a nuanced understanding of gender inclusivity among land, gender and legal experts, policy has shown limited understanding and mainstreaming of gender inclusivity. As a result, the documents and legal instruments guiding the regulation of land in Ghana do not explicitly promote gender inclusivity, although it does so implicitly. Recommendations for ensuring gender inclusiveness in land policy were tendered., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol. 4, No 4: September 2021

In Cameroon, the pressure on wetlands, which cover nearly 70% of the national territory, appears to be increasing, whether for subsistence needs, firewood, grazing, logging or expansion of development projects. Currently, in terms of land use, forest has decreased by 619 km² and cultivated land has increased by 321 km². The surface area of degraded forests and land is estimated at around 12 million hectares, with a general trend towards an increase in the phenomenon due to both natural and anthropogenic factors. It is obvious that approaches in favour of wetlands are widely engaged in the different basins of Cameroon. However, the management strategies for these areas are based on knowledge that is certainly extensive, but still patchy. There is a serious lack of overview of the location of degraded lands, the intensity of this degradation and the way farmers are addressing this problem through sustainable land management. Goal and objectives: The objective of this study is to characterize the dynamics of land cover from multi-date satellite data in the Noun floodplain of Cameroon. Methodology The methodology relies on the use of remote sensing and GIS to identify spatial units and detect changes over a twenty-two year period (1999 to 2021). The land cover maps were produced from an unsupervised classification with maximum likelihood. Results: The results identified eight classes: herbaceous savannahs with shrubs, forest galleries, fields and plantations, herbaceous tannas, young fallows, mineralized and built-up soils, bare soils and surface waters. It appears that in 1999, the landscape was dominated by natural vegetation (72.6%) located from north to south of the Noun plain. However, since 2004, the landscape has been dominated by agricultural areas (56.8%). Natural formations have been progressively reduced in space over time. The evolution of the Noun floodplain landscape reveals that 14.3% of the space has remained stable. These are fields and plantations, young fallows, mineralized soils and surface water. This space has not migrated to other classes. While about 73.9% of the area has moved to higher classes, of which 35.6% to herbaceous tannas and 26% to fields and plantations. On the other hand, 72.6% of the area (herbaceous savannahs and forests gallery) has been heavily degraded. These results indicate that the landscape of the Noun floodplain is marked by a high level of agricultural activity, which is at the origin of the progressive degradation of the land. They suggest an effective awareness of the level of land degradation and a better integrated management of land at the local level., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 5, No 5: November 2022

Land in Ethiopia is held by the state and the people; while landholders guaranteed a lifetime ‘holding’ right (any right except sell and mortgage per se). Women have equal rights to men in the formal legal system, despite, in pastoral areas, women’s land rights are highly influenced by religious and customary systems: rights are meaningless unless they are socially recognized and effectively enforced. Studies on women’s land rights comparing between formal and customary land laws are rare. The aim of this paper is to understand what land rights women have under formal and customary legal systems in pastoral areas of Ethiopia, how these are implemented and what their impact is, and to make recommendations for their convergence. It focuses on two pastoral regions of Ethiopia: Afar and Oromia. The research revealed that there is a high disparity between the formal law and what the practice in one hand, and the customary and religious systems, and the formal state system. Afar society is patriarchal: women are still inferior to men in terms of use of and access to land. Customary and religious systems are applicable more than state laws. Women don’t resolve disputes except in certain exceptional circumstances, they involve indirect. They cannot inherit property either from their husband or families through the customary system. Land titling is conducted in the region by considering the rights of women which brings improvements. Women have started to obtain private holdings from the government in villagization areas: accounted for 24% of the total, despite several challenges. In Oromia pastoral areas, women have relatively equal rights: they have their own clear responsibilities according to custom. Transactions of matrimonial properties is not possible without the consent of the wife. In many places, women have their own private land, and they participate directly and indirectly in the management of communal lands. But there is discrimination for women as far as inheritance is concerned. Inheritance of land and dispute settlements are common problems of the two study areas. It is not an easy task to converge the formal and informal systems on women land rights. Replacing the customary system with the formal is not the solution. Legal pluralism may be an option and advantageous. The research recommends for promulgation of pastoral land administration laws acknowledging and incorporating customary and religious laws (one umbrella pastoral ‘code’ that bring together statutory, customary, and religious laws); awareness creation and legal empowerment of societies; certification of private holdings including photographs of both the husband and wife/wives; integration of the customary and religious systems into criminal law; a mobile free legal service; a thorough study to understand the pros and cons of polygamy for women and the society in general; and a process of cultural mapping and monitoring., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 5, No 5: November 2022

