Institutions in Governance of Land Use: Mitigating Boom and Bust

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land Socio-Economic and Political Issues".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (22 December 2023) | Viewed by 21436

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia
Interests: land and housing economics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia
Interests: land economics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Land use governance is the process by which natural and built resources of land are put to good use. The paradigm for land use governance includes land policies, land administration functions, land regulation, and a land information system. The operational aspects of land governance ensure proper management of land rights, land tenure, land value, land use, and its planning and development. Land development is the strategic part of land administration that constitutes a series of steps that are taken to achieve long-term goals. This usually encompasses the assembly of land, financing of the investment in buying or leasing land, re-parcelling of that land to make it suitable for the proposed development, the provision of infrastructure and other public facilities, distribution of building plots to end users and/or investors, and the management and ownership of (part of) that land after the construction of the building(s). Within this context, this Special Issue seeks original papers that provide experiences from different parts of the world in the governance of land.

The following issues are specifically of interest:

  • Country studies comprising land management strategies that enable public and private stakeholders to act in the market in an efficient way.
  • Innovations in the assembly of land that address key legal debates associated with interference with individual property rights, for instance, expropriation, the protection of individual property rights, and compensation that must be paid for the compulsory acquisition of land.
  • Country studies on approaches to capture unearned increases in land values due to government interventions.
  • Country studies on instruments to (re)distribute land-based wealth in a fair way among landowners, land users, property developers and investors, and the public.
  • Empirical and theoretical studies on the value of land, both monetary and non-monetary.
  • Studies on the management of land rights of indigenous people across jurisdictions.
  • Disaster preparedness and resilience through urban planning and land management.

Prof. Dr. Piyush Tiwari
Dr. Jyoti Shukla
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • land governance
  • land assembly
  • land value
  • land rights
  • land expropriation and compensation
  • disaster management

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 2045 KiB  
Article
Lessons from the Pilot Project of Korean ETS on the Local Landscape of Economy
by Yongrok Choi, Ziqian Tang and Yunning Ma
Land 2024, 13(10), 1603; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13101603 - 2 Oct 2024
Viewed by 755
Abstract
For a sustainable landscape of local economies, many researchers have emphasized the importance of field-oriented differentiation in government policies. In particular, the Paris Agreement, based on the bottom-up approach, aims to maximize the participation of all economic agents, in contrast to the top-down [...] Read more.
For a sustainable landscape of local economies, many researchers have emphasized the importance of field-oriented differentiation in government policies. In particular, the Paris Agreement, based on the bottom-up approach, aims to maximize the participation of all economic agents, in contrast to the top-down approach of the Tokyo Protocol. In response to these global paradigm shifts in the local landscape, local governments in Korea have made significant efforts to adapt to sustainable development during the pilot phase of emission trading scheme (ETS), during the period from 2015 to 2020. This study evaluates the performance of these local government policies in the transition to a carbon-zero economy. Using the general non-radial directional distance function (GNDDF), we found that Gyeongsang Province demonstrated enhanced environmental total factor productivity (TFP) during the pilot project, whereas the Seoul metropolitan area lagged behind due to a lack of governance. As the economic center of Korea, Seoul showed poor environmental performance because of the arbitrary elimination of green belt areas and unchecked land development, resulting in environmental degradation, a trend common in many developing countries facing climate adaptation challenges. To address these urbanization issues, this study concludes that a balanced approach combining stricter regulations with market-oriented promotional incentives is essential for optimizing the transition of local economies to a sustainable landscape. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Institutions in Governance of Land Use: Mitigating Boom and Bust)
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14 pages, 3126 KiB  
Article
A Novel Approach to Assessing Carrying Capacity for Development by Combining Socio-Economic and Environmental Indicators: A Case Study in Greece
by Maria Kofidou, Odysseas Kopsidas and Alexandra Gemitzi
Land 2024, 13(7), 987; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13070987 - 4 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1565
Abstract
Carrying capacity for development refers to the maximum level of economic and social growth that an environment can support without experiencing significant degradation or collapse. This concept integrates environmental and socioeconomic dimensions to ensure sustainable development. In the present work, we have combined [...] Read more.
