Forest Tenure Data
Forest Tenure, Depth of Rights, and Women’s Rights Data
Who owns the world’s forests? How have communities’ legally recognized forest tenure rights shifted over time, and what are women's rights to community forests?

Drawing on over 15 years of research, our databases detailing the distribution of Forest Tenure, communities' Depth of Rights, and Women’s Rights provide answers to these critical questions.

RRI’s Forest Tenure data tracks forest area under 4 tenure categories based on the rightsholder and strength of their rights under national law, employing a bundle of rights approach that links RRI’s qualitative and quantitative data.

Evidence from 58 countries covering nearly 92% of the world’s forests shows communities’ legal rights to own and manage forests have increased since 2002, with most of these gains occurring within 33 low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Yet, significant challenges in implementation remain and communities continue to contest lands controlled by governments and other actors. Learn more below, and read about the methodology.

Regional Forest Tenure Data
Country Forest Tenure Data
Select Country
Angola
Argentina
Australia
Belize
Bhutan
Bolivia
Brazil
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Central African Republic
Chile
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ecuador
Ethiopia
Finland
Gabon
Gambia
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
India
Indonesia
Japan
Kenya
Korea, Republic of
Lao PDR
Liberia
Malaysia
Mali
Mexico
Mongolia
Mozambique
Myanmar
Nepal
Nigeria
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Peru
Philippines
Republic of Congo
Russia
Senegal
South Sudan
Sudan
Suriname
Sweden
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
United States
Venezuela
Viet Nam
Zambia
View Info
Global Status of Statutory Forest Tenure across 58 Countries in 2017

For more than a decade, RRI has been connecting and organizing local and global actors around a common agenda guided by Indigenous and community partners.

Change in the Distribution of Forest Tenure in 33 Low- and Middle-Income Countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, 2002-2017
Distribution of Forest Tenure by Country, in Mha

Explore country-level data on the distribution of Forest Tenure over time. Click on the country name to learn more about the legal frameworks recognizing community-based tenure, including the specific rights of Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and community women.

As of 2017, Indigenous Peoples and local communities are legally recognized as owning at least 447 million hectares (Mha), or 12.2 percent, of forestland within the 58 countries analyzed.