Context and background Access to and ownership of land are important for reducing discrimination. Women’s right to land ownership is a growing challenge to different communities, especially in developing countries, whose most of their societies are patrilineal including Tanzania. Goal and Objectives: Assess the gender-based opinions on the effect of the socio-cultural factors on women’s right to land ownership and the extent to which communities perceive women's right to land to contribute to community development. Methodology: The study used cross-sectional data and applied quantitative and contet analysis. Sample selected using random sampling to select 120 households that participated in the Land Tenure Support Programme in the Ifakara town Council located in the Morogoro region in Tanzania. Data collected using structured quaetionnnare and chickelists for Focus group discussion and Key informants interviews. Content and descriptive analyses were applied to examine the socio-cultural factors that affect women’s right to land ownership. Results: The study found that six socio-cultural claims namely property ownership, polygamy, the reproductive role of women, men’s supremacy, migration of men and property inheritance impeded women’s right to land ownership. The findings showed statistical significance for claims that contribute to impeding women’s officially land ownership. The study recommended that the government should reinforce the right of women to land ownership within marriage through bylaws; promote a gender-responsive land tenure system through locally made bylaws; and support all training programs about women empowerment., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 5, No 5: November 2022

This paper was presented in the 2021 Conference on Land Policy in Africa held in Kigali, Rwanda, in November 2021. It is based on a three-year study by the Land Development and Governance Institute (LDGI), in partnership with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, to test the efficacy of the application of Kenya's new Community Land Act. The study sites are in Isiolo and Marsabit Counties, both in the Arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) Northern Kenya. The study results demonstrate the importance of adequate sensitisation of the key actors (government, political and community) at county level and the grass root communities, the use of participatory and inclusive processes to establish the community governance organs and fulfil the statutory requirements provided under this new law. The study also highlights the importance of the use of community champions to ensure the continuous sensitisation of community members, and to to galvanise the communities in the registration and management of their land. Through the study, communities were supported to develop basic tools to guide them in land use planning and investor negotiations. The land use planning guide developed will help the communities to liase with the county government to prepare a land use development plan which is expected to enhance the sustainable use of the community land, while the investor negotiation guide developed will be helpful during negotiations with investors interested in partnering with the communities for investments on their land. The use of the investor guides is expected to inform the preparation of mutually beneficial investor agreements as anticipated under the Community Land Act. It is expected that the lessons from the study, which include: community empowerment, use of participatory inclusive processes, ensuring gender equity in the composition of governance organs and in decision making processes, embracing the youth, use of champions and avoiding the negative impacts of the adjudication of community land will be useful to state and non-state implementers of the new law, and may be used to inform the scaling up implementation countrywide. It is also expected that gaps identified in the new law, such as the management of the inheritance rights of children married outside the community, and those divorced, will inform law review., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 5, No 4: September 2022

Electronic land titling in the field of land administration being a new concept of right registration on land and properties developed on it, is seen to be the future of a centric land administration in Rwanda. Rwanda is promoting a cashless economy and a full paperless land administration aiming at promoting the principle of “zero trip zero paper”. Since the completion of systematic land registration, the country has achieved a commendable work in the regularization of land tenure system which took place from 2009 to 2013 resulting to a mass land titling process where over 10,6 million of land certificates were registered and collected by land owners at a glance. Given that the application to land services mostly results to the issuance of a physical land title which acts as the proof of land ownership that can be presented as a collateral to financial institutions while applying for financial support, the title is supposed to be strictly taken care by the owner to avoid the loss or physical damage. Also the production of a physical land title implies huge cost to the Government of Rwanda and to the citizens. Once e-titling is implemented, all these bottlenecks will be addressed, since land owners will only use their electronic gadgets like phones, IPADS and computers to access their information and keep their land titles digitally. This paper seeks to enlighten policy makers and professionals in land administration on the importance of implementing electronic land titling and how it can increase transparency, equity, and accountability and speed up land related services and other services that require a proof of real property ownership., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 5, No 4: September 2022

