The present volume is part of a series of Land Tenure Studies produced by FAO’s Land Tenure Service of the Rural Development Division. Land tenure plays a vital role in achieving sustainable rural development. Increasing technological change and economic integration are requiring policy makers, planners, development experts and rural producers to re-examine the institutional arrangements used to administer who has rights to what resources for which purposes and for how long. This volume is designed to support people who are involved in implementing rural development projects and programmes, rather than those involved specifically in land reform or land administration activities. It is frequently the case that land tenure issues are left out or misunderstood in rural development interventions, with often long lasting and very negative results.