This study is broad in scope: it covers agricultural land as well as urban. It covers water, wetlands, coastal areas, forests, rangelands, protected areas, genetic resources and petroleum and minerals. It shows how strongly development priorities such as pro-poor growth and the fulfilment of human rights apply to natural resource tenure. Environmental sustainability and climate change, gender equality, peace, security and democratic governance are all closely related issues. Experiences and cases from different parts of the world illustrate key messages; supported by a selection of photos. The overview and the recommendations may provide guidance for the development and implementation of policies and programmes that are urgently needed.

The devastating environmental effects of deforestation and the exploitation of other natural resources in the developing world have been well documented, yet their impact on local communities has received far less attention. This volume fills this gap by looking at how land degradation and deforestation are being addressed at the local level, where households have experienced the reduction of farm size and the decline of natural resources. Through a comparison of Asia and Africa, Land Tenure and Natural Resource Management examines the evolution of land tenure institutions within diverse cultural, natural, and policy environments. Specific topics include the evolution of customary land tenure, the impacts of land tenure policies, and common property management. The editors conclude that the best strategy for managing land and forest resources lies in promoting the establishment of property rights and investment in the improvement of the natural resource base. Topics Include: Issues and Theoretical Framework; Quantitative Methodology; Agroforestry Management in Ghana; Agroforestry Management in Sumatra; Tree and Cropland Management in Malawi; Customary and Private Land Management in Uganda; Management of State Land and Privatization in Vietnam; Common Property Forest Management in the Hill Region of Nepal; Timber Forest Management in Nepal and Japan Toward New Paradigms of Land and Tree Resource Management.

Natural Resource Governance in Asia: From Collective Action to Resilience Thinking identifies key leverage points where interventions can be made surrounding current and future impacts of ongoing environmental and sociopolitical challenges. The book utilizes case studies from Asia, a key demographic for natural resource management, that can be applied globally in understanding solutions and the current state of knowledge in natural resource dynamics. Users will find valuable sections on community forestry and socioecological systems, community irrigation, competing water demand, robustness issues, climate change, and natural resource dynamics and challenges. This interdisciplinary tome on the topic is invaluable to researchers and policymakers alike. Combines collective action and resilience thinking to help readers understand complex issues and challenges in natural resource management Presents methods and case studies to validate theory in practice Includes up-to-date research applied to current issues to address both current and future risks and uncertainties