Africa’s age-old architectural knowledge is replete with diverse design techniques that satisfy not only aesthetic but also functional purposes. Nevertheless, as is normally the case with many African creative endeavors, this knowledge is not fully harvested. Yet from the COVID-19 pandemic, which demands rethinking of how space is used, to climate change, which questions how structures are designed and made, the need to consider how African architecture can shape the Africa we need, not to mention its contribution to global architecture, is pressing., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 5, No 4: September 2022

Context and background: Land production in Togo's cities in general and secondary cities in particular takes place in a dual institutional context: formal and informal. Land, being the foundation of any urban planning project, is by implication an excellent place for capital flows from all social strata. However, its management is subject to numerous hazards due, among other things, to the complexity of the standards, the lack of a single regulatory framework, the non-existence of land tenure arrangements and the absence of reliable data on land transactions and transfers. Faced with the phenomena resulting from this picture of social reality, namely: the accelerated commodification of land, stallion, the lack or insufficiency of evidence to support property rights, the question of being recognized as the legal owner of an estate or a parcel of land in an urban environment such as the Middle Mono1 is becoming more acute in the face of accelerated urban growth since the 1980s. Goal and Objectives: The objective of this work is to analyze the influence of land acquisition procedures, whether formal or informal, on the management of the communal territory of Moyen Mono 1. Methodology: A mixed-methods approach was taken to reporting. Qualitative data (books, theses, dissertations, articles, etc.) were consulted in libraries and scientific sites and quantitative data were collected from a sample of 163 people. Results and Findings: Analysis reveals a strong correlation between the disparity in the provision of urban facilities and services and the dysfunction of land information mechanisms. In the commune of Moyen Mono 1, the land title, which is the key to proof of ownership, is not available to any purchaser and only 3% of purchasers are informed by the land register. This situation remains dependent on the types of land transactions, 95% of which are carried out informally. The majority of city dwellers in Moyen Mono 1 do not have real property rights (in the modern sense of the term) but rather presumed title. This situation explains the irregular nature of human settlements and the unequal accessibility of the population to urban services in Moyen Mono 1., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 5, No 4: September 2022

Demand for agricultural land by foreign investors has been increasing in Mozambique over the last years and the Wanbao project is an example. The implementation of this project in Gaza has divided opinions between the government, civil society and academia. This study aims to contribute to the debate on whether Wanbao project can be considered as land grabbing and the extent to which it contributes to the development of small scale agriculture in Gaza. The results show that the land concession to Wanbao was made without any consideration of customary rights, however, it was found that the contract farming program can increase rice productivity in the short term, but its sustainability remains questionable. Thus, if the Mozambican government intends to transform agriculture through large investments, it must ensure that the concession of land respects customary rights and the companies involved ensure the transfer of technologies in an effective and sustainable manner., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol. 4, No 3: May 2021

International audience; Context and background In Senegal, the rise in land disputes leads to questions about the place of the administration judge in the protection of the land rights of citizens. Indeed, most of the conflicts that arise either between farmers and herders, or between populations and private investors, are often resolved through alternative methods, namely conciliation or land mediation. Some conclude that there is a "preponderance" of alternative modes of resolving land disputes over jurisdictional modes. Moreover, the marginalization of the litigation process is largely explained by the exaggerated use of alternative methods of settling land disputes. However, in recent years, land disputes have been brought more and more before the administrative chamber of the Supreme Court. Goal and objectives : This study aims to highlight the place and role of the Senegalese administration judge in the resolution of land disputes. The objective is to test the effectiveness of court decisions compared to alternative methods of resolving land disputes such as mediation or conciliation. Methodology The methodological approach consisted on the one hand in carrying out in-depth research in centers specializing in land governance such as NELGA (AOF) located at Gaston Berger University in Saint Louis (Senegal), in order to use the necessary documentation. On the other hand, research at the Supreme Court (Dakar-Senegal) made it possible to collect and use important decisions in land matters. Results : Research results have shown that the administrative judge is increasingly moving towards better protection of the land rights of citizens. However, this relative jurisdictional protection deserves to be improved and readapted to the current requirements of the rule of law. Today, the role of the judge in resolving land disputes is becoming imperative in the context of the rise of large-scale land grabs, insecurity and land corruption.; Au Sénégal, la montée en puissance des conflits fonciers amène à s’interroger sur la place du juge de l’administration dans la protection des droits fonciers des administrés. En effet, la plupart des conflits qui naissent soit entre agriculteurs et éleveurs, soit entre les différentes catégories de populations et les investisseurs privés, se règlent souvent par le biais de modes alternatifs à savoir la conciliation ou la médiation foncière. Certains en concluent à une « prépondérance » des modes alternatifs de résolution des conflits fonciers par rapport aux modes juridictionnels. Toutefois, depuis quelques années, les litiges fonciers sont de plus en plus portés devant la chambre administrative de la Cour suprême. Cette hypothèse est étayée par nos différentes recherches effectuées dans cette institution mais également dans différents centres spécialisés en matière foncière tels que le NELGA (AOF) sis à l’Université Gaston Berger de Saint Louis (Sénégal). Les résultats de recherche ont montré que le juge de l’administration tend de plus en plus vers une protection des droits fonciers des administrés. Cependant cette protection juridictionnelle relative mérite d’être améliorée et réadaptée aux exigences actuelles de l’Etat de droit. Mots clés : Administration, Administrés, Droits fonciers, Juge, Protection.

