Effects of changes in traditional land tenure administration on land use/cover dynamics in rural Zambia.

Abstract

This paper examined the relations between informal documentations and land tenure security on change in land use/cover. Using Chamuka land registration, the paper focuses on caused of land use /cover change and how informal documents-based land dealings leads to tenure security and a more productive land use. The study used various methods, including 345 households interviews, group discussions and satellite images of 2010, 2015 and 2020, to understand how land ownership in Chamuka chiefdom effect on land use. The study results shows that the introduction of Land Advisory Boards (LABs), Customary Certificate of Land Occupancy (CCLO) and the land register has scored several successes (i.e., increase in land rights, ownership, low cost of land registration ,tenure security and reduction in land-related conflicts. Other improvements include the practice of conservation farming, i.e. agroforestry, fire management resulting to improved crop and livestock farming. Despite these positive results, the satellite images showed decline in vegetation and forest cover due to expansion of agricultural area, buildup and decrease in water bodies. This study provides new insights into how the evolution of the traditional land tenure system, as an integral part of resource governance, its effect on land use/cover. Next to suggesting is how to strengthen informal documents, and efficiency of local land management institutions in order to reduce loss of vegetation and deforestation.

Keywords

• Informal certification
• Mapping
• opportunities
• Village Land Advisory Boards