The Need For Land Tenure Rights For Indigenous Populations In Tropical Rainforests

For centuries tropical rainforests have been inhabited by indigenous and other forest dwellers who have depended on the forest for their home, livelihoods and culture.  As a result they are better equipped to manage these areas than other members of the community.  The reality however is that regardless of this long standing relationship formal land tenure rights have rarely been granted to these people and ownership mainly vests in the state. As these forests are being destroyed at an unsustianble level it is necessary that developing countries provide indigenous people with land tenure rights so that these forests can be effectively managed and protected.