Context and background The originality of the urban structure of Touba lies first of all in its management led by the general Khalif and its particular status of a land title which is backed by a strong uncontrolled demography combined with a strong sprawl poorly controlled. Touba's town planning policy seems to boil down to the creation of housing plots and the free choice left to the caliph for the sites for installing equipment or infrastructure, and the destination of the reserves. On the other hand, in Ziguinchor, land dynamics have become a central problem. Today, the peripheral districts, "old" areas of culture (Kandialang, Kenya, Djibock, Lyndiane and Diabir) constitute the main destinations for new arrivals (both from the city and from the depths countryside) in search of habitat plots. Goal and Objectives: The objective of this article is to show the different territorial dynamics in urban spaces with different tenure and land practices. Methodology: The methodological approach is based on the one hand on a documentary review, observation, socio-demographic surveys, and interviews. On the other hand, the use of geomatics (openstreetmap, google earth and Quantum GIS software) will be used for mapping. Results: The advantage of this approach has allowed us to characterize the land regimes of Touba and Ziguinchor, to quantify the dynamics of the two distinct land regimes, and to identify the issues and consequences of these territorial recompositions.

Context and background A Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) for the Rabat-Salé-Kenitra (RSK) region represents a major opportunity to coordinate exchanges and share spatial data between several actors: producers or users of spatially referenced data on a regional scale. Goal and Objectives The objective of this article is to analyze the potentialities and handicaps of the implementation of such a spatial data infrastructure in order to promote a better coordination of the different actors of the regional territories. Methodology To achieve this objective, a scientific survey was conducted to collect an inventory of spatial data sharing at the RSK region level as well as the perspective of its implementation. This survey was based on live interviews and an online questionnaire in order to reach all territorial managers and producers of spatial information. This questionnaire is made up of four chapters which respectively concern information on the surveyed organization, the processing of spatial data, the elements related to the production and use of this spatial information and finally the partnerships and collaboration component. Results Through this study, it was found that a future SDI at the regional level will have to respect certain common objectives which are the keys to the success of the project, in particular in the appropriation of the platform by the users, and in the quality of the information conveyed. It was also noted that at the level of information storage and data handling, it will be necessary to ensure knowledge of the exact sources and definitions (metadata), nomenclatures and standards of the information displayed. In addition, the spatial data infrastructure will have to rationalize data from multiple partners. A list of the data collected has been established. These data are judged to be of average quality and their availability is practically inaccessible in an official manner even in the event of several reminders. The majority of these data are obtained informally.

Existing land governance system in Zimbabwe subjects vulnerable groups such as women to ‘land corruption’, which entrenches the already existing gendered land inequalities. This study used secondary data and found that Zimbabwe has witnessed various forms of corruption in general and land corruption, in particular, despite the country having the requisite policy, legal and institutional frameworks as well as other mechanisms to curb the scourge of corruption. It is the effectiveness of the institutional setup that continues to be questioned for objectivity in execution and enforcement of anti-corruption mandates. Women continue to be discriminated, mistreated and ‘sexploited’ by local land administration authorities. Anecdotal evidence suggests that as a result of land corruption involving powerful actors, women tend to suffer the most. The study recommends the documentation of on-going malpractices in land administrative processes to expose endemic power asymmetries and abuse of power for corrupt gains in land governance systems., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol. 4, No 1: January 2021