Carrying capacity for development refers to the maximum level of economic and social growth that an environment can support without experiencing significant degradation or collapse. This concept integrates environmental and socioeconomic dimensions to ensure sustainable development. In the present work, we have combined climate reanalysis data sets with environmental and socioeconomic indicators to develop a novel index, the Carrying Capacity Development Index (CCDI). Thus, the Human Modification Index (HMI) and the Vulnerability to Disasters Index (VDI) were examined as part of the socioeconomic dimension of the CCDI, while selected ERA5 land layers combined with Natura 2000 sites formed the environmental elements. The methodology is demonstrated in Greece, where economic development in sectors such as tourism, transport and energy are threatening fragile Mediterranean ecosystems. Three different weightings were analyzed, giving equal weight to environmental and socioeconomic factors, or giving more weight to either the environment, society or the economy. The results showed that the methodology has a minor sensitivity to weighting and highlighted areas where future development objectives should be focused. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Institutions in Governance of Land Use: Mitigating Boom and Bust)
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18 pages, 3426 KiB  
Article
Challenges and Institutional Barriers to Forest and Landscape Restoration in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh
by Oliver Tirtho Sarkar and Sharif A. Mukul
Land 2024, 13(4), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040558 - 22 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2919
Abstract
Preventing, halting, and reversing ecosystem degradation is now a global priority, partly due to the declaration of the United Nations (UN) Decade on Ecosystem Restoration by the UN General Assembly 2021–2030 on 1 March 2019. Apart from the most recent global target to [...] Read more.
Preventing, halting, and reversing ecosystem degradation is now a global priority, partly due to the declaration of the United Nations (UN) Decade on Ecosystem Restoration by the UN General Assembly 2021–2030 on 1 March 2019. Apart from the most recent global target to protect 30% of the natural planet by 2030 as part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreed during COP15, there are several other global goals and targets. The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) has also pledged to restore 0.75 million hectares of forests as part of the Bonn Challenge. The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh contain almost one-third of the country’s state-owned forests and are home to 12 ethnic communities, whose livelihoods are dependent on forests. Although once rich in biodiversity, the majority of the forests in the region are highly degraded due to faulty management, complex institutional arrangements, and land disputes with locals. The CHT, therefore, represent the most promising region for ecosystem restoration through forest and landscape restoration (FLR). Here, using the secondary literature, we examine the current institutional arrangements and drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in the CHT region and potential benefits and modalities to make FLR successful in the region. Based on our study, we suggest that institutional reform is essential for successful FLR in the CHT. We also discuss key interventions that are necessary to halt ecosystem degradation and to secure community participation in natural resources management in the region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Institutions in Governance of Land Use: Mitigating Boom and Bust)
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16 pages, 481 KiB  
Article
A Comparison of the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) Guidelines and the “Implementation of Governance, Forest Landscapes, and Livelihoods” Project in Lao PDR: The FPIC Team Composition and the Implementation Process
by Soukphavanh Sawathvong and Kimihiko Hyakumura
Land 2024, 13(4), 408; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040408 - 23 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1462
Abstract
Free, prior, and informed consent, or FPIC, is a crucial component of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+) projects. This study addresses a significant research gap regarding FPIC in the context of REDD+ projects, with a focus on [...] Read more.
Free, prior, and informed consent, or FPIC, is a crucial component of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+) projects. This study addresses a significant research gap regarding FPIC in the context of REDD+ projects, with a focus on the Implementation of Governance, Forest Landscapes, and Livelihoods (I-GFLL) project in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). This research aimed to evaluate the FPIC’s components and implementation. We employed a literature review of the FPIC implementation reports from 242 targeted villages involved in the I-GFLL project and face-to-face interviews with 12 key informants. The research found positive aspects, such as female team membership, boosting ethnic women’s participation; the exclusion of forestry officials to foster an open dialogue; and respect for project rejections, displaying adherence to the FPIC principles. However, some challenging aspects were also highlighted, such as the exclusion of civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) and the loss of their expertise; limited team knowledge of forestry/climate change, hindering communication; short consultation durations; and an incomplete understanding of technical terms due to the project’s novelty, raising concerns. The study emphasizes the importance of crafting FPIC teams that promote communication, respect community rights, and, ultimately, ensure successful project implementation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Institutions in Governance of Land Use: Mitigating Boom and Bust)
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23 pages, 2776 KiB  
Article
Personal Cognition and Implicit Constructs Affecting Preferential Decisions on Farmland Ownership: Multiple Case Studies in Kediri, East Java, Indonesia
by Ar. R. T. Hidayat, Corinthias P. M. Sianipar, Shizuka Hashimoto, Satoshi Hoshino, Muhammad Dimyati and Ahmad E. Yustika
Land 2023, 12(10), 1847; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101847 - 27 Sep 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1610
Abstract
Farmland ownership is a critical issue for sustainable agriculture since it affects short-term productivity and the long-term stability of the sector. However, existing literature largely focused on immediately simplifying individual opinions through statistical methods, neglecting how implicit values could drive preferential ownership decisions. [...] Read more.
