Practical guide for socio-economic livelihood, land tenure and rights surveys for use in collaborative ecosystem-based land use planning

Socio-economic survey tools provide a means of improving understanding of local resource management systems, resource use and the relative importance of resources for households and villages. They can also be used to elicit insights on interaction with government decision-making systems, community perceptions of trends and priority issues, and community-based institutions and their role in the sustainable use and conservation of natural resources. Use of such tools is an important first step in engaging local communities and ensuring that local voices are heard and that the community relationship with resources, land rights and access are incorporated into collaborative land use planning processes. Collaborative land use planning involves working with all stakeholders - government, communities, the private sector and others - to ensure that land is used sustainably and that environmental degradation and forest loss are avoided, while accounting for the social and economic implications for all users. With respect to communities, collaborative land use planning aims: To ensure that land use planning decisions are made with consideration of local communities' opinions, land use needs and socio-economic conditions, including rights of access to and use of land. The aim of this guide (and the Supporting Notes) is to provide practical steps (survey design, sampling and data requirements; planning and training, conducting the survey) for field-based practitioners to conduct socio-economic surveys of households and villages, including focus groups and key informant interviews. The information obtained can be used directly in the collaborative land use planning process, helping to facilitate or reinforce a consensus on land tenure and rights, now and in the future.

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17528/cifor/004030

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