Land administration as one of the mechanisms of availing property rights to owners cannot be achieved unless there are well-functioning and coordinated institutional frameworks. This paper explored the challenges emanating from the existing institutional frameworks dealing with land administration in providing property right in Burundi. A mixed research design has been applied to capture qualitative and quantitative data. A desk review of different government reports, academic papers and books have been consulted. A total of 60 respondents have participated in this paper such as officials in land department, local leaders, and individual land owners. The findings show that Burundi has got many institution frameworks, but are fragmented and dispersed. As results, challenges faced by many groups of people are not addressed by these institutions which make these people to have less property rights. These people are marginalised, suffering from food insecurity and living in extreme poverty., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol. 4, No 1: January 2021

Ethiopia follows a federal state administrative structure. Regional states are organized on ethnic basis. The country has over 85 ethnic groups and languages, but only majority ethnic groups, with few exceptions, have their own standalone regional states. The Constitution of the country categorizes land as a public property and gives land administration responsibilities to regional states. Although the Constitution confirms land access right to all citizens, regional states’ constitutions and land laws put restrictions to prioritize residents. The paper aims at revealing some of the linkage between ethnic-based federalism and its impact on access to land and tenure security. By gathering and analyzing evidence from literatures and land experts, the paper provides with important recommendations for the way forward helping to improve access to land and tenure security for all. Initiate literature review and observation of the dynamics in access to land and tenure security led to a quick survey among land experts. About 25 experts who have knowledge and experience in the country’s land administration system responded to survey questions. After data was collected and compiled, a simple descriptive statistics method was used to analyze and generate understandable, tangible, and acceptable results. Findings from the survey indicated that regional and local authorities’ unfair treatment towards people coming outside of regional states discourages investment and provokes conflict. The country experienced hundreds of conflicts since ethnic-based federalism was introduced in 1991. In addition to ethnic categorization, the conflicts have their root in landholding arrangements. Although there are major steps being taken in reforming the macroeconomy including privatizing government owned enterprises like telecom, it is not yet clear if the government will continue to reform the land tenure system and ethnic-based federalism. Respondents in the survey indicated that the current land tenure and governance systems need changes allowing free movement of citizens, encouraging investment, prevailing peace, and improving access to land and tenure security., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 5, No 3: May 2022

Land is a decisive factor in the organization of urban land. Its management is not subject to global agreement. It cannot be the expression of a socio-economic optimum shared by all actors, given their diverse and divergent interests. Goal and objectives: The legal and institutional dysfunctions linked to the land question in Morocco are multiple. At the legal level, the rule of law is generally a colonial legacy of a palliative nature. It does not respond to complex and changing land issues. At the institutional level, the dysfunctions imply an incoherence of public action. Methodology: The fragmentation of the system of actors leads to inconsistent actions. The inertia of the State's action in the face of urban challenges is obvious. This implies the deficiency of urban land governance. There is a lack of an effective land policy and the pre-eminence of sectorial policies. Reforms are necessary to initiate a renewal of public action on urban land. This reflection notes elements of hope arising from certain legal texts relating in particular to the management of collective land, the land regime of territorial authorities and investment. Results: The renewal of urban land governance must be considered in a systemic framework. It is necessary to rethink the land administration, regulate the land management system and take into consideration a number of recurrent recommendations. The suggestions focus on institutional redeployment, the reorganisation of the roles of actors and the adoption of technical, legal, economic and operational tools, mechanisms and measures.. Key words : Land Tenure, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Public Actors, Dysfunctions, Reforms., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 5, No 3: May 2022

In view of land’s vital importance as a foundation of societal livelihood and its position being at the heart of social and political interests and conflicts, increasing number of universities in Africa have been launching and expanding formal educational and research programs since the last two decades. The ongoing expansion of land governance educational and research programs are mainly driven by the need for the overall socio-economic development reforms at continental level in Africa. It is obvious that academia plays the leading role in producing and providing competent graduates that will in time contribute to the processes of land reform. As a responses and input to the reform process, East African countries where this study has focused on have been giving high attention and dedication to open and incorporate educational or training programs in the field of land governance. However, studies to examine and evaluate the contents and quality of the curricula in addressing inclusive land governance are limited at continental as well as at regional level. Thus this study is aimed to review the land governance related curricula launched in the higher education institutes of Eastern Africa Region (Eastern African Land Administration Network) from the point of addressing the issue of inclusive land governance. A desk review approach and qualitative content analysis method was employed to achieve the objective of the study. Finally, this review shows that there is a clear limitation or gap to incorporate topics related to inclusive land governance principles in the existing curricula. This clearly implies that the existing land governance challenges and social and political conflicts are partly attributed to the gaps in the existing curricula or educational programs launched at national and continental level. Thus, this review calls for universities in Africa to highlight the importance of incorporating topics on inclusive land governance and related issues in the review process as a means to manage land in a just, conflict-free land sustainable manner., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 5, No 3: May 2022

