Natural Resources Based Social Tenure Boundaries and Risk Management

Land administration in a modern and formal system is well defined with clear physical boundaries and legal aspects of a spatial unit, recorded in a proper database. However, land in many countries fall under different tenure systems which may be informal or semi-formal tenure systems. In rural areas, where natural resources are abundant often contribute towards demarcation of physical boundaries of a land parcel. These boundaries could be the banks of a river, lake shore, a drainage, an elevated terrain, ridge line etc. These boundaries often have an acceptance under social tenure system as well as used under a formal system. Associated Rights, Restrictions, Responsibilities (RRR) are validated in context of these boundaries.

The issue with natural boundaries is the physical shift possibilities after a period or seasonal variation. The seasonal variations can be captured under a mutually agreed system and boundaries could be adjusted accordingly. However, it is the unforeseen disaster events which can create disruption in performing the usual operations and create tenure insecurity. The natural hazards like earthquake, floods, extreme rainfall, always pose a risk as natural boundaries are exposed to the elements and often vulnerable physically. For example, floods can destroy and overflow the banks of a river, a drainage can get diverted or destroyed after an earthquake, a ridge line can shift or an elevated terrain can be flattened due to a landslide. These changes or destruction can damage the demarcated boundaries based on the natural resources causing social conflicts and economic loss.