Community Land Protection

The Government of Liberia has drafted a new land policy that recognizes community ownership rights over their customary lands. The Community Guide to Protecting Community Lands and Resources teaches communities how to go through the process of documenting and protecting their customary lands and natural resources.

This report compiles evidence from community land titling initiatives in three countries in an effort to address community land protection issues in policy and practice. The report concludes that community land documentation may be a more efficient method of land protection than individual and family titling.

In Liberia there is an urgent need for strong legal protections for community lands and natural resources. This report details communities' experiences undertaking land documentation activities and the initial impacts of these efforts on conflict resolution and prevention, intra-community governance and conservation and sustainable natural resource management.