Merlet, P. 2010. Legal pluralism. Two case studies in Nicaragua. [en] The weight of rural poverty and the very unequal distribution of land in Nicaragua mean that the issue of access to land is still a priority in development policies. In spite of several state policies during the last 30 years the problem has not been solved and, therefore, non governmental actors try to tackle the issue by implementing development intervention which aim is to bring access to land to the poor. The (...)

This paper is based on the results of a research carried out during 2009 by AGTER as part of a broader CIFOR research, financed by a Rights and Resources Initiative project. The five-month fieldwork was carried out by Marta Fraticelli. It was presented by Marta Fraticelli and Michel Merlet during the Conference. "Taking stock of smallholder and community forestry: Where do we go from here?" IRD, CIFOR, CIRAD 24 - 26 March 2010 Montpellier, France. Fraticelli, Merlet. Paper. (...)

An important matter for many countries: making land use rights secure The surface area of farmland that is worked by someone other than the landowner adds up to a considerable amount in many countries, developed and developing [1]. Ensuring the use rights of agricultural workers who are not landowners constitutes a fundamental matter for millions of farm producers. Farming by someone other than the landowner, a labour practice which takes many different forms such as loans, rentals and (...)

Presenting a few key texts by Joseph Comby. The concept of “land ownership” is not universal. It came about very late in the history of mankind, and even today, it does not necessarily make sense in many cultures. Prior to the French Revolution, the plural term, “droits de propriété”, which corresponds to “property rights” in English, was used. Being aware of this is crucial as new ways to ensure land rights are being elaborated. Josephy Comby, founder of ADEF (Association for the Development (...)