COUNTRY

Government
Administered

20022017

Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities

20022017

Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities

20022017

Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms

20022017
COUNTRY: Angola
Government
Administered
2002: 59.73
2017: 57.86
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: 0.001
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: -
2017: -
COUNTRY: Argentina
Government
Administered
2002: 5.70
2017: n.d.
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: n.d.
2017: 0.87
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 22.2
2017: n.d.
COUNTRY: Australia
Government
Administered
2002: 93.96
2017: 83.30
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.00
2017: 9.1
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 20.87
2017: 12.11
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 14.01
2017: 20.24
COUNTRY: Belize
Government
Administered
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: n.d.
2017: -
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: n.d.
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
COUNTRY: Bhutan
Government
Administered
2002: 2.60
2017: 2.65
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.001
2017: 0.08
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 0.004
2017: 0.001
COUNTRY: Bolivia
Government
Administered
2002: 41.43
2017: 28.03
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 1.58
2017: 0.47
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 16.61
2017: 24.71
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 0.48
2017: 1.55
COUNTRY: Brazil
Government
Administered
2002: 341.02
2017: 238.39
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 10.68
2017: 40.41
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 75.27
2017: 118.05
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 94.29
2017: 99.89
COUNTRY: Cambodia
Government
Administered
2002: 11.16
2017: 7.73
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.46
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.00
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: -
2017: -
COUNTRY: Cameroon
Government
Administered
2002: 22.12
2017: 19.98
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.00
2017: 3.02
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.00
COUNTRY: Canada
Government
Administered
2002: 319.32
2017: 318.34
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.20
2017: 0.30
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 6.60
2017: 6.81
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 21.68
2017: 21.62
Government
Administered
2002: 22.40
2017: 22.17
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: 0.00
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.002
COUNTRY: Chile
Government
Administered
2002: n.d.
2017: 5.49
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: n.d.
2017: 0.86
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: n.d.
2017: 11.32
COUNTRY: China
Government
Administered
2002: 76.06
2017: 75.2
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 103.06
2017: 124.30
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: -
2017: -
COUNTRY: Colombia
Government
Administered
2002: 38.00
2017: 26.38
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 24.50
2017: 32.93
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: -
2017: -
COUNTRY: Costa Rica
Government
Administered
2002: 1.11
2017: 1.10
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.34
2017: 0.28
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 1.32
2017: 1.06
Government
Administered
2002: 157.25
2017: 152.41
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: 0.17
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: -
2017: -
COUNTRY: Ecuador
Government
Administered
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: 0.02
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: 1.27
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
COUNTRY: Ethiopia
Government
Administered
2002: 13.70
2017: 12.29
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.01
2017: 0.21
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: -
2017: -
COUNTRY: Finland
Government
Administered
2002: 10.09
2017: 10.41
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.12
2017: 0.12
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 16.10
2017: 15.67
COUNTRY: Gabon
Government
Administered
2002: 22.00
2017: 22.93
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.07
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: -
2017: -
COUNTRY: Gambia
Government
Administered
2002: 0.44
2017: 0.44
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.02
2017: 0.05
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 0.001
2017: 0.001
COUNTRY: Guatemala
Government
Administered
2002: 1.85
2017: n.d.
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.53
2017: 0.40
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.29
2017: 1.2
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 1.53
2017: n.d.
COUNTRY: Guyana
Government
Administered
2002: 16.62
2017: 13.17
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: 3.35
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.00
COUNTRY: Honduras
Government
Administered
2002: 4.07
2017: 1.18
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: 0.60
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.00
2017: 1.79
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 1.36
2017: 1.80
COUNTRY: India
Government
Administered
2002: 56.02
2017: 59.28
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: 1.11
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 9.37
2017: 9.77
COUNTRY: Indonesia
Government
Administered
2002: 97.69
2017: 85.36
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.22
2017: 0.79
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: 0.01
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 1.49
2017: 4.86
COUNTRY: Japan
Government
Administered
2002: 10.43
2017: 11.06
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 1.05
2017: 0.28
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 13.39
2017: 13.09
COUNTRY: Kenya
Government
Administered
2002: 3.48
2017: n.d.
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: 0.38
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: n.d.
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 0.08
2017: 0.09
Government
Administered
2002: 1.89
2017: 2.08
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.03
2017: 0.005
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 4.50
2017: 4.25
COUNTRY: Lao PDR
Government
Administered
2002: 16.53
2017: 18.74
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: 0.02
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.00
COUNTRY: Liberia
Government
Administered
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: n.d.
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: 0.58
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
COUNTRY: Malaysia
Government
Administered
2002: -
2017: -
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: -
2017: -
COUNTRY: Mali
Government
Administered
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.00
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 0.004
2017: 0.004
COUNTRY: Mexico
Government
Administered
2002: 2.75
2017: 3.65
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 44.00
2017: 45.47
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 8.30
2017: 16.92
COUNTRY: Mongolia
Government
Administered
2002: 12.89
2017: 8.94
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: 3.35
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: -
2017: -
COUNTRY: Mozambique
Government
Administered
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: n.d.
2017: 0.07
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: -
2017: -
COUNTRY: Myanmar
Government
Administered
2002: 34.23
2017: 28.88
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.02
2017: 0.16
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: -
2017: -
COUNTRY: Nepal
Government
Administered
2002: 4.63
2017: 4.54
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 1.02
2017: 2.07
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 0.002
2017: 0.002
COUNTRY: Nigeria
Government
Administered
2002: 12.97
2017: -
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.16
2017: n.d.
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: -
2017: -
COUNTRY: Panama
Government
Administered
2002: 3.92
2017: 3.63
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.90
2017: 0.90
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 0.04
2017: 0.08
Government
Administered
2002: 0.90
2017: 0.84
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 29.2
2017: 27.01
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 0.03
2017: 0.03
COUNTRY: Peru
Government
Administered
2002: 58.77
2017: 54.38
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 1.57
2017: 4.98
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 10.52
2017: 12.78
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 5.29
2017: 0.12
COUNTRY: Philippines
Government
Administered
2002: 13.84
2017: 9.46
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 1.97
2017: 1.64
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.04
2017: 4.71
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: -
2017: -
Government
Administered
2002: 22.56
2017: 22.33
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.00
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.00
COUNTRY: Russia
Government
Administered
2002: 809.27
2017: 814.93
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.00
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.00
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: -
2017: -
COUNTRY: Senegal
Government
Administered
2002: 8.89
2017: 8.26
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.004
2017: -
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 0.002
2017: 0.01
COUNTRY: South Sudan
Government
Administered
2002: -
2017: n.d.
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: n.d.
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: n.d.
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: -
2017: 0.00
COUNTRY: Sudan
Government
Administered
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.04
2017: 0.20
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
COUNTRY: Suriname
Government
Administered
2002: 15.30
2017: 15.11
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 0.09
2017: 0.09
COUNTRY: Sweden
Government
Administered
2002: 6.86
2017: 7.25
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: 0.19
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.54
2017: 0.70
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 20.77
2017: 19.94
COUNTRY: Tanzania
Government
Administered
2002: 35.13
2017: 17.29
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.07
2017: 5.39
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 16.6
2017: 21.91
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 0.12
2017: 3.51
COUNTRY: Thailand
Government
Administered
2002: 17.01
2017: 15.87
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: 0.48
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.00
COUNTRY: Timor-Leste
Government
Administered
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
COUNTRY: Togo
Government
Administered
2002: 0.13
2017: 0.06
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: n.d.
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 0.35
2017: n.d.
COUNTRY: United States
Government
Administered
2002: 129.16
2017: 129.97
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 7.33
2017: 7.52
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 166.59
2017: 172.59
COUNTRY: Venezuela
Government
Administered
2002: 49.15
2017: n.d.
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 0.00
2017: n.d.
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: -
2017: -
COUNTRY: Viet Nam
Government
Administered
2002: 11.78
2017: 13.25
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: 1.13
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: -
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: -
2017: -
COUNTRY: Zambia
Government
Administered
2002: 51.13
2017: 48.54
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: 0.08
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: -
2017: 0.02
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: -
2017: -
COUNTRY: TOTAL
Government
Administered
2002: 2747.95
2017: 2482.15
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 18.15
2017: 80.50
Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
2002: 357.84
2017: 447.43
Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
2002: 403.39
2017: 418.50

