Global trends in forest tenure:common issues and

way forward

Francesca RomanoForest Policy Service, FAOYaoundé, 25-29 May 2009

http://www.fao.org/forestry/tenure/en/

Agenda

• Overview of the main results of FAO forest tenure assessment in 4 regions

• Figures• Main common issues

• Global Forest Resources Assessment: a tool for forest tenure analysis

• Future efforts • FAO plans• Your inputs

*

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Africa

South andSoutheast Asia

Central Asia

Latin America Public

Private

Community/Group ow ned

Ow ned by indigenous or tribalpeople

Other types of ow nership

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Africa

South andSoutheast Asia

Central Asia

Latin America

Strictly limited

User rights/ Customaryrights/Permits to hunt, gather deadw ood and NWFP

Communities

Privates

Other

Forest tenure reform can have positive impact on SFM and poverty alleviation (Viet Nam, Tanzania, Mongolia)but...

the forest sector is still very “static” and there are no guidelines on how to secure and diversify forest tenure

Is tenure an issue?

• Limited diversification and resistance to change

• Limited data availability

• Contradicting/ not harmonized policies and legislations

• Limited incentives to invest • marginal resources and benefit sharing systems

• insecurity/ fragility of tenure rights

• high costs, limited returns

• little recognition of traditional/customary tenure systems

• bad tenure governanceineffective legislationcomplex land policies and procedureslack of capacities to implement reformsweak institutionsinformation flow not adequate

• Tenure is not yet a priority in Countries’ agenda. Necessary a formal endorsement, that recognizes also forests

• Need for forest tenure reforms based on globally agreed principles, mechanisms and fundamental requirements

The process is important

How to develop effective tenure systems?

• Which specific aspects should be addressed?

• Which format?• Which

complementary tools/mechanisms?

Global Forest Resource assessment• Principles:

– is based on country reports, data provided by Gov./Ministries

– common terminology and definitions• Strengths:

– Country commitment– Forest tenure table is new and improved– Periodical update (5 years)

• Weakness:– Only official figures are provided – Informal tenure systems are not included, nor

contested lands (with some exceptions, e.g. Peru’)

Forest tenure assessment table

Other types of ownership

...of which owned by indigenous / tribal communities

...of which owned by local communities

...of which owned by private business entities and institutions

...of which owned by individuals

Private ownership

Public ownership

2005 2000 1990 Forest area

FRA categories

Other

Communities

Private corporations and institutions

Individuals

Public Administration

2005 2000 1990 Forest area

FRA categories

Public forest management categories

Future efforts

• Guidelines for tenure diversification

• Voluntary guidelines on governance of tenure of land and other natural resources and other

• Capacity building• Country projects in

support to tenure reforms and data collection (e.g. Nepal, Argentina, China)

...“Not being able to fully exercise one's rights can be likened to owning a vehicle without having a key”...

Additional slides

Private ownership structure in Europeaccording to % share in FOWL (11 countries)

82%

5%

13%

Individuals / families

Forest industries

Private institutions

Public ownership structure in Europeaccording to % share in FOWL (11 countries)

85%

1%

14%State ownership

Provincialownership

CommunalOwnership

Share [%] in area of forest and other wooded land in Europe(23 countries, forest area only for Germany and Lithuania)

50.09%

0.36%

49.55% Private ow nership

Public ow nership

Other ow nership