Farmland ownership is a critical issue for sustainable agriculture since it affects short-term productivity and the long-term stability of the sector. However, existing literature largely focused on immediately simplifying individual opinions through statistical methods, neglecting how implicit values could drive preferential ownership decisions. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the driving factors underlying decisions on farmland ownership, especially when there are cognitive factors that induce hidden constructs in individual preferences. This research, to observe the cognition and implicit values leading to ownership decisions, applied the Repertory Grid Technique (RGT) with subsequent Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Taking the multiple case studies of three villages in Kediri, East Java, Indonesia, this study involved 40 farmland owners. The RGT revealed a staggering 85 constructs leading to six ownership decisions: keep farming, buying, joint farming, leasing, selling, and converting. In general, the driving forces were distinguished into landowners’ household profile, sustainability-related (community and social conditions), spatial (farmland conversion and accessibility), and economic aspects. Based on PCA, “buying” and “keep farming” shared several driving forces and led to sustainable farming. In contrast, “joint farming”, “leasing”, “selling”, and “converting” were found to threaten farming sustainability. In addition, this study offers in-depth insights into the driving factors of different preferential ownership decisions according to the cognition and implicit values of individual landowners, allowing policymakers and other stakeholders to tailor policies and strategies to context-specific farmland ownership issues in pursuing sustainable agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Institutions in Governance of Land Use: Mitigating Boom and Bust)
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19 pages, 4035 KiB  
Article
Socioeconomic Effects of Good Governance Practices in Urban Land Management: The Case of Lega Tafo Lega Dadi and Gelan Towns
by Fraol Udessa, Dagnachew Adugna and Liku Workalemahu
Land 2023, 12(2), 369; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12020369 - 30 Jan 2023
Viewed by 2877
Abstract
This study’s objective is to assess the socioeconomic effects of good governance practices in urban land management in two particular Ethiopian towns. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were employed to achieve this objective. Questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions were used to [...] Read more.
This study’s objective is to assess the socioeconomic effects of good governance practices in urban land management in two particular Ethiopian towns. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were employed to achieve this objective. Questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions were used to collect data, and the collected data were analyzed descriptively. According to the study’s findings, the poor were hit particularly hard by weak governance in urban land management, since they could not afford to bribe authorities to acquire services or legal protection. Development was hampered by poor governance and corruption in the management of urban land, which raised business risks, decreased investment incentives, and restricted access to financing in the towns. Communities bribed officials to remove limits on land-use planning and to influence the decision to stop the implementation of environmental protection rules. Due to their unregistered land, the majority of suburban inhabitants did not pay property taxes. Similarly, since paying property taxes was seen as a necessary step in towns’ regularization process, informal settlers were prohibited from doing so. As a result, residents in urban areas began to construct homes without registering their land and land rights. As a result, after being delimited to the towns, more landowners in peri-urban regions utilized their property for residential purposes and unlawful transactions, while fewer were using it for agricultural purposes. Consequently, due to poor governance in urban land management, land-related socioeconomic development was unable to be fostered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Institutions in Governance of Land Use: Mitigating Boom and Bust)
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16 pages, 301 KiB  
Article
Ecological Civilization in Practice: An Exploratory Study of Urban Agriculture in Four Chinese Cities
by Alesandros Glaros, Geoff Luehr, Zhenzhong Si and Steffanie Scott
Land 2022, 11(10), 1628; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11101628 - 22 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3062
Abstract
Chinese development priorities have, since 2012, been formally framed under the slogan “Ecological Civilization” (EC). Simultaneously, urban agriculture (UA) has emerged as a potential strategy to contribute to urban food security in China, in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this paper, we [...] Read more.
