Assessment of the impact of tenure security on livelihoods in peri urban areas

Abstract

Land tenure is the relationship, whether legally or customarily defined, among people, as individuals or groups, with respect to land. Various studies have revealed that tenure security has become an essential part of a major programmatic push that aims to increase investment in land, agricultural production, sustainable natural resource management, and the move toward market economies in most developing nations. Land is a scarce resource and yet, access to suitable land is essential for better livelihoods. Pressure on land is rising due to factors as varied as population growth, soil degradation, expansion of large-scale farming, mining, conservation initiatives and urbanization energy. However, it can also be urged that poor livelihood options significantly influence the level of tenure security individuals and communities experience. Identifying areas with high insecurity concentrations can allow for targeted interventions and resource allocation to support vulnerable populations. It is against this background that makes it imperative to study the spatial distribution of tenure insecurity and its relationship to livelihoods so as to facilitate the development of effective policies and interventions to improve land governance and promote sustainable land management.