Land Tenure Systems’ Impact on Sustainable Land Management in Kpatawee Clan Communities Suakoko District, Bong County, Liberia
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Abstract
Both customary and statutory land rights characterize Land tenure system in Liberia. The land tenure system practiced in Liberia is known to create confusion and insecurity among local communities regarding land ownership and usage. Despite the importance of land tenure in shaping land use practices, there is limited research on how land tenure systems on sustainable land management in Liberia. This research investigates the impact of the land tenure system on sustainable land management in the Kpatawee clan, Suakoko District, Bong County, Liberia. This research utilized both primary and secondary data sources for the study. The study adopted the random sampling technique for data collection with the targeted sample size of 100 smallholder farmers in the study area. The customary land tenure system was found to be the most dominant tenure system practices in the study area. About 93% of the respondents stated that a secure land tenure system encourages them to undertake long-term investment. In addition, crop rotation and inter-cropping were the commonly used sustainable land management practiced technique adopted in the study area. The study further revealed that smallholder farmers in the Kpatawee clan face challenges such as insecure land rights, limited access to resources, and conflicting land use practices, which hinder the adoption of sustainable land management practices. Consequently, land insecurity, lack of transparency, and weak institutional capacity limit the potential for sustainable land management practices in the study area. The study concludes that land tenure system security strengthens local institutions and supports sustainable land management practice. It is also concluded that improving inclusivity and transparency of land rights are critical for achieving sustainable land management goals in the study area and Liberia in general.
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