Chinese development priorities have, since 2012, been formally framed under the slogan “Ecological Civilization” (EC). Simultaneously, urban agriculture (UA) has emerged as a potential strategy to contribute to urban food security in China, in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this paper, we interrogate EC as an approach to urban and agricultural development in China and explore how EC manifests in practical terms, through a case study of urban agriculture. Over four months, we conducted on-site interviews and surveys with UA practitioners in four Chinese cities to understand how their experiences are negotiated with the state, in the context of EC. We find through our case study that capital-intensive and peri-urban approaches to UA are favoured in the context of EC, while small-scale intra-urban initiatives are actively discouraged in policy but passively accepted in practice and enforcement. This is despite all forms of UA promoting key goals for EC, including beautifying urban areas, increasing the quality of life for urban residents, and reconnecting individuals with food growing culture. Despite novel developments in innovative agricultural practices in both rural and urban contexts, the EC pathway risks overlooking grassroots initiatives and meeting local residents’ needs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Institutions in Governance of Land Use: Mitigating Boom and Bust)
15 pages, 4167 KiB  
Article
Identifying Ecosystem Services Bundles for Ecosystem Services Trade-Off/Synergy Governance in an Urbanizing Region
by Wenbo Cai
Land 2022, 11(9), 1593; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11091593 - 16 Sep 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1884
Abstract
Ecosystem services (ES) are the contribution of ecosystem structure and function to human well-being, connecting natural and socio-economic systems. ES trade-off/synergy has been one of the critical issues in sustainable environmental governance for guiding and formulating environmental policies. However, science-to-practice framework for ecosystem [...] Read more.
Ecosystem services (ES) are the contribution of ecosystem structure and function to human well-being, connecting natural and socio-economic systems. ES trade-off/synergy has been one of the critical issues in sustainable environmental governance for guiding and formulating environmental policies. However, science-to-practice framework for ecosystem services trade-off/synergy governance are still rare. This study presents a comprehensive framework for identifying and managing trade-off and synergy of ESs in an urbanizing region. Using Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA)—one of the fastest urbanizing regions in China—as a case, this study identified major ecosystem service bundles (ESBs) and applied the comprehensive framework to inform ES trade-off/synergy governance. The results showed that there were three stable ESBs in the GBA, and that ESB 1 (high grain production) and ESB 2 (high carbon sequestration) should be increased, and ESB 3 (all ES provision are low) should be increased. Moreover, there was large spatial–temporal change in ESBs in the central area of the GBA during 2000–2015 due to population and land urbanization. This study provides valuable information for sustainable land management and environmental governance in an urbanizing region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Institutions in Governance of Land Use: Mitigating Boom and Bust)
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16 pages, 1540 KiB  
Article
Measuring Inadequacy in Compensation for the Compulsory Acquisition of Land: Evidence from Bengaluru, India
by Jyoti Shukla and Piyush Tiwari
Land 2022, 11(5), 664; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11050664 - 29 Apr 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3591
Abstract
Taking inspiration from the longstanding problem of inadequate compensation for the compulsory acquisition of private land for a public purpose, this research estimates the economic value of (i) future development potential of land or ‘hope value’; and (ii) depreciation in property value due [...] Read more.
Taking inspiration from the longstanding problem of inadequate compensation for the compulsory acquisition of private land for a public purpose, this research estimates the economic value of (i) future development potential of land or ‘hope value’; and (ii) depreciation in property value due to acquisition notification or ‘blight’. Using empirical data on property transactions conducted in the Bengaluru Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project area and registered with sub-registrar offices in Bengaluru India during 2007–14, this research innovatively combines the duration model and hedonic price model to estimate the above. Results indicate that the current mechanisms for compensation are inadequately compensating for the land. The loss of the hope value ranges between 2.39 to 8.35 times the market value of agricultural land in 2006 and loss due to blight is approximately 31 percent. Compensating for these losses ex-ante should induce fairness in the compulsory acquisition process and reduce arbitrariness in the valuation of essential components of a compensation package, thus unburdening the valuation responsibilities of the legal institutions. These findings empirically support the argument of payment of additional monetary compensation to the market value of land and provide a rational measure of the same. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Institutions in Governance of Land Use: Mitigating Boom and Bust)
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