Highlighting in gray indicates Complete Case Countries.
Dashes (-) denote situations in which the tenure category in question is not legally possible under national law.
n.d. = No Data
Source: RRI. 2018. At a Crossroads: Trends in Recognition of Community-Based Forest Tenure from 2002-2017.

Number of Community-based Tenure Regimes Established over Time

RRI tracks the extent and strength of community-based tenure regimes—distinct legal frameworks based on national laws and regulations that govern situations where land and resource rights are recognized at the community level.

Note: Two additional community-based tenure regimes legally recognizing community forest ownership in Mexico in 1917 are not shown.

Source: RRI. 2019. Tenure Tracking Data.

Bundle of Rights

For 30 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, RRI maintains detailed qualitative data on the strength of Forest Tenure rights legally held by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and local communities. Learn more about RRI’s Bundle of Rights Methodology here.

Source: RRI. 2017. Depth of Rights Database.

Women’s Rights to Community Forests

RRI’s Gender Database builds on the Bundle of Rights to assess the extent to which the same 30 countries’ legal frameworks recognize Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and local community women’s specific rights to community forests, and whether those states are meeting their obligations under national and international laws. These frameworks, called community-based tenure regimes (CBTRs), are defined distinguishable sets of national, state-issued laws and regulations governing “all situations under which the right to own or manage terrestrial natural resources is held at the community level.”

Learn more about RRI’s Gender Methodology here.

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