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
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
Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
20022017Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities
20022017Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms
20022017COUNTRY: Angola
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
COUNTRY: Central African Republic
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
COUNTRY: Democratic Republic of the Congo
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
COUNTRY: Korea, Republic of
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
COUNTRY: Papua New Guinea
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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: -
COUNTRY: Republic of Congo
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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
GovernmentAdministered
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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