The government of Ghana through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources of Ghana has been assisting customary land authorities to strengthen customary land administration through the establishment customary land secretariats. The rationale for the support for customary land administration was to develop more effective and accountable systems of land administration at local level based on a collaborative approach and building on existing customary institutions. The work provides the findings based on the study of thirty-three customary land secretariats with the view to understanding the customary land secretariat concept in Ghana over a sixteen year period from 2005 to 2021. The Specific Objectives were to assess the effectiveness of Customary Land Secretariats in terms of: 1) Keeping and maintaining accurate and up to date records on land dealings in their locality, 2)Providing information about the land owning community to the public, 3) Receiving correspondence on behalf of the land management committee, 4) Serving as a link between the land owning community and other stakeholders, 5) Serving as a link between an applicant and the local land management committee, 6) Serving as a link between the land owning community and the public land sector agencies, 7) Providing accounts of income and expenditure on local land transactions, 8) Preparing periodic report on activities of the secretariat, 9)Keeping records of all fees and charges associated with land grants and finally, Resolving land related disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms. In summary, the work seeks to unveil the successes and failures of the customary land secretariats based on the above ten thematic areas. Importance: In Ghana just as with several other African countries, land is central to livelihood for majority of the population which is largely agrarian subsistence farmers. Understanding systems for efficient administration at the local level holds key to improving the various systems in place for land management which has the potential to activate local economic development. Particularly in the case of Ghana, the new Land Act 2020 (Act 1036) places a herculean task on the shoulders of traditional authorities to effectively management land - land which about 70% is customarily owned and held in trust by (i.e. family heads, clan heads, chiefs and priests) for their subjects. The effectiveness of customary land secretariat implementation will greatly aid the fiduciary relation and promote accountability at the local level. Some reports have found that, a good number of customary land secretariats are either dying or have died. This work seeks to confirm these findings and to explore the underlying causes of the problem. The work will enable customary land authorities and the government to better provide safeguards to make the customary land secretariats more effective and efficient. Data and Methodology: The study employs a case study approach within a Quantitative and Qualitative data analysis paradigm. The research and its findings and conclusion hinges on robust empirical evidence with analysis of quantitative and qualitative data collated from thirty-three customary land secretariats randomly selected across the country as follows: Coastal Belt = 11, Middle Belt = 12, Northern Belt = 10, Total = 33 In all 148 respondents were selected from the various customary land secretariats and interviewed using the purposive sampling technique. The respondents were mainly members of the land management committees, the association of coordinators, chiefs and heads of families and clans, Some telephone and email correspondence were employed but to a limited extent. Visits were made to 22 of the customary land secretariats to verify and confirm conflicting data collated from the different data sources. Findings: Results show a reduction in the number of ownership disputes in areas where CLSs have been established and that there is an increase in public education and sensitization of community people on land documentation and that there is an increase in the number persons registering lands including the proportion of women registering titles to their lands. On keeping and maintaining accurate and up to date records on land dealings in their locality, most customary land secretariat had failed. A few such as Gbawe Kwatei, Odoitso Odoi Kwao and Asantehene Customary land Secretariats have successfully collected and stored records on customary land grants. On providing information about the land owning community to the public, the figures show that, a lot need to be done by way of training of the personnel. On receiving correspondence on behalf of the land management committee and serving as a link between the land owning community and other stakeholders, it was observed that, many of the secretariats were not properly aligned with the public land sector agencies and therefore could not adequately serve the need of clients. On serving as a link between an applicant and the local land management committee, we found bureaucracy as the major challenge especially with the chiefs hindering information flow. On serving as a link between the land-owning community and the public land sector agencies, poor coordination, collaboration and alignment was a challenge. On keeping accounts of income and expenditure on land transactions, the study found that a few customary land secretariats undertook proper book keeping such as issuing receipts for services rendered. On preparing periodic report on activities of the secretariat, the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands reported that majority of the customary land secretariats did not prepare and provide reports. Where reports were provided, they were of low quality. On keeping records of fees and charges associated with land grants this was a major challenge as less than 10% of the customary land secretariat was doing so. On resolving land related disputes via the application of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms the picture was positive. In fact, more than 250 disputes had been resolved by Customary Land Secretariats over the past four years alone., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 5, No 3: May 2022

The Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy in Africa endorsed through the adoption of the African Union Declaration on Land Issues and Challenges by the African Heads of States in 2009 is having “a strong gender component which aims at “strengthening security of land tenure for women which require special attention” and “ensuring that land laws provide for equitable access to land and related resources”. Despite this progressive framework, restricted rights to access, use, inheritance, control and ownership of land by women in Africa are still strongly felt at grassroots level and can be attributed to the imbalances of power relations between men and women based on patriarchal systems and associated social norms that discriminate against women. Women in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have equal rights to make key decisions on land because they are considered to be mere “guardians”, holding land in trust for their sons (Uvuza, 2016). By strengthening grassroots women collective capacity to effectively engage social, cultural and political systems and practices that obstruct grassroots women equality with men on matters of land, it helps in influencing change for an engendered land governance respecting traditional structures. This paper will focus on the results of a multi countries project which aims at creating a pathway to economic justice on women’s land rights to empower women in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. The project is targeting grassroots women that are affected by unequal land and property ownership, to be at the forefront of demanding the implementation of the existing progressive policies to achieve equity and equality in property and land ownership. The project brought grassroots women from across Africa within the banner of one common cause, to amplify the voice of African women against the tyranny of injustice with regards to land and property rights. In this sense it is working to bring the marginalized, socially, culturally and economically excluded grassroots women to the mainstream where they can challenge inequalities and champion their own development. Empowered grassroots women developed the confidence and propensity to advocate for their ownership of land with decision makers and duty bearers creating a shift in cultural and social norms at local level. Collaborations between grassroots women and traditional and local leaders forged through the project have inspired the creation of an inclusive environment which supports women to participate in available economic and political spaces. As an example, grassroots women were standing for leadership positions in their localities during national elections in Uganda. They were vying for positions of councilors and women representatives., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 5, No 2: March 2022

Context and background Urban agriculture is one of the urban land uses in the wards of Daraja Mbili and Lemala. Yet, its practice is constrained by limited access to land, unplanned land and the prevalence of claims that the practice is incompatible with non-agricultural and environmental conservation. Goal and objective This study was conducted to investigate the regulation of urban agriculture through land-use planning and institutional frameworks. It examines the extent of successful implementations of land use plans and institutional frameworks. Methodology The study adopted a mixed research approach and a case study strategy. Data were collected by using observation, document review and questionnaires. A total of 60 respondents were purposefully selected for in-depth interviews. We did content analysis of the data collected. Results The findings revealed that there were policy and mechanisms of regulating urban agriculture, but their implementations were inadequate. Moreover, the critical challenges hindering the undertaking of urban agriculture were identified, namely unfriendly irrigation infrastructure, a shortage land and environmental pollution due to uncontrolled agricultural activities. Few land use plans which incorporated land for urban agriculture were inadequately implemented owing to weak interaction among key actors to solve agricultural problems and creates opportunities to improve livelihoods of the urban farmers. The paper argues that planning land for urban agriculture should not be mere rhetoric, but it should ensure that land for agricultural activities is demarcated, allocated to prospect farmers and protected from encroachment by non-farmers for non-agricultural uses. This can be done through enhanced collaborative planning., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 5, No 2: March 2022

La présente communication interroge le changement institutionnel induit par le grand projet de développement agro-pastoral et de promotion des initiatives locales pour le sud-est (PRODESUD) dans le système de gouvernance des parcours collectifs du sud de la Tunisie. L’analyse institutionnelle que nous proposons pour la discussion de cette problématique comprend deux étapes. La première fait intervenir l’outil de grammaire institutionnel développé par Crawford et Ostrom (1995, 2005) pour l’identification et la structuration des nouvelles règles de gestion soutenues par PRODESUD toute au long de la période 2003-2020. La deuxième étape propose la discussion de la conformité de ces nouvelles règles aux principes de bonne gouvernance identifiés par la théorie des communs (Ostrom, 1990, 2000, 2009). Les résultats de l’analyse montrent que le projet PRODESUD a apporté un bon nombre de solutions pratiques permettant à une conciliation assez intéressante entre les conditions socio-écologiques contraignantes des grands parcours du sud tunisien et les principes de bonne gouvernance énoncés par Ostrom (1990)., African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol 5, No 2: March 2022