The recognition of customary tenure in Lao PDR

This study begins with a broad overview of customary tenure arrangements in Lao PDR, followed by a discussion of key policy changes over the past 30 years that have impacted on these arrangements. Forest and land allocation, village consolidation and market oriented policies aimed at turning land into capital have all undermined customary tenure systems and depicted small farmers as poor and unproductive, partly because the non-monetary value of their productive activities are not accounted for. Poverty reduction solutions proposed by the government and development partners often focus on ‘modernizing’ and transforming subsistence rural farmers into market-oriented agribusiness producers. These have resulted in multiple impacts on culture, livelihoods and customary practices. A more balanced approach, this study argues, would be greater legal recognition of customary land rights to ensure livelihood security while rural populations adapt to changes based on what they know.