This question came back to us at each stage of the data collection in the field, within the framework of the SecTenSusPeace project: SECURING TENURE, SUSTAINABLE PEACE? The challenges of localizing land-registration in conflict-affected Burundi and eastern DR Congo. SecTenSusPeace is one of twelve transnational research projects that tackle a wide range of complex challenges on transformations to sustainability and that integrate knowledge and capabilities from around the world, funded by the Transformations to Sustainability (T2S) research programme.
Indeed, in conflict-affected settings, land tenure security of smallholders is seen as essential to prevent local land disputes and sustain peace, enable recovery of rural livelihoods, and advance ecologically and socially sustainable agricultural production. To enhance tenure security –which is often severely compromised during conflict– interveners tend to turn to land registration and other forms of formally acknowledging claims to land. However, conventional state-led approaches relying on centrally-organised, individual titling often fail to deal with very complex local land struggles. Yet, the alternative of recognizing customary land governance is also problematic. Contrary to expectations, customary arrangements may also fail to find locally embedded, acceptable solutions.
Dear Patient M. Polepole,
Yes, this is an important question. Socio-economic, systemic, normative stabilisation taking place under conditions of high standards of democratisation, gender equality, respect for human, ethical, property rights, tolerance and respect is the basis for effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and effective implementation of the plan for pro-environmental and pro-climate transformation of the economy.
Best wishes,
Dariusz Prokopowicz
Dear Dariusz Prokopowicz,
Thank you very much for your wishes and sharing.
Patient
A very interesting area of consideration. There are some factors that needed clarity from the outset so as to create an informative scenario for objective brainstorming. Firstly, has the conflict led to internal displacement of people? The people for which sustainability efforts are pursued are they indigenous to those areas or internally displaced? What are their main livelihood sources, e.g. are they an agrarian society, pastoralists, fishermen, traders etc or a combination of several forms of livelihoods? Does the main livelihood form land-intensive / land-extensive? What are the indigenous (customary) tenure systems, do they have provisions for 'common property resource' tendencies or land parcels are individualised etc? These questions would provide basic elements for researchers to start 'sniffing' what would work. It calls for a combined interrogation of socio-cultural and local resource governance systems with a focus on community perceptions and their willingness or receptive to change. Generally, locally led strategies appear to enjoy legitimacy than centralised state-led interventions in local contexts.
Which is an example of sustainable forest management?
Setting aside forests to be off limits to the public? - No.
Producing lumber for nearby communities to build affordable housing? - No.
Putting local communities in charge of forest resources? - No.
Never harvesting more than what the forest produces in new growth? - Yes.
This is not only an example of sustainable forest management, but the very principle of sustainable development. Save natural assets! Don't take more than nature can give! Sustainable development involves frugal thinking and a lean economy!
Sustainable development is a challenge to wastefulness, a culture that dominates most of the world.
Dear Elena E. Smirnova,
Many thanks for this insight and angle to analyze forest governance sustainability
Patient
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