Land, people and forests in eastern and southern Africa at the beginning of the 21st century : the impact of land relations on the role of communities in forest future

The way in which forest land is owned directly influences the status of the forest, its condition and the way in which it is managed. The greater the security of local forest tenure, the stronger the interest and will of the community towards its security. One of four papers commissioned by IUCN towards building a comprehensive profile on the subject of community involvement in forest management in eastern and southern Africa, this publication addresses the function of property relations and State-people relations in matters of governance and management. The study is comparative in nature, with a continuing examination of commonality and difference in the handling of property rights in respect of rural communities.