Supporting institutional development in land administration

Land management is the process by which the resources of land are put into good effect. Land management encompasses all activities associated with the management of land and natural resources that are required to achieve sustainable development. Land Administration Systems are institutional frameworks complicated by the tasks they must perform, by national cultural, political and judicial settings, and by technology. This paper facilitates an overall understanding of the land management paradigm. However, in many countries, and especially developing countries and countries in transition, the national capacity to manage land rights, restrictions and responsibilities is not well developed in terms of mature institutions and the necessary human resources and skills. The paper examines the capacity building concept and underpins the need for institutional development to facilitate the design and implementation of efficient Land Administration Models and to support good governance. The paper identifies the role of FIG in this regard. This includes support for professional, institutional and global development in surveying and land management, and aims to facilitate the creation of sustainable institutional infrastructures. Finally, the paper presents the results of the UN/FIG/PC-IDEA special forum held in Aguascalientes, Mexico on 26-27 October 2004 with the theme of “The Development of Land Information Policies in the Americas”. This was the result of a resolution from the Seventh United Nations Regional Cartographic Conference for the Americas (UNRCCA) held in January 2001 in New York, which was supported by a resolution of the UNRCCAP held in Okinawa, Japan, 14-18 July 2003. FIG was tasked with taking the lead role in planning and arranging the Special Forum.