Land registration in Papua New Guinea: Competing Perspectives

Like other post-colonial states, Papua New Guinea continues to grapple with issues pertaining to land. In addition to being an important source of group identity, in resource rich Papua New Guinea, land is an important source of economic prosperity. Vigorous debate however, has ensued over the relationship between customary land tenure systems and economic growth, with official land registration being proposed as a more economically viable alternative to local systems of land tenure. This discussion paper, based on a seminar at AusAID, provides an overview of perspectives on land registration, which as demonstrated by violent protests in 1995 and 2000 is a highly contentious issue in Papua New Guinea. Peter Larmour provides a brief theoretical introduction followed by a chronological overview of official thinking about land registration in Papua New Guinea, concluding with a practical consideration of the mechanics of registering land in the country. Tim Curtin and Hartmut Holzknecht then provide competing perspectives on land registration, with Curtin advocating the establishment of individual land ownership in Papua New Guinea in order to accelerate economic growth, a task for which he believes customary land tenure is ill equipped. Conversely, Holzknecht argues that customary land tenure systems are highly productive (drawing upon the example of a motivated and productive community in Morobe Province), and that in any case, the Melanesian socio-political context is likely to confound attempts at land reform.AusAI

Forests for the New Millennium - MAKING FORESTS WORK FOR PEOPLE AND NATURE

THE WAYS IN WHICH FORESTS ARE PERCEIVED AND USED HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY OVER RECENT YEARS. FORESTS ARE NO LONGER SEEN SIMPLY AS A SOURCE OF TIMBER, BUT AS COMPLEX ECOSYSTEMS WHICH SUSTAIN LIVELIHOODS AND PROVIDE A RANGE OF PRODUCTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES. IT IS NOW WIDELY RECOGNISED THAT FORESTS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION.Forest, economics, livelihoods

Bosques para el Nuevo Milenio - BOSQUES QUE BENEFICIEN A LA GENTE Y SUSTENTEN LA NATURALEZA

LAS MANERAS DE PERCIBIR Y USAR LOS BOSQUES HAN CAMBIADO DRAMÁTICAMENTE DURANTE LOS ÚLTIMOS AÑOS. YA NO SE CONSIDERA MÁS A LOS BOSQUES SÓLO COMO UNA FUENTE DE MADERA, SINO COMO ECOSISTEMAS COMPLEJOS QUE SUSTENTAN LAS FORMAS DE VIDA HUMANA Y SUMINISTRAN UNA GAMA DE PRODUCTOS Y SERVICIOS AMBIENTALES. AHORA ES AMPLIAMENTE RECONOCIDO QUE LOS BOSQUES PUEDEN CONTRIBUIR AL DESARROLLO RURAL Y AYUDAN A ALIVIAR LA POBREZA.Forest, economics, livelihoods

Des Forêts pour le Nouveau Millénaire - DES FORÊTS À GÉRER DANS L’INTÉRÊT DES GENS ET DE LA NATURE

LA FAÇON DONT LES FORÊTS SONT PERÇUES ET LEURS UTILISATIONS ONT BEAUCOUP CHANGÉ AU COURS DES DERNIÈRES ANNÉES. LES FORÊTS NE SONT PLUS CONSIDÉRÉES COMME ÉTANT UNIQUEMENT DES SOURCES DE BOIS MAIS DES ÉCOSYSTÈMES COMPLEXES QUI PERMETTENT À DES COMMUNAUTÉS DE SE DÉVELOPPER ET OFFRENT TOUTE UNE GAMME DE PRODUITS ET DE SERVICES ENVIRONNEMENTAUX. ON RECONNAÎT AUJOURD’HUI QUE LES FORÊTS PEUVENT CONTRIBUER AU DÉVELOPPEMENT RURAL ET À LA LUTTE CONTRE LA PAUVRETÉ.Forêt, économie